At just 21 years of age, Mishal carries both visible and emotional scars from an experience that changed the course of her life. A faint scar beneath her eye and another across her throat remain as permanent reminders of the violence she says she endured. Yet the deepest wounds are the trauma, fear and emotional suffering left by years of alleged abuse, religious coercion and isolation.
Born into a poor Christian family, Mishal never had the opportunity to attend school. Instead, she began working at a local beauty salon while still a teenager to help support her parents.
It was there that she met a female customer who later introduced her to a man named Ali Haider.
According to Mishal, Ali repeatedly tried to establish a relationship with her despite her clear refusals. She alleges that he eventually persuaded her to accompany him to a private location under false pretences.
Once there, Mishal says she was pressured into signing documents that she did not understand. She later discovered that the documents recorded her conversion to Islam and that she had been given the name “Fatima.”
When she protested and refused to accept the conversion, she alleges that she was physically assaulted.
Shortly afterwards, Mishal says several armed men entered her family home despite her father’s objections and forcibly took her away.
According to her account, she was then moved between Lahore and Gujranwala, where she remained for approximately three and a half years.
During that time, Mishal alleges that she endured repeated physical violence, intimidation and continuous pressure concerning her Christian faith. Rather than living as an equal partner in marriage, she says she was forced to perform household labour, deprived of her freedom and prevented from maintaining contact with her family.
During this period, she also became the mother of a daughter.
Despite years of isolation, Mishal eventually found an opportunity to escape with her young child and return to her parents.
After reaching safety, she sought legal assistance from The EDGE Foundation.
The Foundation documented her allegations, arranged legal representation and supported her through the family court proceedings. With legal assistance, Mishal successfully obtained the dissolution of the alleged marriage, allowing her to begin rebuilding her life with the support of her family.
Legal action did not end there.
In addition to the family court proceedings, a criminal case was registered against her former husband. Following police action, he was arrested and remains in judicial custody while criminal proceedings continue before the courts.
Today, Mishal is gradually rebuilding her life in the safety of her parents’ home while raising her young daughter.
Although she continues to live with the psychological effects of her ordeal, she has regained her freedom and is beginning to look towards the future with renewed hope.
Her case illustrates the devastating impact that allegations of forced conversion, domestic abuse and prolonged isolation can have on vulnerable women. It also demonstrates the vital importance of accessible legal aid, effective law enforcement and judicial protection for survivors seeking to escape abusive situations.
For many women facing similar circumstances, access to legal representation can mean the difference between remaining trapped in abuse and having the opportunity to rebuild their lives. Mishal’s journey stands as a reminder that, despite years of suffering, justice and freedom remain possible when survivors receive the protection and legal support they need.