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Maira Shahbaz and child abduction, forced conversion and marriage in Pakistan

EDM (Early Day Motion) 921: tabled on 23 September 2020

Tabled in the 2019-21 session.

This motion has been signed by 28 Members. It has not yet had any amendments submitted.

Motion text

That this House notes with grave concern reports from Pakistan on Maira Shahbaz, a 14-year-old Christian girl who was abducted at gunpoint from the streets of Madina Town in Faisalabad by three men, forced to convert to Islam and then marry one of her abductors, Mr. Nakash; is further concerned that, despite her family producing a birth certificate showing Maira to be 14-years-old and the Grand Mufti of a local mosque condemning as false the marriage certificate produced in court by Mr Nakash, the Lahore High Court overruled an earlier decision by the Faisalabad Sessions and District court to place her in a women’s shelter, subsequently forcing her to return to Mr Nakash; understands that recently, Maira managed to escape from the home of Mr. Nakash and that she and her family are currently in hiding; calls on the UK government to do everything in its power to help Maira and all of the estimated 1,000 Pakistani Christian and Hindu girls who are kidnapped, forced to convert and marry their abductor every year.

The first 6 Members who have signed to support the motion are the sponsors. The primary sponsor is generally the person who tabled the motion and has responsibility for it. The date shown is when the Member signed the motion.

In addition to the sponsors, the following Members have signed to support the motion.

Rosindell, Andrew
Conservative
Signed on 25 September 2020
Romford
Day, Martyn
Scottish National Party
Signed on 25 September 2020
Linlithgow and East Falkirk
Timms, Stephen
Labour
Signed on 28 September 2020
East Ham
Bruce, Fiona
Conservative
Signed on 28 September 2020
Congleton
Lockhart, Carla
Democratic Unionist Party
Signed on 28 September 2020
Upper Bann
Penning, Sir Mike
Conservative
Signed on 28 September 2020
Hemel Hempstead
Lewis, Dr Julian
Independent
Signed on 28 September 2020
New Forest East
Wilson, Sammy
Democratic Unionist Party
Signed on 30 September 2020
East Antrim
Bottomley, Sir Peter
Conservative
Signed on 30 September 2020
Worthing West
Monaghan, Carol
Scottish National Party
Signed on 30 September 2020
Glasgow North West
Dorans, Allan
Scottish National Party
Signed on 30 September 2020
Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock
Callaghan, Amy
Scottish National Party
Signed on 30 September 2020
East Dunbartonshire
McDonnell, John
Labour
Signed on 30 September 2020
Hayes and Harlington
Thewliss, Alison
Scottish National Party
Signed on 1 October 2020
Glasgow Central
Blackman, Bob
Conservative
Signed on 5 October 2020
Harrow East
Stephens, Chris
Scottish National Party
Signed on 5 October 2020
Glasgow South West
Girvan, Paul
Democratic Unionist Party
Signed on 7 October 2020
South Antrim
Bonnar, Steven
Scottish National Party
Signed on 7 October 2020
Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill
Stone, Jamie
Liberal Democrat
Signed on 2 December 2020
Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross
Hobhouse, Wera
Liberal Democrat
Signed on 2 December 2020
Bath
Blackman, Kirsty
Scottish National Party
Signed on 14 December 2020
Aberdeen North
Farron, Tim
Liberal Democrat
Signed on 5 January 2021
Westmorland and Lonsdale

There are no withdrawn signatures for this motion.