Christian nursing student brutally assaulted


Photo from Sharing Life Ministry Pakistan

Magdalene Ashraf, a 22-year-old Christian nurse trainee, was brutally attacked on July 13 by several Muslim men who raped her and threw her from the fourth-floor window of the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center in Karachi, Pakistan. A fellow nurse tricked Magdalene into visiting the office of a Muslim doctor by telling her that he wanted to talk to her about a class assignment. The doctor, Abdul Jabbar Memon, reportedly has a history of sexually abusing Christian nurses in the hospital. Once she was inside the room with the nurse, Dr. Jabbar and at least two other men then attacked her. Describing the assault, Magdalene said: "When I resisted and tried to escape, nurse Fatima slapped both my cheeks and pushed me into Dr. Jabbar. I cried out but no one arrived there to rescue me. They not only gang-raped me, they also tortured me physically and ruthlessly beat me." After several torturous hours, Magdalene was thrown out the window by the men. At last report, she was hospitalized in an intensive care unit. Her family members have reportedly continued to receive threats from Dr. Jabbar, though he has been arrested. (Source: Compass Direct, Sharing Life Ministries Pakistan).

Ask God to give Magdalene healing from the emotional and physical scars of her assault. Pray that her attackers will be brought to justice. Pray that she and her family will trust in the Lord as their protector and guide. Pray for justice for Christian nurses facing similar abuse in Pakistan, where such rape cases frequently go unreported or are ignored by officials.

For more on the persecution of Pakistani Christians, visit the Pakistan Country Report.

  • Current Ministry Projects

    VOMC partners to train Christian women in sewing skills throughout Pakistan to provide a sustainable source of income for their families and encourage them in their faith and witness for Christ.

    Project Funds: Families of Martyrs, Women’s Ministry

  • Country Information

    Population
    247,653,551 (2023 est.)

    Ethnicity (%)
    Punjabi (44.7), Pashtun [Pathan] (15.4), Sindhi (14.1), Saraiki (8.4) Muhajirs (7.6) Balochi (3.6), Other (6.3)

    Religion (%)
    Islam (96.5), Other - Christian and Hindu (3.5)

    Leader
    President Asif Ali Zardari (2024)

    Government type
    Federal parliamentary republic

    Legal system
    Common law system with Islamic law influence

    Source: CIA World Factbook

  • Pray for Pakistan

    Pray that amendments will be made to Pakistan's existing blasphemy laws so that the country's citizens – including its children – will be protected from injustice and abuse. May our Lord's mercy and justice prevail, not only in the judiciary system but also in the hearts of the country's militants. Ask Him to transform their "hearts of stone" into hearts that are receptive to His love, mercy and the workings of His Holy Spirit – not only for the purpose of protecting the Christian minority but also for the salvation of their own eternal souls.

Pakistan News

  • Blasphemy Conviction for Online Posts
    Furniture and possessions are strewn on a street. Some of them are burning.
    The riots in 2023.
    Photo: Morning Star News

    In August 2023, the Christian colony of Jaranwala was filled with violence after allegations of blasphemy were made against two brothers. During the rampage, as many as 400 homes and 26 church buildings were damaged or destroyed. For more details, and to view video footage of the attacks, see this page.

  • Wife of Nazir Masih Dies of a Heart Attack
    Naseem and Nazir
    Naseem and Nazir
    Photo: Morning Star News
     

    In May, shocking images of mob violence were revealed after 74-year-old Nazir Masih was falsely accused of burning pages from the Quran. The elderly Christian man was fatally wounded during the resulting mob violence, which also led to the destruction of his shoemaking business, along with several attacks against other Christians. Further details on the violent rampage are available here.