Pakistani Christian Women Are Leaving Their Faith – In Order to Obtain a Divorce

Winchester, VA – Religionnews.com reports that divorce law in Pakistan is coming under fire in Pakistan for the differing conditions under which Christians and Muslims may obtain their divorces. For Muslims, there is a wide range of qualifying reasons to obtain a divorce. Christians, on the other hand, have only four qualifying reasons: adultery, which is a criminal offense, conversion to Islam, bigamy, and cruelty, which is not really stigmatized in Pakistan. Pakistani Christians like Shameela Masih, a woman who lives with a very physically abusive husband and mother-in-law, say their options are to either indisputably prove adultery, which is unlikely, or to convert to Islam to obtain a divorce. Masih says, “My family tells me that they will disown me as a Muslim, but I don’t have a choice.” Catholic Bishop James Mathew said, “you cannot just amend the laws of God. Marriage is a sacrament, not a contract.” Masih blew off the Bishop’s statement because he was not a married man, except well, he is. To the Church.