Rape, Tried Kidnapping Drive Christian Household into Hiding
Sheikhupura Fort, in-built 1607 in Sheikhupura metropolis, Pakistan. (Bhaur, Inventive Commons)
LAHORE, Pakistan (Christian Day by day Worldwide–Morning Star Information) – A pastor and his household have gone into hiding after a Muslim neighbor who raped his 14-year-old daughter tried to kidnap her and power her to transform to Islam and marry her, he stated.
The daughter of Pastor Aslam Masih of Muridke, Sheikhupura District, Punjab Province, was on her option to college on Oct. 31 when Suleman Azhar blocked her method together with his bike and compelled her to board it, the pastor stated. The panicked lady, whose identify is withheld as a rape sufferer, freed herself and ran again dwelling.
“Upon inquiring why she had returned dwelling, she advised us that Suleman had been harassing her for a very long time to transform to Islam and marry her,” Pastor Masih advised Christian Day by day Worldwide-Morning Star Information. “Once I confronted Suleman, he threatened me, saying I ought to do no matter I may to guard my daughter. I didn’t know then that he had already assaulted her as soon as.”
Fearing for his daughter’s security, Pastor Masih moved his household to a relative’s home in Lahore. Their disappearance angered Azhar, who attacked their dwelling in Muridke, damaging property and firing photographs within the air, the pastor stated.
Pastor Masih on Nov. 2 filed a grievance with police, who registered a First Info Report (FIR) however didn’t take any motion towards the suspect, he stated.
“Their indifference helped Suleman in acquiring pre-arrest bail, and he has since been threatening us, demanding that we withdraw the case,” Pastor Masih stated.
The 63-year-old pastor and his spouse had been surprised when their daughter later revealed that Azhar had raped her in September.
“She couldn’t bear the agony and trauma any longer and broke down into tears,” he stated. “She advised us that Suleman and his associates bundled her right into a automobile when she was returning dwelling from college and took her to a home the place Suleman raped her.”
She had saved quiet in regards to the assault fearing Azhar would kill her and her household, he stated.
Pastor Masih once more started visiting police, however his pleas for justice fell on deaf ears, he stated. Annoyed and suspecting Azhar had influenced the police to take no motion, he sought court docket intervention.
His legal professional, Malik Zaman Haider, stated Pastor Masih’s daughter has recorded her assertion towards Suleman in court docket, and that he has filed a request for a medical examination and the addition of rape costs to the FIR.
Haider stated the FIR had been registered below Part 354 of the Pakistan Penal Code towards utilizing felony power towards a lady with the intent to outrage her modesty, which carries a most sentence of two years in jail. Such a rape case must be registered below Part 375 towards consensual or compelled intercourse with a woman below the age of 16, which is punishable with loss of life or imprisonment for 10 to 25 years, the legal professional stated.
Aslam Pervez Sahotra, chairman of the Pakistan Masiha Millat Social gathering, stated her case highlighted the challenges that Christian women and girls face. Urging the Punjab chief minister and Punjab inspector basic of police to take discover of the case, Sahotra stated the sufferer was not solely a daughter of the Christian group however of the nation.
“We condemn the assault on our daughter in addition to the threats being employed to power her to transform to Islam and marry her rapist,” Sahotra advised Christian Day by day Worldwide-Morning Star Information. “The police’s refusal to behave towards the accused has exacerbated the household’s ordeal, and they’re compelled to reside in hiding away from their dwelling.”
He appealed to the Muslim group to boost their voices as nicely towards such brazen atrocities.
“Our daughters, our group, reside in concern, and the federal government should present that it cares for them by guaranteeing speedy justice and punishment to the accused,” Sahotra stated.
The U.N.’s Human Rights Committee on Nov. 7 expressed concern about persistent stories of abduction and compelled marriages of ladies from minority religions in Pakistan, no matter their age and prevailing legislation. Compelled to transform to Islam below menace of violence, they endure rape, trafficking and different types of sexual and gender-based violence. The U.N. physique additionally expressed concern about stories of the widespread impunity surrounding these instances.
Pakistan ranked seventh on Open Doorways’ 2024 World Watch Listing of probably the most troublesome locations to be a Christian, because it was the earlier yr.
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