Pakistani Brides Trafficked in China

Jul 7, 2019 | Asia, China, NEWS

Culture & Travel 

Pakistan Bride, China – SCMP/AP 

Vulnerable Pakistani brides are tricked into marrying Chinese men in China and are subjected to horrible acts such as abuse, organ extraction, and prostitution.

The number of Pakistani woman being trafficked to China to marry Chinese men are at an all-time high. Most girls are being sold by their parents.

Although the marriage of two Christians might seem perfect, it is a nightmare for Pakistani women. A few months after their union, the Pakistani brides will be back again in their home country to escape a life of abuse and sexual servitude in China.

The market for Pakistani wives has grown dramatically in recent years.  There have even been reports of clergy members in Asian news which suggest they are assisting traffickers in exchange for a huge sum.

The clergy usually finds poor women and promises their family thousands of dollars if they give their daughter’s hand in marriage. Chinese men also offer to shoulder the wedding expenses which will comply with strict Pakistani customs.

The parents are told that their children are marrying rich Chinese Christians. Unfortunately, those are all false promises since most men are neither wealthy nor Christians.

Although young women do not agree to marry, they do not have a choice.  Many of them are even stuck in China and cannot find a way to contact their family and come back home due to poverty and language barrier.

“This is human smuggling. Greed is really responsible for these marriages. I have met with some of these girls and they are very poor,” said Ijaz Alam Augustine, Punjab’s human right and minorities minister.

According to Augustine, the Chinese government and its embassy in Pakistan is not paying attention to the issue. Many reports indicate that the agencies even issue travel documents and visas easily.

Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency recently arrested eight Chinese nationals during raids and secret operations in Pakistan’s Punjab province. The Chinese embassy is also cooperating with Pakistan to act against the issue.

Christian women are not the only ones targeted in illegal marriage. There are also Muslim women who come from poor families who are trafficked. 

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