International Christian Concern
2020 Pennsylvania Ave. NW #941
Washington, DC 20006-1846
www.www.persecution.org
Email: [email protected]
Immediate Release:
Another Young Christian Girl Abducted
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(1/21/04) The Washington-DC based human rights group, International Christian Concern (ICC) www.www.persecution.org, has just become aware of another abduction of a Christian girl in Pakistan. Young Christian girls in Pakistan are often abducted and raped, and they are a powerless minority without real rights or recourse for crimes committed against them by Muslim men. When they are abducted, these girls are often forced to marry Muslim men.
Shamim Kausor, the daughter of Afzal Masih, is a resident of 335 GB in the district of Toba Tek Singh (their family is one of only two Christian families in the Muslim village), and she was abducted on December 31, 2003. This is the second time she has been abducted by Muslim men. Her sisters witnessed a jeep pull up outside their home from which several men jumped out and abducted Shamim at gunpoint. Several neighbors recognized one of the kidnappers from which he had previously abducted Shamim a few months ago. At that time, prompt action from her father and the police led to Shamims rescue before she was harmed. Her father tried to initiate legal proceedings against the man, but he was strongly dissuaded by Muslim village leaders.
The kidnapper taunted and threatened Shamim after the first abduction, and at one point he said “A beautiful girl like you should not remain Christian. I will make you Muslim and you will bear a Muslim child. The police are not interested in helping the Father this time.
ICC urges American Christians to please pray for recovery of Shamim Kausor, the safety of her family, and justice in this case. Donations may also be made to ICCs Hope House. Hope House is a home for young Pakistani Christian female rape victims where they can be nurtured emotionally, spiritually, and taught skills where they can lead self-sustaining productive lives.
ICC is a Washington-DC based human rights organization that exists to
help persecuted Christians worldwide. ICC delivers humanitarian aid, trains and supports persecuted pastors, raises awareness in the US Church regarding the problem of persecution, and is an advocate for the persecuted on Capitol Hill and the State Department. For additional information or for an interview, contact ICC at 800-422-5441.
