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| English: Location of Lahore, in Punjab. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
ASIA/PAKISTAN - Christian girls kidnapped and raped by Muslims
Lahore (Agenzia Fides) - Two Christian girls were kidnapped and raped by a group of Muslim men. Two of the criminals were arrested, three are still at large in the city of Jaranwala, in Punjab.
The victims are defended by Christian lawyers, who reported these incidents to Fides. Another case regards a 13-year-old Christian girl, who was kidnapped and raped. The third case reported to Fides concerns two girls abducted and abused by a group of human traffickers who forced them into prostitution, always in Punjab.
The phenomenon of girls of religious minorities (Christians and Hindus) kidnapped, raped and in some cases, forced to Islamic marriage, is endemic in Pakistan and, according to Fides sources, affects about one thousand girls every year. It is part of the condition of subordination of women in Pakistani society, especially in rural areas, but women belonging to religious minorities are doubly vulnerable, notes a source of Fides, given that Muslim men feel they are guaranteed impunity in committing such abuse and are often backed by the police and the judiciary. Lawyer Sardar Mushtaq Gill, a human rights defender, who has defended many cases in court, today lives in conditions of extreme insecurity, and has received threats and intimidation in order to make him abandon the defense of the victims, and ensure impunity to the guilty. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 05/10/2015)
The victims are defended by Christian lawyers, who reported these incidents to Fides. Another case regards a 13-year-old Christian girl, who was kidnapped and raped. The third case reported to Fides concerns two girls abducted and abused by a group of human traffickers who forced them into prostitution, always in Punjab.
The phenomenon of girls of religious minorities (Christians and Hindus) kidnapped, raped and in some cases, forced to Islamic marriage, is endemic in Pakistan and, according to Fides sources, affects about one thousand girls every year. It is part of the condition of subordination of women in Pakistani society, especially in rural areas, but women belonging to religious minorities are doubly vulnerable, notes a source of Fides, given that Muslim men feel they are guaranteed impunity in committing such abuse and are often backed by the police and the judiciary. Lawyer Sardar Mushtaq Gill, a human rights defender, who has defended many cases in court, today lives in conditions of extreme insecurity, and has received threats and intimidation in order to make him abandon the defense of the victims, and ensure impunity to the guilty. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 05/10/2015)
