FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thieves Rape Girl When They Realize Victim is Christian
You are free to disseminate the following news. We request that you reference ICC (International Christian Concern) and include our web address www.www.persecution.org. Contact Samuel Wallace, Regional Manager for South Asia, Europe, and Latin America, 1-800-ICC (422)-5441, samuel.wallace@www.persecution.org.
(January 26, 2009) The Washington-DC based human rights group, International Christian Concern (ICC) www.www.persecution.org has just learned that six unidentified men went on a robbing spree in a rural village in Pakistan on the night of January 10, and when they realized that one of the households they were robbing was Christian, they gang-raped a 14-year-old girl in front of her parents to violate their faith.
The six criminals, armed with guns, forced their way into two Muslim houses and three Christian homes, physically assaulted the residents, and took cash, TVs, cell phones and other valuables.
After robbing the homes, the six men returned to Rafiq Masih’s house and began mocking Rafiq and his wife for being Christians. Not satisfied with the damage they had already inflicted, the thieves then bound Rafiq and his wife and gang-raped Rafiq’s teenage daughter Naomi right in front of them.
The criminals left Naomi unconscious and in critical condition and escaped with the stolen items. Naomi was immediately taken to the hospital.
The local police have registered a case against the six men for robbery and for gang-raping Naomi. The thieves are still at large but police sources said that investigations are underway and pledged to track down the culprits.
The location they struck was Chak (village) # 17/11-L near Cheecha Watni in the southern part of Pakistan’s Punjab province. The three Christian homes belonged to brick kiln workers Saleem Masih, Rafiq Masih and Bashir Masih.
Please contact the Pakistani embassy in your country and ask them to take action to ensure that these Christians receive justice.
Pakistan Embassies:
USA: (202) 243-6500, info@embassyofpakistanusa.org
Canada: (613) 238-7881, parepottawa@rogers.com
UK: 0870-005-6967, hoc@phclondon.org
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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 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.
