Joseph Janssen

Archbishop Khalid Rahmat of the Catholic Church, Lahore Diocese, protests against the Federal Constitutional Court’s decision regarding the case of minor girl Maria Shahbaz.

#Pakistan Human Rights Advocates Condemn Court Judgment Validating Child Marriage – Jubilee Campaign USA #ForcedConversions @weimers @anjahaga @EamonGilmore @JubileeC @AllianceMap @juliabicknell @TomObokata jubileecampaign.org/pakistani-huma…

#Pakistan : #UN / #EU Pakistan Federal Constitutional Court’s approval of the marriage of 12-year-old Christian girl Maria Shahbaz raises serious human rights concerns. Despite credible allegations of abduction, police inaction, and documentary evidence confirming her minor age, the Court upheld the marriage and dismissed her father’s habeas corpus petition. Official records establish her date of birth as 07 October 2012, while the marriage certificate contains conflicting information and lacks her signature. The reported circumstances—claims of coerced conversion, disputed consent, and procedural irregularities—underscore significant gaps in protection for vulnerable children. This decision appears inconsistent with obligations under domestic law, including the Punjab Child Marriage Restraint Act, and broader commitments to safeguard children from exploitation, forced marriage, and abuse. Urgent review, accountability, and strengthened legal safeguards are essential to ensure the protection of minors, uphold the rule of law, and maintain public confidence in the justice system. #ForcedConversions @weimers @anjahaga @EamonGilmore @JubileeC @AllianceMap @juliabicknell @TomObokata @EU_Commission @DavidAltonHL

The European Parliament event, hosted by @anjahaga and @weimers , brought together voices to combat coerced faith conversion and sexual violence against minority women and girls in #Pakistan/#Egypt #ForcedConversions

#Pakistan : #UN / #EU Pakistan Federal Constitutional Court’s approval of the marriage of 12-year-old Christian girl Maria Shahbaz raises serious human rights concerns. Despite credible allegations of abduction, police inaction, and documentary evidence confirming her minor age, the Court upheld the marriage and dismissed her father’s habeas corpus petition. Official records establish her date of birth as 07 October 2012, while the marriage certificate contains conflicting information and lacks her signature. The reported circumstances—claims of coerced conversion, disputed consent, and procedural irregularities—underscore significant gaps in protection for vulnerable children. This decision appears inconsistent with obligations under domestic law, including the Punjab Child Marriage Restraint Act, and broader commitments to safeguard children from exploitation, forced marriage, and abuse. Urgent review, accountability, and strengthened legal safeguards are essential to ensure the protection of minors, uphold the rule of law, and maintain public confidence in the justice system. #ForcedConversions @weimers @anjahaga @EamonGilmore @JubileeC @AllianceMap @juliabicknell @TomObokata @EU_Commission @DavidAltonHL

#Pakistan : #UN / #EU Pakistan Federal Constitutional Court’s approval of the marriage of 12-year-old Christian girl Maria Shahbaz raises serious human rights concerns. Despite credible allegations of abduction, police inaction, and documentary evidence confirming her minor age, the Court upheld the marriage and dismissed her father’s habeas corpus petition. Official records establish her date of birth as 07 October 2012, while the marriage certificate contains conflicting information and lacks her signature. The reported circumstances—claims of coerced conversion, disputed consent, and procedural irregularities—underscore significant gaps in protection for vulnerable children. This decision appears inconsistent with obligations under domestic law, including the Punjab Child Marriage Restraint Act, and broader commitments to safeguard children from exploitation, forced marriage, and abuse. Urgent review, accountability, and strengthened legal safeguards are essential to ensure the protection of minors, uphold the rule of law, and maintain public confidence in the justice system. #ForcedConversions @weimers @anjahaga @EamonGilmore @JubileeC @AllianceMap @juliabicknell @TomObokata @EU_Commission @DavidAltonHL

For more details & to support our work,visit jubileecampaign.online Don't forget to like & subscribe to our channel for more information about #Christian #persecution around world #ForcedConversion #SexualViolence #Pakistan @anjahaga @weimers @Europarl_EN youtu.be/KIsZ_hMTsys?si…

#Pakistan : #UN / #EU Pakistan Federal Constitutional Court’s approval of the marriage of 12-year-old Christian girl Maria Shahbaz raises serious human rights concerns. Despite credible allegations of abduction, police inaction, and documentary evidence confirming her minor age, the Court upheld the marriage and dismissed her father’s habeas corpus petition. Official records establish her date of birth as 07 October 2012, while the marriage certificate contains conflicting information and lacks her signature. The reported circumstances—claims of coerced conversion, disputed consent, and procedural irregularities—underscore significant gaps in protection for vulnerable children. This decision appears inconsistent with obligations under domestic law, including the Punjab Child Marriage Restraint Act, and broader commitments to safeguard children from exploitation, forced marriage, and abuse. Urgent review, accountability, and strengthened legal safeguards are essential to ensure the protection of minors, uphold the rule of law, and maintain public confidence in the justice system. #ForcedConversions @weimers @anjahaga @EamonGilmore @JubileeC @AllianceMap @juliabicknell @TomObokata @EU_Commission @DavidAltonHL

Nov 10, 2023: Protesters outside the European Parliament demand justice for victims of religious persecution in #Pakistan EU Parliamentarian @weimers condemns forced conversions, calling for release of Anwar Kenneth & an end abuse of blasphemy laws #EU daily-sun.com/post/721040

#Pakistan : #UN / #EU Pakistan Federal Constitutional Court’s approval of the marriage of 12-year-old Christian girl Maria Shahbaz raises serious human rights concerns. Despite credible allegations of abduction, police inaction, and documentary evidence confirming her minor age, the Court upheld the marriage and dismissed her father’s habeas corpus petition. Official records establish her date of birth as 07 October 2012, while the marriage certificate contains conflicting information and lacks her signature. The reported circumstances—claims of coerced conversion, disputed consent, and procedural irregularities—underscore significant gaps in protection for vulnerable children. This decision appears inconsistent with obligations under domestic law, including the Punjab Child Marriage Restraint Act, and broader commitments to safeguard children from exploitation, forced marriage, and abuse. Urgent review, accountability, and strengthened legal safeguards are essential to ensure the protection of minors, uphold the rule of law, and maintain public confidence in the justice system. #ForcedConversions @weimers @anjahaga @EamonGilmore @JubileeC @AllianceMap @juliabicknell @TomObokata @EU_Commission @DavidAltonHL

Organize a hearing involving #victims & affected families of #forced #religious #conversions in #Pakistan, @JosephjansenVFJ said #SexualViolence #ChildRape #ChildMarriage @anjahaga @weimers @Europarl_EN @UN @FOREF_EU @USCIRF @UN_HRC @NazilaGhanea @RKionka whitepostcom.wordpress.com/2023/11/07/eur…

Human rights defenders condemn a court ruling upholding a child marriage involving a minor Christian girl, warning of serious risks to minority rights and justice in Pakistan. Read more: thefridaytimes.com/28-Mar-2026/co… #childmarriages #HumanRights #childrights #MariaShahbazCase

Child Marriage is Not a Right— It Is A Violation Of Human Right @JosephjansenVFJ @BBhuttoZardari @AseefaBZ @Qamarrafiquk @peterjdavidson @jkenney @DavidAltonHL

Pakistan ranks 8th on the Open Doors World Watch List 2026, remaining among the 10 most dangerous countries for Christians. I raised this at the European Parliament event on FoRB—laws exist, but forced conversions, blasphemy abuse, and impunity persist. Implementation and accountability are urgently needed. #google_vignette" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">eurasiareview.com/29012026-pakis…

Nasilje nad kristjani je najbolj spregledano sistematično kršenje ČP na svetu. V #EP sem sogostil dogodek @OpenDoors, na katerem je bilo predstavljeno letno poročilo o preganjanju kristjanov. Številke so alarmantne: 388 milijonov kristjanov je preganjanih, vsak dan je zaradi svoje vere ubitih 13 kristjanov. Pretresljive so bile osebne izpovedi preganjanih iz Jemna in Nigerije, ki sporočajo: “Evropski poslanci spregovorite v imenu tistih, ki ne morejo (več) govoriti.” @EU_Commission pozivam, da čim prej imenuje posebnega odposlanca za svobodo vere in končno uporabi ekonomske in diplomatske vzvode, da se sistematično ubijanje konča. Zahvala številnim poslancem iz obeh polov, ki ste se dogodka udeležili. #EU ne more več gledati stran! @EPPGroup @MiriamMLex @hjaruissen

BREAKING: President Trump announces "powerful and deadly" strikes on ISIS in Nigeria. The terrorist group has reportedly attacked and killed thousands of Christians in the country over the past year.

Merry Christmas to all of you—may God’s grace, joy, and blessings be with you today and always.

In Pakistan, there has been a massive surge in cases where Christians and religious minorities are accused of alleged "blasphemy." The accusations come under the country's blasphemy laws, which violate religious freedom and are used to target and silence Christian voices.

Konferenca o preganjanju kristjanov v južni Aziji. @DruzinaSi druzina.si/clanek/oci-pre…

Pakistani blasphemy law victim Shagufta Kausar thanked both God and the European parliament for her release from a Punjabi prison while in Brussels yesterday. brusselssignal.eu/2025/12/blasph…

🛑 The EU must stop turning a blind eye to religious persecution. ECR MEP @hjaruissen held a conference today on the alarming rise of targeted violence against Christians in South Asia. Shagufta Kausar, who was falsely accused of blasphemy, imprisoned for eight years and sentenced to death, shared her story in the European Parliament. She is far from the only one. Many Christians in the region face intimidation, blasphemy accusations, and forced conversions. MEP @hjaruissen called on the EU for freedom of religion to be a real condition for GSP+ trade benefits. Too many countries still violate this right while enjoying reduced import duties. This must be put to an end.

“The EU should be the promoter of Freedom of Religion or Belief worldwide, but we need to show it through facts, not words.” - MEP Tonin. Thank you to @MatejTonin and @hjaruissen for hosting yesterday’s event on Targeted Violence against Christians in South Asia. 👉 Read our full press release:

In the #EP, deeply moving personal testimonies echoed from Christians in Pakistan and South Asia who have been brutally persecuted because of their faith. Shagufta Kausar was a victim of torture due to “blasphemy” charges and spent 8 years in prison. Thanks to pressure from the #EP, she was released. The #EU has the tools to prevent the persecution of Christians around the world — and this was the key conclusion of the event. Political pressure from the European Parliament is important, but the EU also has powerful economic tools in its hands to pressure governments into ensuring religious freedom and stopping persecution. Christians are today the most persecuted religious group in the world, and it is vital that we speak about this publicly and loudly. The eyes of millions of Christians worldwide are turned towards the #EU. They expect stronger action and protection from us. @EPPGroup @EU_Commission @Europarl_EN @hjaruissen @ADFIntl

De Pakistaanse christen Shagufta Kausar werd in 2013 ter dood veroordeeld omdat ze negatieve smsjes over de islam zou hebben gestuurd - ze had niet eens een telefoon. Mede door druk van Europarlement, kwam ze na 8 jaar vrij. Een eer om haar vandaag in Brussel te mogen ontmoeten.