«There is no security for you except in Islam or jizya (protection tax)»: Extremist persecution of Christians,

• • Armed groups have repeatedly attacked villages, killed residents, burned down homes, churches and crops, and forced survivors to flee to surrounding areas. Entire local communities have been wiped out. Many displaced families cannot return: the attackers are reportedly said to have seized agricultural land and go after those who try to return. — International Christian Concern, 13 February 2026, Nigeria.

• Pakistan’s Federal Constitutional Court awarded custody of the 13-year-old Christian girl Maria Shahbaz to a 30-year-old Muslim man accused of kidnapping, forced conversion and marriage to her. The court rejected her official birth certificate and ignored previous conclusions that the marriage was illegal, and instead accepted her explanation that she converted and married voluntarily – despite claims from her family and her lawyer that this occurred under coercion. Human rights advocates and the girl’s family criticised the ruling and pointed to evidence that the marriage certificate was forged, while expressing concern about police passivity and possible complicity. They claim that the girl had been in the suspect’s custody for several months, which makes any explanation unreliable. — Morning Star News, 1 February 2026, Pakistan.
• A blind Christian man, Nadeem Masih, was denied bail by the Lahore High Court after being charged under Pakistan’s blasphemy laws, which carry the death penalty. He has been in custody since August 2025 following his arrest. The police accused him of making offensive statements about the Prophet Muhammad. His lawyer claims that the case is based on inconsistent statements, questionable timing and evidence that contradicts the police’s official version… — Morning Star News, 4 February 2026, Pakistan.
• «Blasphemy accusations are increasingly being used as a weapon to encourage mob violence, displace marginalised groups and seize their property without punishment.» — Morning Star News, 4 February 2026, Pakistan.
• A Christian leader and former Muslim, Dedi Saputra, was arrested on the basis of a TikTok video. Saputra had answered a question about religious conversion by saying that Muhammad had only one wife before he became a prophet, but a dozen wives afterwards. Despite the statement being historically correct (confirmed by an article in the magazine Suara Muhammadiyah), the Islamic sharia office in Aceh and several Islamic youth organisations reported him for «religious defamation» and «hate speech», claiming that the video «hurt Muslims’ feelings» and «triggered unrest». — Morning Star News, 27 February 2026, Indonesia.
• In Rome, a 35-year-old man was arrested in St Peter’s Basilica after attempting to enter the church with flammable liquids and ignition devices during a large mass led by the Pope. — Observatory for Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians in Europe, 3 February 2026, Italy.
• At least 20 Yemeni Christians were arrested or abducted from their homes or on the street. While some are confirmed to be in prisons run by the Houthis, others have «disappeared» and risk torture or execution because of their faith. Yemen is officially 99–100% Muslim; conversion to Christianity is punishable by death under Yemeni law. — International Christian Concern, 17 February 2026, Yemen.
• Recently adopted legislation constitutes an «existential threat» to non-Muslim representation. Parliamentary Bill No. 419, adopted on 28 January, revoked all sector certifications…» — International Christian Concern, 17 February 2026, Philippines.
• A Lebanese-born evangelist… was assaulted while preaching in the streets of Utrecht. A group of Muslim men interrupted his preaching and shouted Islamist slogans such as «Allah is one» and «Jesus is a man». The situation escalated when one of the men, apparently in an attempt to assert dominance, struck Elyas before bystanders intervened to stop the violence. — L’Observatoire de la Christianophobie, 22 February 2026, the Netherlands.
• Khaled explicitly swore to commit a mass killing – «I will kill everything I see in front of me, women, children and everything.» He also insulted Christianity by calling it «the dirtiest religion», [and] describes Germany as a «Nazi country»…. Despite a series of reports for insults, threats and damage to property (such as smashing glass bottles in the town hall car park), the police in West Hesse have only conducted «threat conversations» (Gefährderansprachen), but since no «serious crimes» have been committed, they apparently see no legal basis for an arrest yet. — L’Observatoire de la Christianophobie, 27 February 2026, Germany.
• Jameel Masih, a 14-year-old Christian boy who was forcibly converted to Islam, is being held illegally in custody by a Muslim landlord…. Minor children from minority groups are often converted to ensure permanent control over them as labour. — Morning Star News, 27 February 2026, Pakistan.
• Because their father is registered as Muslim, NADRA [National Database and Registration Authority] has also prevented his five children from registering as Christians on their national identity cards (CNICs). Without these cards, the children are excluded from education, banking services, voting rights and public support. Human rights advocates point out that the brick kiln sector uses financial advances (debt bondage) to trap illiterate Christian workers, thereby making them vulnerable to forced changes of religious identity. The Masih family, living in extreme poverty, lacks the means for the lengthy court cases required… Attempting to renounce a Muslim identity in Pakistan entails serious risks and can trigger mob violence or blasphemy accusations that can lead to death. — Morning Star News, 18 February 2026, Pakistan.

The following are examples of killings and assaults that Muslims have committed against Christians throughout February 2026.

Muslim massacres of Christians

Nigeria: According to a report from 13 February more than 100 Christians were killed and more than 90,000 displaced after months of coordinated attacks on rural communities since September 2025. In areas such as Takum, Ussa and Donga, armed groups have repeatedly attacked villages, killed residents, burned down homes, churches and crops, and forced survivors to flee to surrounding areas. Entire local communities have been wiped out. Many displaced families cannot return: the attackers are reportedly said to have seized agricultural land and go after those who try to return.
A report from 10 February details how Christian communities, amid ongoing kidnappings and killings, continue to live in fear. In one case, more than 160 Christians were abducted during church services – particularly in regions in Kaduna State.
A Catholic priest, Bobbo Paschal, was released after spending 61 days in captivity after being abducted during an attack in which another church member was killed and others were taken hostage.
On 6 February, nine Catholic churchgoers were abducted in Benue State during a nightly prayer vigil at a mission station. Armed terrorists stormed the church and abducted them to an unknown location, leading to calls for prayer and hasty rescue operations from the local diocese.
On 7 February, coordinated terror attacks on several predominantly Christian villages in Taraba State resulted in around 70 people losing their lives. Homes were burned down, food supplies destroyed and property looted, forcing many residents to flee into nearby forest areas or to neighbourhoods. Local leaders reported that at least 35 churches were vandalised or destroyed; a pastor was among the killed. One person was abducted; many others are still missing.
Survivors stated that there was no visible security force present during the attack, leaving the community defenceless.
According to a report from 6 February, Fulani herdsmen killed a Christian pastor, Rev. Bulus Madaki, along with his daughter and son-in-law in an ambush in Plateau State. Only the three-month-old grandchild survived, despite having received a serious cut from a machete, but she is now orphaned.
On 1 February, armed militants in Niger State carried out coordinated attacks targeting Christians. The terrorists burned down a police station, destroyed homes, kidnapped several residents and later set fire to an evangelical church belonging to the United Missionary Church of Africa. The violence also spread to Mashegu, where a Catholic convent and nearby clinic were attacked; the nuns managed to escape, but the medical facilities were looted and severely damaged.

Democratic Republic of the Congo: On 6 February, Islamist militants in the north-eastern region carried out coordinated attacks that killed at least 24 Christians, while burning down homes and spreading violence across North Kivu Province. Islamic State Central Africa Province (ISCAP) subsequently announced the massacre of «21 Christians … promised to Allah». They added: «Let the Christians in Africa know that there is no security for you except in Islam or jizya.» Since the end of 2024, ISCAP has reportedly killed many hundreds of Christians in the area and worsened an already severe humanitarian crisis.
In another incident, on 1 February, Muslim terrorists from the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) ravaged the village of Mamove and nearby communities. The terrorists killed at least eight Christians, burned down homes, shops and vehicles, destroyed the local economy and drove residents to flight. The terror and destruction paralysed the communities with widespread fear, hunger and trauma – particularly among children who had witnessed the violence. Many Christians lost their only sources of income, and local leaders have expressed anger and frustration at the lack of response from the authorities.

Muslim abduction of Christian girls

Pakistan: On 3 February Pakistan’s Federal Constitutional Court awarded custody of the 13-year-old Christian girl Maria Shahbaz to a 30-year-old Muslim man accused of having abducted, forcibly converted and married her. The court rejected her official birth certificate and ignored previous conclusions that the marriage was illegal, and instead accepted her explanation that she converted and married voluntarily – despite claims from the family and the lawyer that this occurred under coercion. Human rights advocates and the girl’s family criticised the ruling, pointed to evidence that the marriage certificate was forged and expressed concern about police passivity and possible complicity. They claim that the girl had been in the suspect’s custody for several months, which makes any explanation unreliable.
In another case, according to a report from 20 February, the 14-year-old Christian girl Sataish Maryam was abducted from her home in Punjab. Her family says she was forcibly converted to Islam and married off to a 26-year-old Muslim man, Ali Haider. Despite the family presenting a birth certificate proving that she was a minor, a judge handed the girl over to Haider.
The police are reportedly said to have omitted to include charges of child marriage, sexual intercourse with a minor or document forgery in the official report. The family is subjected to armed threats from the perpetrators to withdraw the report, while their lawyers have submitted a petition to the Supreme Court to challenge the «fabricated» conversion and marriage documents.

Egypt: According to a report from 16 February Silvana Atef, a minor Christian girl from Fayoum, disappeared and later appeared in a video in which she claimed to have converted to Islam. Under Egyptian law, because she is under 18, she lacks legal capacity to change her religious status. In the video, a woman standing behind Silvana refers to Christians as «kuffar» (unbelievers). Lawyers argue that this constitutes sectarian incitement and point to coercion from an older man who is allegedly involved in her disappearance. Although the prosecution reportedly ordered that she be placed in a social care institution, the family found no records of her being there. The institution is reportedly said to have claimed that they do not accept Christian residents. The family fears that the authorities are waiting for Silvana to turn eighteen in March, when her religious conversion will become legally binding. After conducting a silent protest to demand transparency at the Attorney General’s office, several family members, including Silvana’s uncles, were held back by the police until the evening. The family continues to demand to know why Silvana has not been returned to her legal guardians, and why her current whereabouts are still being kept secret despite a prosecution order. According to some, the incident sends a worrying message to Coptic families: all Coptic girls are in practice without protection from the state.

Muslim attacks on Christian freedom: Apostates, blasphemers and evangelists

Uganda: According to a report from 19 February a 62-year-old Muslim, Ahammada, killed his 33-year-old son, Juma, after the son had converted to Christianity. The father lured the son out of the home and used a panga (long knife) to stab him to death. According to the victim’s wife, Nangobi, the killing appeared planned: the father fled immediately and may have received help to escape. The couple had been subjected to constant threats from family members after they converted from Islam, she said:
«My father-in-law and other family members have insulted us … and promised to kill us all because we left Islam.»
The victim, who was the father of four small children, died despite attempts to get him to hospital. At the time the report was written, the police had not initiated any investigation.
In another incident, on 8 February, a group of masked men attacked two pastors, John Michael Okoel and Abraham Omoding, with violence as they were on their way home from an evening prayer meeting near Pallisa. The masked men, armed with sticks and knives and dressed in Islamic attire, accused them of blasphemy and of trying to convert Muslims, before beating them severely, causing one to lose consciousness and the other to sustain serious injuries, including a broken arm and lost teeth. In Pastor Okoel’s words,
«They began to accuse us of lying about Allah, of preaching that Allah has a Son and of converting their brothers and sisters. Before I had time to answer, one of them, Ali Kitaali, hit me, cut me near the mouth and hit me on the knee and hand. I lost consciousness.»
The attack only ceased when a passing vehicle approached, causing the Muslims to flee, after which the pastors were driven to medical treatment.

Egypt: On 23 February an Egyptian court rejected the appeal from the Coptic Christian Augustinos Semaan and upheld his five-year prison sentence for «contempt of religions» (blasphemy) under Section 98(f) of the Penal Code. Semaan, who is a researcher in comparative religious studies with a master’s degree in theology and affiliated with a prominent YouTube channel, was convicted for statements he made in which he defended Christianity and criticised Islam. The core of the case was his claim that Islam was spread by force, while Christianity was spread through preaching and love. Semaan’s lawyers argued that the verdict violated freedom of religion and belief. They pointed out that the trial fell far below minimum standards of justice: the defence was neither notified of the referral to trial nor given copies of the investigation material or the original ruling. The defence also proved that the arrest report was forged – the date on the report shows that it was written a full week after the arrest. Referring to the Egyptian Constitution and the Code of Criminal Procedure, they challenged the legality of monitoring Semaan’s social media accounts without a search warrant. Part of his defence team, the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EPPR), condemned the verdict as unconstitutional: Article 98(f) «undermines the right to equality and non-discrimination, hinders the right to a fair trial and the right to defence, and opens the way for scrutiny of citizens’ beliefs.»
In another incident, according to a report from 16 February, those who have converted to Christianity in Egypt face significant challenges and risks when attending church: official identity cards state religion, and most converts are still registered as Muslims. Since many churches require ID checks for security reasons, this can expose converts or prevent them from entering, thereby forcing them to resort to methods such as attending less strict churches, using personal contacts or informally proving their faith. Many also live in secret within their families and communities, as open conversion can lead to social hostility or even violence.

Pakistan: On 4 February, a blind Christian man, Nadeem Masih, was denied bail by the Lahore High Court after being charged under Pakistan’s blasphemy laws, which carry the death penalty. He has been in custody since August 2025 following his arrest. The police accused him of making offensive statements about the Prophet Muhammad. His lawyer claims that the case is based on inconsistent statements, questionable timing and evidence that contradicts the police’s official version, including claims that key witnesses reported the incident long after it allegedly took place. Masih’s family claims that the accusation followed a conflict with local park contractors who had previously harassed and exploited him. They claim that he was beaten and subjected to coercion after being placed in custody. Despite his disability, education and role as the family’s sole provider, the court denied bail on the grounds that he could flee or influence witnesses.
In a separate report from 5 February, a court acquitted two Christian nurses, Mariam Lal and Navish Arooj, of blasphemy charges after nearly four years. The women were arrested in 2021 following accusations from a Muslim colleague that they had desecrated an Islamic sticker at a hospital. Although they were released on bail after five months, they remained in hiding due to threats while the case was ongoing. The case is notable because lower courts in Pakistan rarely acquit in blasphemy cases due to social pressure and security risks. Human rights organisations point out that such laws are often misused to target minorities, which in some cases leads to violence, threats or personal exploitation. Despite the acquittal, there remains concern for the women’s safety and ability to rebuild their lives. According to Human Rights Watch,
«Blasphemy accusations are increasingly being used as a weapon to encourage mob violence, displace marginalised groups and seize their property without punishment.»

South Sudan: According to a report from 24 February, Mosab Haroon Ahmed, a 31-year-old Sudanese refugee in Gorom refugee camp near Juba, faces credible death threats after converting from Islam to Christianity. Ahmed’s conversion triggered immediate hostility from Muslim extremists in the camp: «After I started believing in Jesus, radical Muslims began persecuting me and other converts,» he said. When his family in Darfur in Sudan was informed that he had converted to Christianity, they distanced themselves from him and approved his killing in accordance with strict Islamic views on apostasy. «My family wants me dead,» said Ahmed. In fear of an «honour killing» or violence from the crowd, he has since sought refuge inside a church. The local pastor confirmed that Ahmed is in constant danger, as the extremists know where he is.
In another incident, on 19 February, Pastor Lino Pasquale from Hai Baraka Pentecostal Church was abducted while out fishing. His body was found six days later; church leaders said he was «subjected to a targeted attack and killed by an unknown gunman». The incident follows the killing of Pastor Christopher Maring, a leading figure in the Africa Inland Church, who was shot and killed in his home in a suburb of Juba on 14 January 2026. Leaders in the Sudan Pentecostal Church (SPC) expressed deep sorrow at the loss of a «faithful shepherd» and called his killing an «abominable and targeted murder».

Indonesia: On 18 February, a Christian leader and former Muslim, Dedi Saputra, was arrested on the basis of a TikTok video. Saputra had answered a question about religious conversion by saying that Muhammad had only one wife before he became a prophet, but a dozen wives afterwards. Despite the statement being historically correct (confirmed by an article in the magazine Suara Muhammadiyah), the Islamic sharia office in Aceh and several Islamic youth organisations reported him for «religious defamation» and «hate speech», claiming that the video «hurt Muslims’ feelings» and «triggered unrest». Advocates accused the police of bias and of focusing on «controlling citizens’ beliefs» rather than protecting constitutional religious freedom.

Muslim attacks on Christian churches

USA: On 28 February police in San Francisco arrested 51-year-old Sadat Mousa for defacing a church with swastikas, antisemitic language and homophobic slurs. The damage to the property is estimated to exceed 20,000 dollars. Although not officially confirmed by the police, a social media account matching the suspect’s name and residence contains several extremist posts. These include shares calling for violence against Jews, praising Hamas and the slogan «Palestine from the river to the sea». The suspect’s social media activity is reportedly said to include messages that denigrate Christianity, such as «learn from their bloody Jesus», and claims that Palestinians «will never share heaven with devils».

Syria: On Sunday 1 February a Muslim man, with a Quran in hand and while shouting «Allahu akbar», entered the Melkite Greek Cathedral Al Zaitoun (Patriarchate headquarters) before Sunday mass.
Two weeks later, on Sunday 15 February, a Muslim man entered the Syriac Catholic Church Our Lady of Deliverance in the city of Qatana, where he began making «offensive remarks about their faith».
The intruder also repeatedly recited a verse from the Quran, creating fear and panic among the churchgoers present.

Armenia: According to a report from 11 February, an Armenian church in Vaghuhas, in the Artsakh region (Nagorno-Karabakh), was subjected to vandalism in January 2026. Saint Mary Church is reportedly said to have been desecrated, with visible damage, including a destroyed khachkar, a traditional carved stone cross, which is an important symbol of Armenian Christian heritage. The incident reflects the ongoing desecration of cultural and religious sites in the region, where tensions have led to repeated destruction of historical and religious landmarks.

Italy: According to a report from 22 February, San Sepolcro Church in Piacenza experiences nightly «escalations» of vandalism, littering and damage to property. In addition to accumulation of alcohol bottles and rubbish, the building itself has been subjected to attacks. The vandalism includes cracked load-bearing columns, broken flower boxes, torn-up cobblestones and bricks torn out of the outer walls. Parish priest Iuri Ursachi attributes the behaviour to a particular group of youths and points to a lack of respect for the religious site: «The blame always lies with the same group of boys, mostly North Africans.» He told that he confronted them by asking: «Do you behave like this in your mosque?»
Another group of teenagers stormed the parish centre San Pietro Viminario during an event with local families. The teenagers vandalised the premises and then occupied the monastery garden. For several months, the same group has been behind vandalism, disturbances of public order (firecrackers and moped riding) and physical harassment – including spitting in the face of a teenage girl.
Finally, on 2 February in Rome, a 35-year-old man was arrested in St Peter’s Basilica after attempting to enter the church while carrying flammable liquids and ignition devices during a large mass led by the Pope. Security personnel stopped the man before he could enter, thereby preventing a potential disaster for the large crowd present. The authorities believe the suspect has connections to previous arson attacks against churches in Rome, including San Giacomo in Via del Corso and San Lorenzo in Lucina.

Nigeria: On 1 February, Muslim bandits carried out an attack early in the morning on the Agwara community in Niger State, where they attacked a police station, burned down parts of a United Methodist church and abducted at least five people.
In another incident, on 26 February, arsonists targeted St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Katchuan Iruan. They set fire to the sacristy and completely destroyed all the church’s historical and religious archives. In addition, two vehicles parked on the premises were burned.

Democratic Republic of the Congo: During the night between 15 and 16 February unknown perpetrators broke into and desecrated a Catholic church in Bule. They tore off the church’s shutters, broke open the tabernacle and scattered the consecrated communion breads across the floor.

General Muslim abuses against Christians

Yemen: According to a report from 17 February, at least 20 Yemeni Christians were arrested or abducted from their homes or on the street. While some are confirmed to be in prisons run by Houthi militia, others have «disappeared» and risk torture or execution because of their faith. Yemen is officially 99–100% Muslim; conversion to Christianity is punishable by death under Yemeni law. The state and various governing bodies do not officially recognise any Christian minority. The current local church grew after foreign missionaries were martyred at the hands of Islamist extremists: In 2002, an Islamist jihadist killed three American missionaries at Jibla Baptist Hospital to «cleanse his religion and come closer to God». In 2012, Al-Qaeda killed an American teacher in Taiz to «spread Christianity». In 2016, armed men from the Islamic State killed four nuns and 12 others at a nursing home in Aden. In 2017, almost all foreign missionaries had left Yemen, but various Christian organisations monitor and report on the situation in Yemen.

Iran: According to a report from 19 February, fewer Christians were convicted in 2025 (73) compared to 2024 (96), the sentences were significantly stricter, with a total prison sentence of 280 years. The state officially labelled many of them as «Mossad mercenaries» and accused them of acting on behalf of a «Zionist Christian evangelisation movement» that was trained by the USA and Israel. The persecution intensified significantly in 2025: 254 Christians were arrested – almost a doubling from the 139 arrests recorded in 2024. 90% of the cases were brought under Article 500, which criminalises «propaganda contrary to the holy Islamic religion». The government also increasingly criminalised possession of imported Bibles. A Christian convert, Aida Najaflou, was sentenced to 17 years for «evangelisation, prayer and celebration of Christmas». She was charged with «propaganda against the regime» and «actions against national security». Despite sustaining a spinal fracture in prison, she was reportedly taken back to her cell on a stretcher and denied a proper convalescence period in hospital. Najaflou’s case is one of many. According to the report, Christian prisoners are subjected to serious abuses, including «denial of healthcare, psychological torture and even physical abuse».
Another report from 5 February sheds light on the strictly limited conditions experienced by a small Orthodox Christian community. Church services are rare, mainly limited to Holy Week, and must be conducted in Greek to avoid accusations of proselytising. The community cannot freely perform sacraments such as baptism or marriage, and visits by clergy are rare. Believers must therefore wait years to be able to participate fully in religious life. Priests must act discreetly, wear civilian clothes and limit their movements for security reasons. Some people, who are officially counted as Muslims, practise Christianity in secret, which exposes them to serious danger if discovered. Father Nikiforos described the situation:
«On Saturday evening, after the resurrection service had ended, two people of Iranian origin secretly approached me. They asked me to give them communion after the other believers had left the church. They lived in Tehran, and to the outside world they were counted as Muslims! It must not become known that they had received communion, because in that case their lives would be in danger. Although they are officially counted as Muslims, they had been baptised as Orthodox Christians during a previous visit to an Orthodox country.»

Philippines: A report from 17 February revealed that Christian settler leaders in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) warned the senate that new legislation constitutes an «existential threat» to non-Muslim representation. Parliamentary Bill No. 419, adopted on 28 January, revoked all sector certifications and forced over 260 Christian settler groups to re-register within a strict 15-day deadline, thereby «erasing the hard-won legitimacy» of their organisations. The leaders also opposed replacing sector-controlled «reserved seats» with region-wide elections, arguing that this reduces the protection of minorities to a «popularity contest» and risks a «tyranny of the majority». They warn that disenfranchisement could undermine missionaries’ security, economic rights and the region’s inclusive «Tri-People» framework.

the Netherlands: According to a report from 22 February, Elyas, a Lebanese-born evangelist who has lived in the Netherlands for 26 years, was attacked while preaching on the streets of Utrecht. A group of Muslim men interrupted his preaching and shouted Islamist slogans such as «Allah is one» and «Jesus is a man». The situation escalated when one of the men, apparently in an attempt to assert dominance, struck Elyas before bystanders intervened to stop the violence. The police arrived and dispersed the group, although it remains unclear whether the attacker was arrested.

Germany: A 35-year-old Afghan man attacked three Jehovah’s Witnesses at Würzburg central station, where he attempted to stab a 68-year-old man and assaulted two others. Bystanders, including an off-duty police officer, overpowered him before serious injuries occurred.
In another case, according to a report from 27 February, a 34-year-old Syrian man named Khaled K. has since 2024 terrorised the Hessian municipality of Kriftel. He has sent the municipal administration more than 100 emails filled with anti-Christian insults, hatred of Germans and misogyny. At the beginning of 2026 the threats escalated. Khaled explicitly swore to commit a mass killing – «I will kill everything I see in front of me, women, children and everything.» He also insulted Christianity as the «dirtiest religion», described Germany as a «Nazi country» and insulted Jesus and Mary with the most vulgar expressions. Despite a series of reports for insults, threats and damage to property (such as smashing glass bottles in the town hall car park), the police in West Hesse have only conducted «threat conversations» (Gefährderansprachen), but since no «serious crimes» have been committed, they apparently see no legal basis for an arrest yet.

Pakistan: Jameel Masih, a 14-year-old Christian boy who was forcibly converted to Islam, is being held illegally in custody by a Muslim landlord, Muhammad Boota Bajwa. Due to extreme poverty, Jameel was sent five years ago to work in Bajwa’s barn. The family was only paid in grain – approximately 200 kg of wheat annually (worth around 58 dollars) – a practice human rights activists describe as forced labour. On 22 February, after the family managed to get Jameel home for a short while, Bajwa and two armed men are said to have attacked the parents and forcibly torn the boy back. The family later saw a TikTok video of Jameel wearing an Islamic cap while Muslim songs were playing. Local residents confirmed that the boy had been converted to Islam. Activist Napolean Qayyum points out that minor children from minority groups are often converted to ensure permanent control over them as labour.
In another incident, according to a report from 18 February, Sadiq Masih, a Christian brick kiln worker in Punjab, was forced to convert to Islam and change his name to «Muhammad Sadiq» several years ago, while in debt to an employer. Although he is still a practising Christian, the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) refuses to correct the information in his register. Because their father is registered as Muslim, NADRA has also prevented his five children from registering as Christians on their national identity cards (CNICs). Without these cards, the children are excluded from education, banking services, voting rights and public support. Human rights advocates point out that the brick kiln sector uses financial advances (debt bondage) to trap illiterate Christian workers, thereby making them vulnerable to forced changes of religious identity. The Masih family, living in extreme poverty, lacks the means for the lengthy court cases required to prove an «administrative error», leaving them trapped in a Muslim legal identity they do not profess. Lawyer Lazar Allah Rakha points out that while conversion to Islam is handled without problems, conversion from Islam (apostasy) is met with suspicion and effectively blocked by administrative practice. Attempting to renounce a Muslim identity in Pakistan entails serious risks under Section 295-A (offence against religious feelings) and can trigger mob violence or blasphemy accusations that can lead to death.