Father of Kidnapped Child Murdered

On March 30th, the Persecution & Prayer Alert reported on a 12-year-old girl who had been kidnapped and, after being recovered, was placed in a women's shelter rather than being returned to her father. Young Hoorab Masih had been abducted by two local shopkeepers in December and then forced to convert to Islam and marry one of her kidnappers. For more details on the incident, see this page.

Hoorab's father, Basharat, was a single dad of four who did not have the funds to fight the case in court to have his daughter returned home. Thankfully, she was finally allowed to return to her family in late March. Kidnapper Muhammad Usman confessed to the fraudulent marriage after his arrest. Both he and his accomplice, Muhammad Mustafa, were arrested.

Sadly, Basharat Masih was murdered on April 24th while taking part in a community pigeon flying competition. His sister, Maryam Bibi, heard screaming and rushed to see a group of assailants attacking Basharat. The chairman of Human Rights Focus Pakistan, Naveed Walter, believes that the murder was committed in revenge for Basharat's part in bringing his daughter's captors to justice. The family has continued to receive threats, even after the court case.

Lamenting over the situation, Mr. Walter said: "Basharat Masih was killed because he was Hoorab's father. We live in a society where a father who demands justice for his daughter is killed." In a recently recorded podcast, Greg Musselman interviewed Pakistani journalist Asher John from Kross Konnection to discuss their concerns over several similar kidnappings of young girls. To view this relevant report, go to VOMCanada.com/video/pakistan-girls.

Please prayerfully remember traumatized Hoorab and her siblings who are now left without any parents. In addition to experiencing God's needed comfort and healing, pray that these children will be provided a stable home in which they can grow and mature in His ways spiritually. May those responsible for this fatal attack against Hoorab's father be held accountable for their actions. Continue to also intercede for the nation of Pakistan as a whole, specifically praying that the legal system, which has caused extreme difficulties for so many innocent victims, would be radically reformed.