Religious Liberty Prayer List – No. 178 – Tues 23 July 2002

———————————————— PAKISTAN: HATE CRIMES AND INJUSTICE ————————————————

It is not uncommon to hear of Christian girls in Pakistan being violently raped. These girls are either victims of a vicious hate crime or a reprisal attack after they have shared or professed their faith or refused the advances of Muslim men. It is also not uncommon to find that when these attacks are brought to the courts, the courts rule in favour of the rapists. This sort of injustice merely sanctions more violence. It says that anyone who wishes to, may violently assault Christians without fear of the law.

On 15 June, a young Pakistani Christian girl named Gulnaz (17) from the slums of Faisalabad, was attacked with acid for refusing the sexual advances of a group of Muslim men. These men, who worked where Gulnaz worked, had first insulted her before trying to seduce her. They tried to get to her leave Christianity and embrace Islam. Eventually, because Gulnaz could not get support from her employer to stop the harassment, she resigned her job. Before that day was over however, Gulnaz was sexually assaulted by one of these men, who manhandled her inappropriately. Gulnaz fought him off and he angrily threatened to get revenge.

The following day when Gulnaz went to collect her pay, this man and his friends were waiting for her. They attacked her with sulphuric acid. She is severely burnt on her face, neck, breasts arms and legs. Acid was put in her eyes and down her throat. She may die from her injuries. Her parents, who are extremely poor, are under great pressure to accept money and not file charges.

Presently Pakistan is in the spotlight because of the international attention brought to bear on a girl who was publicly pack-raped at the decision of a Punjabi tribal council, in order to punish her family over an alleged misdemeanour (one that in actual fact never occurred). The event has caused national and international outrage and President Musharraf is demanding justice. Let’s pray that Christian girls will also be considered worthy of justice.

PLEASE PRAY SPECIFICALLY FOR:

* Gulnaz and her family to know the presence and love of God in the midst of this terribly trial (Rom 8:35-39), and that their faith will remain strong and that God would mercifully bless them.

* healing for Gulnaz, that God would touch her.

* All Christian girls in Pakistan who are especially vulnerable to hate crimes, especially rape – may God protect them.

* Discriminatory laws (such as the blasphemy law) to be removed from Pakistan’s penal code, and that social discrimination and persecution against Christians will not be reinforced and sanctioned through lack of justice in the courts.

“The Lord despises those who acquit the guilty and condemn the innocent.” Proverbs 17:15 Pray for justice.

SUMMARY TO USE IN BULLETINS UNABLE TO RUN THE WHOLE ARTICLE: ——————————————————————- PAKISTAN: HATE CRIMES AND INJUSTICE

In Pakistan, Christian girls are regularly the victims of vicious hate crimes, especially rape. The situation is made worse when, either the police refuse to report the rape or the courts rule in favour of the rapists. Either way, justice is not done, giving sanction to more violence. On 15 June, a 17 yr-old Christian girl named Gulnaz from the slums of Faisalabad was attacked with acid for refusing the sexual advances of a group of Muslim men who despised her Christian profession and moral integrity. Her family is being pressured to accept money and not lay charges. The issue of violence against women in Pakistan is presently under the spotlight of the international media. Let’s pray that Christian girls will also be considered worthy of justice.

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Elizabeth Kendal researched and authored this message.

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