Two preteen Christian girls, Saba Younis and Aneela Younis, were kidnapped by Muslims while on their way to visit their uncle in the town of Chowk Munda in the state of Punjab on June 26. Two days later, the kidnappers filed for custody of them at the local police station, stating that they had converted to Islam and that their father, Younis Masih, no longer had jurisdiction over them. It was also reported by their uncle that they had been forcibly married to local Muslim men.
Police initially refused Masih's request to file a complaint against the abductors, claiming his daughters had "embraced Islam." With help from a local human rights activist, Masih opened a case against them. On July 12, the district judge ruled in favour of the Muslims, alleging that the girls' conversions to Islam were "legitimate" and their marriages "valid," so they could not be returned to their family. The family is reportedly planning to appeal the ruling but local Christians fear they will continue to be treated unjustly because of their faith.
Pray that Saba and Aneela will be returned home. Pray that they will remain strong in their faith. Ask God to give comfort to their families. Pray for safety for other young Christian girls in Pakistan.
For more information on the persecution of Christians in Pakistan, click here.
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