Peaceful Protest Held Outside United Nations for Recovery of 12-Year-Old Maria Shahbaz by Grace Bible Fellowship Church of New York
Manhattan, New York
(Report by Manzoor Hussain)
The Pakistani American Christian community, under the banner of Grace Bible Fellowship Church of New York, held a large peaceful protest outside the United Nations headquarters in Manhattan, demanding the recovery of 12-year-old Maria Shahbaz, who was allegedly abducted in Pakistan, along with opposition to her alleged forced marriage and related legal proceedings.
The demonstration was led by Senior Pastor and Pakistani-American businessman Pastor Tariq Rehmat of Grace Bible Fellowship Church, with participation from Samuel Rohail, Arif Khokhar, and other Christian community leaders, along with a large number of community members. A significant number of women also joined the protest, holding placards and banners carrying slogans such as “No to forced marriages in Pakistan,” “Stop illegal treatment of minority communities,” and other related demands.
The protesters strongly criticized the decision of Pakistan’s Federal Shariat Court, terming it unethical, un-Islamic, and a violation of human rights. Speakers alleged that Maria Shahbaz was abducted by a Muslim family and was subsequently kept in custody, where she was subjected to forced religious conversion and marriage.
They further questioned the court’s position that the minor had converted and acted on her own will, raising concerns that a 12-year-old child is not capable of making such life-altering decisions independently.
The participants demanded that the Government of Pakistan review the decision, ensure the immediate recovery of Maria Shahbaz, and guarantee effective protection of minority rights. They warned that if their demands were not met, the protest movement would be expanded beyond the United Nations to include the U.S. Congress, Senate, and even the White House, continuing until justice is served.
According to details, a similar protest had been planned on April 23 but was postponed at the request of the Pakistani Consulate. Later, community leaders met with consulate officials, presenting their concerns regarding the alleged case of Maria Shahbaz, forced marriage, and her immediate recovery. However, no significant progress was reported after the meeting.
Sources further stated that, following this situation, Pastor Tariq Rehmat and other community leaders, after renewed consultations, finalized May 7 for the protest and obtained official permission for the demonstration. The protest was held from 10:30 AM to 3:00 PM outside the United Nations building on East 46th Street.
Protesters carried placards reiterating demands for the protection of minority communities in Pakistan, particularly Christian girls, and highlighted alleged injustices and child protection concerns on an international level. The immediate recovery of Maria Shahbaz remained the central focus of the demonstration.
Speakers described the protest as a peaceful yet powerful message aimed at drawing global attention to alleged human rights violations and the urgent need to protect minor girls. They added that the movement would be expanded further if no concrete action is taken.
