PAKISTAN: GANG-RAPE OF YOUNG CHRISTIAN MAN WHO REFUSED TO CONVERT TO ISLAM |
| Jun 27 2007 |
| Postings >> Pakistan |
Lawyers in Pakistan are investigating a report that up to 30 men tortured and gang-raped a young Christian man for refusing to convert to Islam.
Release International’s partner in Pakistan says the victim is seriously injured and unable to move. But according to the Centre for Legal Aid Assistance and Settlement (CLAAS) the police are keeping him locked up and have denied him medical treatment.
The police are also refusing to register the rape following a counter-claim made by his attacker – a man of influence.
According to CLAAS, the Christian was invited to a game of cricket. A quarrel broke out and he was beaten up. Later that evening, the father of one of the Muslims asked the Christian over to his house.
Joseph Francis, the National Director of CLAAS, takes up the story: ‘When he entered the drawing room, he found it filled with unknown people. They began to beat him severely. They threatened him with dire consequences if he did not accept Islam. After his refusal, they committed sodomy with him one by one for the whole night.’
Mr Francis says they later threw their victim out on the street unconscious.
CLAAS has visited the victim and his family. They believe the counter accusation that he stole money and a mobile phone is false. They say the charges were drawn up by the attacker, who has used his influence to put pressure on the authorities.
‘We’re deeply concerned about the growing number of attacks against Christians in Pakistan,’ says Release International’s CEO Andy Dipper. ‘We are receiving reports of rape, abductions and forced conversion. Pakistan is becoming an increasingly difficult place for Christians to live.
‘To make matters worse, the government is pushing through a law which could impose the death penalty for any Muslim man who converts to Christianity – and life imprisonment for any woman.
‘As well as being an attack on the basic human rights of Muslims, this will also make things harder for Christians who preach the gospel. Please pray for this young victim and for the lawyers at CLAAS, who are dealing with growing numbers of appalling cases like this one.’
ENDS
Notes to the Editor
Names and details that could lead to the identity of either the victim or the accused have been withheld.
The alleged rape took place on June 4 at Mundi Bahauddin, 109 miles from Lahore.
The CLAAS investigation into the case took place on June 22.
Contacts
For further information, please contact Andrew Boyd on 01730 301905 or 07986 712 813, or contact Release International on 01689 823491 or by email at info@releaseinternational.org
Through our international network of missions RI serves persecuted Christians in 30 countries, supporting pastors and Christian prisoners and their families, supplying Christian literature and Bibles, and working for justice. RI is a member of the UK organisations Global Connections, the Evangelical Alliance and the Micah Network.
