On January 10, 58-year-old Hanifan Bibi and her family were abducted and tortured for two days and then taken to the police accused of stealing from her employer. From all indications, however, her "crime" was her faith in Christ.
Hanifan had worked for twenty-two years as a domestic servant to help support her family. According to a press release from the Centre for Legal Aid Assistance and Settlement (CLAAS), her Muslim employer, Saeedan Batni, along with two other men, broke into her home and abducted her, along with her husband, son, and nephew. After taking them to an unknown location, they stripped Hanifan, hung her upside down and beat her with a hot iron pipe. They also beat and kicked her husband, Kala, and son Pervaiz. After holding them for two days without food and water, they were taken to the police station where Hanifan was accused of stealing from her employer.
CLAAS is endeavouring to pressure the Pakistani authorities to take this incident seriously. Hanifan is not the only such case. The majority of Christian women are poor and illiterate and usually do not report such incidents for fear of their employers.
Pray for healing for Hanifan and her family. Pray that the authorities will take action against Saeedan Batni and the other men involved in this incident.
For more information on persecution of Christians in Pakistan, click here.
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