Pakistani Christian Family Seeks Return of 15-Year-Old Boy Allegedly Pressured to Convert to Islam
The parents of 15-year-old Sagar Masih, a Christian boy from Pakistan’s Punjab province, are appealing for his safe return, alleging that he was pressured to abandon his Christian faith and convert to Islam while working at a factory. According to the United Kingdom-based Centre for Legal Aid, Assistance and Settlement (CLAAS-UK), the case reflects broader concerns about reported religious conversion cases involving underage Christian boys in Pakistan.
Sagar’s family alleges that his co-workers encouraged him to adopt Islamic prayer practices and pressured him to change his religion, sometimes offering incentives. The family, which belongs to a low-income Christian household, said Sagar had taken the factory job to help support them financially. They also claimed that the factory recorded his name as “Sagar Muhammad” instead of his legal name, Sagar Masih.
According to reports cited by Worthy News, Sagar was allegedly expected to perform Islamic prayers five times a day before his conversion. His family reportedly spent several days searching for him before discovering video footage showing him alongside religious clerics and other individuals. They subsequently approached the police, seeking his return and clarification about the circumstances surrounding the alleged conversion.
However, the family claims that police informed them that Sagar had already converted to Islam and that any further action would have to be pursued through the courts. His father also alleged that officers provided contradictory information regarding when and how his son could return home. Family members further claimed that Sagar initially expressed a desire to return with them but was later pressured to remain separated from his relatives.
CLAAS-UK Director Nasir Saeed expressed concern over the teenager’s safety and welfare, emphasizing that he must be treated first and foremost as a child requiring protection. He stressed that freedom of religion is a fundamental right and that any religious choice must be made voluntarily, without coercion, threats, inducements or exploitation of a child’s economic vulnerability.
The case has renewed concerns among Christian advocacy groups about the protection of religious freedom and the rights of minors in Pakistan. The family’s allegations highlight the importance of an impartial investigation, safeguarding the teenager’s welfare and ensuring that any decision concerning his religious identity is made freely, without pressure or intimidation.
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