On January 9th, a 14-year-old Christian girl was kidnapped just outside her home. The abducted teen's family is concerned that those responsible are planning to forcibly convert her to Islam and then make the young girl marry one of her attackers.
Saneha Sharif was lured from her home in the Korpur area of Sialkot city by a Muslim girl who had recently moved into the neighbourhood. As soon as Saneha stepped out of the house, she was ambushed by five men who forced her into a van that had been waiting nearby. Two women were also involved in the kidnapping, including the mother of the girl who deceived Saneha.
Police were notified of Saneha's abduction, and two of the perpetrators have since been arrested. However, the main culprits presently remain at large. One of Saneha's captors, a Muslim man named Muhammad Dildar, had previously made unwanted advances towards the young teen. Saneha's parents feel that police are not taking adequate action to recover their daughter.
In the aftermath of the incident, Saneha's mother has fallen ill, requiring hospitalization twice for treatment. The girl's father, Sharif Masih, has pled for assistance. "We are very weak and can only plead for the higher authorities to save our daughter from these criminals." Legal assistance has been provided to the family by concerned representatives of Christian organizations.
Under current laws, the minimum marriageable age for Christians in Pakistan is 18. However, girls who have been forcibly converted to Islam are considered Muslim, and thereby can be legally married at a younger age. In order to help prevent this type of crime, a proposed law that would raise the minimum legal age of marriage to 18 years for both Christians and Muslims is presently being deliberated by officials within the Punjab Assembly. For more reports on the persecution of followers of Jesus in Pakistan, go to our country profile.
- Pray for the safe recovery of this precious teenage girl, also asking that those responsible for her kidnapping would be soon located and apprehended.
- As Saneha's parents try to cope during this time of uncertainty and concern, pray that God's supernatural peace, comfort and support will sustain them as they await the hopeful return of their daughter.
- May necessary laws be passed within Pakistan's legal system that will better protect the country's vulnerable minorities and prevent further cases of abduction from taking place.
Population
