At the age of twenty, Aden Sabir should have been planning her future. Instead, she and her family are living in fear, separated from one another and constantly changing their routines after what they describe as months of threats, harassment and intimidation.
According to Aden, her ordeal began on 3 July 2025 when she was allegedly abducted from Jaranwala by her cousin, Usman Ali, formerly known by his Christian name, Neeraj Safeer.
Aden says the accused had previously proposed marriage to her in 2019, but she rejected the proposal because of what she describes as his involvement in criminal activities. Although his family later arranged another marriage for him, she alleges that he continued to pursue her.
According to Aden, Usman converted to Islam in March 2025 and later renewed his efforts to force her into marriage.
She alleges that on the day of the incident, the accused arrived with approximately 30 to 35 men and threatened to kill her only brother if she refused to accompany him.
Fearing for her brother’s life, Aden says she felt she had no choice but to comply.
According to her account, she was taken to Lahore and held at an undisclosed location where only men were present. She alleges that she remained there for between ten and fifteen days, isolated from her family and subjected to intense psychological pressure and fear.
She was later moved to another house where several women were also present.
Aden says she eventually found an opportunity to escape and made her way back to her family home in Jaranwala.
After returning, she informed her family about what had happened, and an FIR was reportedly registered.
According to Aden, despite the registration of the case, little progress followed. She says the family sought legal assistance from another organisation, which initially assured them that her statements would be formally recorded. However, after waiting seven to eight months without significant progress, she alleges that the organisation informed them her statement could not be recorded and instead assisted her in obtaining a divorce.
Although the marriage was dissolved, Aden says her difficulties did not end.
She alleges that the accused continued to contact her family by telephone, appeared outside their home accompanied by groups of men, and repeatedly threatened to abduct her again.
According to the family, the accused also fired shots outside their home and threatened to kill Aden’s brother.
Fearing for their safety, the family left Jaranwala and relocated to Faisalabad, where they sought temporary shelter with the assistance of members of the local Christian community.
Even after relocating, Aden alleges that the threats continued.
She claims the accused publicly stated that she had converted to Islam and remained legally married to him, insisting that he would take her back by force. According to Aden, he also claimed that he had no fear of the police or the legal system.
As a result of the continuing threats, the family has been forced to live apart for their own safety.
Aden and her mother are currently staying in a safe location in Faisalabad, while her father and only brother remain in hiding elsewhere to reduce the risk of further attacks.
Seeking protection and legal assistance, the family approached The EDGE Foundation in May 2026.
Representatives of the Foundation visited the family in Faisalabad on 26 May 2026 to assess their situation and document their allegations. A second visit followed on 4 June 2026, when Director Azhar Saeed, accompanied by Advocate Sohail Shahid Gill and other members of the legal team, met the family again.
During the visit, the Foundation provided emergency financial assistance to help cover food and rental accommodation and arranged legal representation to pursue the family’s case.
On 9 June 2026, Advocate Sohail Shahid Gill submitted an application to the relevant police authorities requesting legal action and protection for Aden and her family.
The Foundation continues to monitor the case while exploring further legal remedies aimed at securing protection for the family and ensuring that the allegations receive a full investigation.
Aden’s case highlights the long-term challenges faced by some survivors of alleged forced marriage and abduction. Human rights advocates have repeatedly expressed concern that victims may continue to face intimidation and threats even after escaping abusive situations, particularly when effective witness protection and victim support mechanisms are limited.
Today, Aden’s greatest hope is simply to live without fear. While she and her family continue to await legal protection and justice, their case serves as a reminder that survivors often require not only legal representation but also ongoing humanitarian support, safe accommodation and long-term protection to rebuild their lives after traumatic experiences.