Seven women kidnapped, forcefully converted to Islam and married in Nigeria
According to HACFO, six young women and one older married lady were kidnapped, forcefully converted to Islam, and married off to Muslim men in the past two months. Five girls were kidnapped in Kaduna State, one in Kano Satte, and the already married lady was taken from Katsina State. The Hausa Christians Foundation (HACFO) has been working on these tragic incidences of abduction and forceful Islamization, despite the fact that the lockdown has limited their efforts.
These kind of abductions and forced marriages are becoming more common. ICC has partnered with groups in Nigeria to rescue several girls who were taken in the past year. Often these girls tell of being grabbed or drugged by men. They often then remember waking up in a room with an Islamic woman teaching them Arabic and the Quran.
When parents try to interfere and rescue their children, they are met with resistance and threats by the community, police and judges, especially in the twelve Northern States where Sharia Law is legal. In these states, Christians have secondary citizenship and Islamic law holds the power. This often makes it hard or impossible for parents to rescue their daughters.
Thankfully, two of the girls, according to the Hausa Christians Foundation (HACFO), have already been freed. However, for the other five, it is unsure if these women will ever be free.
Continue to the whole article here
Featured picture is from a video released by Boko Haram on Aug. 14, 2016 of the girls allegedly kidnapped from Chibok in April 2014, showing some who are still alive.
