Tags

Pakistan

  • Christian man beaten and raped

    Marwat Masih (29), a Christian barber in the town of Gulshan-e-Bashir, Punjab province, Pakistan, sustained severe injuries, including broken bones, after eight Muslims brutally assaulted him for cutting the beard of a Muslim on April 13. Marwat initially refused 19-year-old Qandeel Cheema's request to cut his beard, knowing that local Sunni Muslims believe the Qur'an prohibits it. Qandeel insisted, however, assuring Marwat that he would leave town after the shave so that it would remain a secret. When Qandeel's older brother noticed the family's vehicle at the barbershop, he went inside and discovered Marwat cutting Qandeel's beard. Enraged, he ransacked the barbershop and beat Marwat with his shoes. He and six accomplices then blindfolded Marwat and locked him in a room where they beat him, breaking his ribs as well as his wrist and legs. Marwat was then brutally raped by the men. Police have refused Marwat's family's requests to file a report against Qandeel's brother and the other attackers, who remained at large at last report. (Source: Compass Direct)

    Ask God to give Marwat healing from the emotional and physical scars of his assault. Pray that his attackers will be brought to justice. Pray that he and his family will continue to trust in the Lord to guide and protect them (Revelation 2:10).

    To learn more about the persecution of Christians in Pakistan,click here.
  • Update: Christian woman accused of blasphemy denied bail

    A Christian woman who was arrested for making derogatory remarks about the Prophet Muhammad on March 21 in Pakistan's Punjab province (click here for the story) has been denied bail. On April 20, a judge rejected Rubina Bibi's petition and instead transferred her case to the district session judge of Wazirabad. Judges in Pakistan are often reluctant to make decisions in such cases due to pressure from Muslims and it is not uncommon for them to refuse bail so the case can be moved to the high court in Lahore. At last report, Rubina was being held in prison with her one-year-old son while the rest of her family had gone into hiding out of concern for their lives. (Source: Centre for Legal Aid Assistance & Settlement, ASSIST News Service)

    Pray that the charges against Rubina will be dropped and that she will be released from prison. Pray for safety and health for her family at this time. Pray that freedom of religion and speech will be respected in Pakistan.

    To learn more about the persecuted Church in Pakistan, check out thePakistan Country Report.
  • Young Christian woman abducted

    A 19-year-old Pakistani Christian woman, Sonia Mohan, was reportedly abducted on April 1 by a Muslim man and his friends in Nishtar Colony, Lahore. Sonia's family fears the Muslim man, Ali Raza, will force her to convert to Islam and marry him. Sonia's brother, Johnson Parvaiz, stated, "Ali Raza came to our home and told Sonia that I had asked for her, and she went out of the house with him. They had parked a vehicle outside and left, and afterwards we never heard from her." After two days, Johnson was able to reach his sister on her cell phone but she told him not to call her, that she was very happy and that they should not try to find her. "It was obvious from her voice that she had been forced to say that," Johnson said. Police have delayed registering a case on behalf of Sonia's family because, in what appears to be an attempt to delay police action, Ali's family has filed a complaint that he was abducted by the same accomplices who allegedly helped him kidnap Sonia. (Source: Compass Direct)

    Pray that Sonia will be released from her captors and returned to her family. Pray that she will look to Christ for courage and strength. Pray that authorities will act swiftly and justly in this case.

    To learn more about persecution in Pakistan,click here.
  • Christian imprisoned on charges of blasphemy

    Police in Punjab province, Pakistan recently arrested a Christian woman, Rubina Bibi, on accusations of "blasphemy." One of Rubina's relatives, a militant Muslim, accused her of making a derogatory comment about Muhammad following a minor domestic dispute. Police then arrested her and allegedly tortured her at the police station in the town of Alipur. Authorities have reportedly attempted to cover up her detention and subsequent harassment. At last report, she had been transferred to Gujranwala Jail with charges under Section 295-C of Pakistan's blasphemy laws, which could lead to life imprisonment with a large fine or even a death sentence. (Source: Compass Direct)

    Pray that the charges against Rubina will be dropped and that she will be released. Pray for endurance of faith as she suffers for righteousness' sake. Pray that her passion for Christ will be a light that draws others to Jesus (Matthew 5:14-16).

    To find out more about Pakistan's suffering Christians, go to thePakistan Country Report.
  • Christian brutally murdered

    Photo: Compass Direct

    Six Muslims in Khanewal district, southern Punjab province, used an axe to kill a Christian when he refused to convert to Islam. The six men had threatened to kill 36-year-old Rasheed Masih when they grew resentful of his potato business succeeding beyond their own. The rival merchants allegedly killed him after luring him to their farmhouse on March 9, leaving him on a roadside near Kothi Nand Singh village in the early hours of the next day. Rasheed was a devoted Christian, and both he and his brother Asi had refused the Muslims' pressure to convert to Islam. Police have registered a case against the six men and an investigation is underway, but the suspects remained at large at last report. (Source: Compass Direct)

    Pray for Asi and others mourning the loss of Rasheed. Pray that those involved in his murder will be brought to justice. Pray that authorities will strive to provide safety for vulnerable Christians and other minorities in Pakistan.

    To find out more about persecution in Pakistan, please visit thePakistan Country Report.
  • Christian man burned alive, wife raped


    Photo from AsiaNews

    A Pakistani Christian man passed away on March 22 after he was set on fire by Muslims in Rawalpindi three days earlier. Arshed Masih (38) and his wife, Martha (33), had been threatened with "dire consequences" by their employer, Sheikh Mohammad Sultan, unless they agreed to convert to Islam. The couple steadfastly refused.

    In the days before the attack, Sultan reported a theft of 500,000 rupees and, although Arshed and Martha were not named as suspects, Sultan offered to drop the case if they renounced Christianity. When they were brought in for questioning, Arshed was assaulted and Martha was raped by police. Arshed was set on fire on March 19 in front of the police station by a group of Muslims, some of whom were reportedly officers and religious leaders. He sustained burns to 80% of his body. The couple's three children -- Mary (12), Nasir (10) and Neha (7) -- were forced to witness the horrific violence against their parents. (Sources: BosNewsLife, AsiaNews, International Christian Concern)

    Ask God to comfort this family as only He can. Pray for God to heal Martha's physical and emotional wounds in the aftermath of these tragic events. Pray that Mary, Nasir and Neha will look to their heavenly Father for all they need at this time and continue to seek His face (Psalm 68:5). Pray that authorities will act swiftly and justly.

    For more on suffering Pakistani believers, go to thePakistan Country Report.
  • Christians sentenced to prison for blasphemy


    The Qur'an
    Photo from AsiaNews

    A Pakistani Christian man, Qamar David, was sentenced to life in prison for blasphemy on February 25. Qamar was arrested in 2006 for allegedly spreading blasphemous messages about the Qur'an and Mohammed on his cell phone. The court also ordered him to pay a fine of 101,000 rupees (approximately $1,200 CAD). Since his arrest, Qamar and his lawyer have been threatened with violence by mobs and have survived several assassination attempts.

    In Punjab province's Kasur district, a Christian couple -- Munir Masih and Ruqqiya Bibi -- has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for blasphemy. The couple was accused of contaminating the Qur'an in December 2008 when they touched the book without washing their hands. They were released on bail in January 2009 but were subsequently re-arrested when the judge ruled against them. At last report, an appeal to have the sentence overturned was being planned. (Sources: Christian Solidarity Worldwide, International Christian Concern, AsiaNews)

    Pray that the charges of blasphemy against these believers will be overturned. Pray that their faith in Christ will grow stronger during these difficult days. Pray that the country's blasphemy laws will be repealed and that the abuse of these laws will end.

    You can learn more about the persecution of believers in Pakistan at thePakistan Country Report.
  • Christian beaten by Muslim brothers


    Riaz Masih
    Photo from Compass Direct

    Riaz Masih (26) was brutally beaten by his four Muslim brothers in Punjab province, Pakistan after he refused to give up his faith. Riaz, whose Christian parents died when he was a boy, said that his continual refusals to convert infuriated his brothers. The Muslim cleric who raised them after their parents died had reportedly lured Riaz's brothers into embracing Islam by offering them a large plot of residential land and 500,000 rupees (approximately $6,000 CAD). In a similar manner, Riaz's brothers tried to entice him to convert by offering him 1 million rupees (approximately $12,000 CAD), a large residence and a woman of his choice to marry. However, Riaz stood firm and declined. On February 8, Riaz's brothers ransacked his house and told him that they would kill him if he did not convert to Islam, saying, "Killing an infidel is not a sin, instead it's righteousness in the sight of Allah almighty." Riaz begged them to give him a few minutes to consider their offer and then tried to escape, but they grabbed him, beat him with bamboo clubs and left him for dead. At last report, Riaz was hiding in fear for his life. (Source: Compass Direct)

    Pray for God to continue to strengthen Riaz to remain strong amid opposition (Psalm 29:11). Pray that the Lord will speak to the hearts of his brothers so that they too will come to know Him as their Lord. Pray for the emergence of strong and mature Christian leaders in Pakistan to help equip those under pressure to remain steadfast and be effective witnesses for Christ.

    To learn more about persecution in Pakistan, go to thePakistan Country Report.
  • Update: Pakistani Christian sentenced to life in prison

    A 26-year-old Christian who was beaten by Muslims for allegedly burning verses from the Qur'an and another Arabic book in July 2009 (click here for more information) has been sentenced to life in prison. On January 11, the judge handed down the sentence to Imran Masih under Article 295-B, commonly known as the blasphemy law, claiming he burned the materials to deliberately "stir up religious hatred and offend the feelings of Muslims." Imran has also been sentenced to an additional 10 years in detention and fined 100,000 rupees (approximately $1,200 CAD) under section 295-A of the Penal Code. (Source: AsiaNews)

    Pray that this ruling will be overturned. Pray that God will encourage Imran and his family during this time. Pray that the blasphemy law in Pakistan will be abolished.

    To find out more about the persecution Christians face in Pakistan,click here.
  • Two Christians shot for refusing to convert

    On December 26, two Pakistani Christians, Imran Masih (21) and Khushi Masih (24), were shot for refusing to convert to Islam while at a wedding in Chak 297-JB, Punjab province. Shortly after the believers arrived at the wedding, a group of armed Muslim youths surrounded them and began shooting into the air, as is a customary show of celebration at village weddings. However, one of the Muslims then threatened to shoot Imran and Khushi if they did not recite the Islamic profession of faith. The Christians refused and instead recited Psalm 91. The infuriated Muslims then shot the believers in the chest and left them for dead. At last report, the believers were receiving treatment at a hospital and doctors were hopeful that they would make a full recovery. Police have yet to arrest the suspects, who have claimed that the shootings were an accident. (Source: Compass Direct)

    Thank the Lord for the bold stand Imran and Khushi made for their faith. Pray for their complete healing and recovery. Pray that they will find refuge under the cover of His wings (Psalm 91:4). Pray that the perpetrators will repent and come to know the Lord.

    To learn more about persecution in Pakistan,click here.

Page 29 of 43