Islamabad, September 21, 2024 – A press conference was held today at the Islamabad Press Club by the parents of 14-year-old Aleena Masih, whose abduction and forced conversion has ignited national outrage. The family, supported by prominent human rights activists, called for the immediate recovery of their daughter after recent developments in the case raised alarm within the community.

Aleena was abducted from her home on June 25, 2024, in Islamabad and taken to Rawalpindi, where she was forcibly converted to Islam and married to a man named Haider Ali. Her parents filed a case at Khanna police station, leading to her recovery on July 28 by the Islamabad High Court’s order. After being recovered, Aleena was sent to the Child Protection Institute, but recent events have left her fate uncertain.

An ossification test, conducted to determine her age, initially reported that Aleena was between 17 to 22 years old. However, a second medical board revised her age to between 15 to 17 years. Official records from the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), including her birth certificate, indicate that Aleena is 14 and a half years old. Based on this evidence, her parents have been fighting to regain custody of their daughter, arguing that she is underage and her marriage should be considered void.

On September 10, a writ petition was filed in the Islamabad High Court to hand Aleena back to her parents, with notices issued on September 12. However, during a hearing on September 18, Aleena’s parents were shocked to learn that she had been handed over to the accused, Haider Ali, on September 13 by order of the Section 30 Magistrate. This transfer occurred while her case was still under consideration by both the Islamabad High Court and the Sessions Court, sparking further concerns.

Prominent figures at the press conference, including activists Farhatullah Babar, Tahira Abdullah, Rumana Sher, and Safdar Chaudhry, condemned the forced conversion and early marriages of minority girls. They demanded answers from the Child Protection Institute, questioning how Aleena was released despite ongoing legal proceedings. "Aleena is only 14 years old. Her marriage has been annulled, so how could the institute allow her to be taken by the accused?" they asked.

In a troubling turn of events, Haider Ali, the main accused in Aleena's abduction, forced conversion, and illegal marriage, was granted bail today by Additional Sessions Judge Raja Asif. The decision has intensified public anger, with activists and Aleena's parents calling for swift action to recover her and bring the perpetrators to justice.

The next hearing in Aleena’s case is scheduled for October 2, 2024. Her family, along with human rights organizations, is calling on the judiciary and law enforcement to ensure her safe return and to address the growing issue of forced conversions and marriages among minorities in Pakistan.