Pakistan: violence against Christian girls ‘part of daily life’
October 14, 2010
Violence against Christian girls is “unfortunately common” in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, according to Father Khalid Rashid Asi, vicar general of the Diocese of Faisalabad.
Lubna Masih, 12, was going to a store to buy milk when five Muslim young men forced her into a car and raped and murdered her, according to the Fides news agency. Terrified by the prospect of reprisals, her family has not pressed charges.
Kiran Nayyaz, 13, was working as a maid in a Muslim’s home when another Muslim employee raped her. Now pregnant, she is under the protection of the Diocese of Faisalabad. “The family is traumatized and the entire Catholic community fear reprisals,” said the diocesan vicar general. “But cases of violence such as these are unfortunately common.”
In July, according to Fides, three Muslims kidnapped, tortured, and raped a 16-year-old Christian girl in Punjab, and a group of Muslim students raped a 12-year-old Christian girl in Rawalpindi.
“Episodes of violence and abuse of Christian girls are part of daily life,” a Fides source said. “Those that make the news are just the tip of the iceberg.”
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Posted by: hartwood01 -
Oct. 15, 2010 8:33 PM ET USA
I think Muslims have their heads in the sand. I don't understand how they can ignore this persecution. Maybe they are fearful,not a very reassuring faith,and not a peep from American Muslims over this outrage.
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Posted by: Chestertonian -
Oct. 14, 2010 7:36 PM ET USA
It is very painful to read this story, coming as it does on the heels of the article on the Muslim clerics speaking at the synod and preaching tolerance for other faiths. Are they in the minority of Muslim clerics? I find that more likely than that the people are simply ignoring their teaching. But what cowardice of these men to attack these young girls! These are more examples of why it is so hard to accept that Islam is a "religion of peace". Apparently, that doesn't apply to "infidels".
