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Pakistan

• Sharp Rise in Attacks on Christian Girls and Women

  Pray for the safety of women in Pakistan. Wikimedia Commons / Sonia Sevilla

  There has been a dramatic increase in the number of Christian girls and women facing brutal assaults in Pakistan during recent months.

  On November 28th, two Christian sisters (ages 14 and 16) were attacked in a village located within the Jaranwala district after they went out into the field to use the washroom. The girls' family alleges that three males assaulted the sisters repeatedly overnight, and that they have since been threatened by the perpetrators with warnings not to press charges. They also claim that the police have obstructed attempts to gather medical evidence. Ministry partners of VOMC's sister mission in the United Kingdom are ensuring the girls receive the medical care and legal assistance they need.

  Elsewhere in Punjab, a 14-year-old girl was abducted on November 26th in Thatha Gondal. It is believed that she has been forcibly converted to Islam and married to her kidnapper. Local Christians and Muslims have been involved in negotiations to return the girl to her family.

  Meanwhile, a pregnant mother of four from Rana Town was reportedly attacked after resisting a ruthless woman's attempts to make her convert to Islam. The Christian mother was then brutally attacked by the instigator's brothers. After stripping the pregnant mother of her clothing and disgracefully parading her in public, the men then robbed and finally beat the victimized believer to the point of unconsciousness. Local police initially refused to register a case, having only done so after our ministry partners intervened.

  Please lift up in prayer all of these dear sisters in Christ, asking the Lord to surround each one with His sustaining love and grace. May He not only grant needed physical and emotional healing to the young girls who were assaulted, but also ensure they receive the support and encouragement of the members of their family and the wider community during this difficult time. Intercede on behalf of the young teen who still remains held captive by her kidnapper. May this girl soon be freed so she can return home to her loved ones. In addition, ask God to be especially near to the expectant mother who was so callously humiliated and beaten, praying that both she and her unborn child will be granted restored health and strength.

• Final Appeal for Woman Sentenced to Death over Cup of Water

  Asia Bibi

  Following a confrontation while picking fruit with Muslim co-workers, Asia Bibi was accused of insulting the Islamic prophet Mohammed after drinking water from the village well. As a non-Muslim, the Christian mother of five was considered unfit to touch the water, thus making it impure. According to other witnesses, a group of men and women then began beating Asia, claiming that she had made derogatory remarks against Mohammed, a charge she denies. Several days later, blasphemy allegations were filed, resulting in the November 2010 conviction. (A previous report on Asia's situation is available here.)

  Four years later, after losing the initial appeal in the High Court of Lahore, Asia, who remained in prison on death row, is now sentenced to be hanged. Although acquittals are rare in blasphemy cases, on November 24th a second appeal was filed in the Supreme Court of Pakistan. Raising global criticism and serious concerns about the fairness of her trial, Amnesty International has called for her release. Asia's husband, Ashiq Masih, has also made a personal plea to Pakistan's president, Mamnoon Hussain, asking that the sentence be overturned. "My prison cell has no windows, and day and night are the same to me," states Asia. "But if I am still holding on today, it is with thanks to everyone who is trying to help me."

  In a country where about 96 percent of the population is Muslim, Christians living in Pakistan constantly risk persecution in the form of threats, attacks, discrimination, and possible death. According to human rights defenders, the current blasphemy laws pose great dangers to Christians, as well as members of other religious minorities. Blasphemy remains a highly sensitive issue in this country, as even unproven allegations continue to erupt in violence. For a brief overview of such cases in this country, go to the Pakistan Country Report.

  May the reverential fear of the one true God -- the Creator of the vast universe and all humankind -- come upon Pakistan's governing leaders and judicial authorities. He has promised to contend with those who contend with His people, and to mete out justice and vengeance on behalf of the innocent and upright of heart. One day, these leaders themselves will stand before the Throne of the Great Judge to give an account of their actions and decisions. In the meantime, we can be assured that the Lord is hearing the heartfelt cries of His people, as Asia's situation raises international concern. Please continue to uphold this dear suffering sister of ours, realizing that the prayers of God's people have been greatly sustaining her. Let us pray for a greater measure of His divine strength, protection, peace and unfailing presence as Asia and her family await the outcome of yet another appeal...beseeching authorities to extend compassion, mercy, favour and ultimately freedom to her and all those who are experiencing persecution for their faith in this country.

• Misunderstanding Leads to Overwhelming Tragedy

  Shama and Shahzad

  A young Christian couple, Shahzad Masih and his wife Shama, were brutally murdered on November 4th over an unfortunate misunderstanding.

  According to an on-the-ground report from the European Centre for Law and Justice in Pakistan, Shama, an illiterate mother of four who was in her second trimester of pregnancy, inadvertently burned pages of the Quran. The landlord, informed by neighbours that she had burned the Quran, locked the couple in his office, beat them, and offered them freedom to escape for a fee they couldn't pay.

• Asia Bibi's Death Sentence Upheld

  Asia Bibi

  On October 16th, Asia Bibi lost her appeal against a death sentence for blasphemy. Her attorneys now have 30 days to file an appeal with the Supreme Court in Islamabad -- a process that will likely take more years of waiting and agonizing endurance. During Asia's hearing at the Lahore High Court, nearly 2,000 Muslim teachers gathered outside while approximately 25 were present inside the courtroom, presumably to put pressure on the judges. When learning about the disappointing outcome of the trial, she pleaded with VOM contacts: "Please do something. It's been so long, and I want to be with my children."

• Asia Bibi's Appeal Again Postponed

  Asia Bibi

  The hearing for Asia Bibi, a Christian woman sentenced to death for blasphemy, was postponed for the sixth time on September 9th -- this time at the request of her husband, Ashiq Masih. Asia was arrested in June 2009 after being accused of insulting the Muslim prophet Mohammed. (For more information on Asia's longstanding case, visit this page.)

• Dozens of Believers Accused of Blasphemy

  A graveyard in Pakistan. Flickr / Muhammad Imran Saeed

  Fifty-five Christians were recently accused of blasphemy following an argument over a graveyard. Local Muslims registered a case against the 55 Christians in the Tehcil Samandri district of Faisalabad after the believers had begun to prepare part of an old Muslim graveyard for use by those of their own community. The Christians insist they had received permission from a sympathetic Muslim landowner to use that part of the graveyard, which was located on his property. Despite permission being granted, the accusing Muslims attacked the Christians and pressed charges. Police then arrested 14 of the believers, including a 12-year-old child. The others have yet to be detained.

• Christian Girls Facing Atrocious Acts of Violence

  Pray for the safety of Pakistani children. Photo: Flickr / Hashoo Foundation

  Every year, as many as 700 Christian girls between the ages of 12 and 25 are kidnapped, forced to marry their abductors and pressured to convert to Islam in Pakistan. In many cases, these girls are coerced to state that they converted of their own will, allowing the perpetrators to escape punishment. When cases of forced marriage and conversion have been reported, police have shown blatant disregard for the criminal justice system. And if such cases do make it to court, the victimized girls remain in the custody of their abductors during the proceedings.

• Asia Bibi's Appeal Hearing Further Delayed

  After several delays in her trial, the appeal hearing for Asia Bibi has been scheduled for May 27th. Asia, a wife and mother, was arrested in 2009 on charges of insulting Mohammed. She now faces the death sentence for this "crime." Please continue to pray for Asia, her family and her legal team as they await this next court date. (For more information on her case, please visit this page.)

• Christian Couple Sentenced to Death for 'Blasphemous' Texts

  Shagufta and Shafqat Photo via World Watch Monitor

  A Pakistani court has sentenced a Christian couple to death for insulting Mohammed and the Quran. Shafqat Emmanuel, 44, and his wife, Shagufta, 41, who live in Gojra, Punjab, were convicted on April 4th of sending "blasphemous" text messages.

  The complainant, Muhammad Hussain, alleged he was praying on July 18th of last year when he received blasphemous text messages on his cell phone. Muhammad's call data reportedly revealed the messages were sent from Shagufta's cell phone number. The police, however, were unable to recover the SIM card from her phone, and Shagufta argued that she lost her cell phone a month prior to the incident.

  Nevertheless, the Gojra police detained the couple, along with their four children (ages five through 13), pressuring them to name someone who could have sent the messages. At last report, the couple was planning to appeal the verdict.

  Pray that mercy will be extended to this Christian couple by those of the judicial system, granting them a swift release. Please also bring this couple's children to our Lord in prayer, as Shafqat and Shagufta have been unable to visit with them since their arrest last summer. May God strengthen the faith of each family member, encouraging them to trust Him wholeheartedly throughout this ordeal. Finally, please intercede on behalf of two other believers, Sawan Masih and Asia Bibi, who have also been sentenced to death for blasphemy in Pakistan.

  To watch a three-minute video report about these false charges, please visit this page.

• Christians Sentenced to Death for Blasphemy

  Militant Islamist attacking Joseph Colony in March 2013 Photo: Abid Nawaz via World Watch Monitor

  Sawan Masih, a Christian road sweeper and father of three from Lahore, was sentenced to death for blasphemy on March 27th. Sawan was also fined 200,000 rupees (approximately $2,250 CAD). The trial was conducted in the Lahore Camp Jail, where Sawan has been unable to leave due to the threats on his life.