Pakistan: "Saving one
Christian girl suffering persecution will help others"
Pakistan Christians in prayer (ANSA) |
Over two months after the abduction and forced conversion of
Huma Youmus in Pakistan, her Catholic lawyer speaks out about the importance
that winning the case and bringing her home will have on numerous girls in
similar positions.
By Francesca Merlo
38 year-old Catholic lawyer, Tabassum Yousaf, considers
assisting persecuted Christians her mission, and a service to God and her
Church. This is why she has not allowed the threats she has received to “stop
her”, as she defends Huma Younus’ parents in their battle to get their daughter
back.
Huma's story
Huma is a 14-year-old Christian girl from Zia Colony in
Karachi, Pakistan. On the 10th of October, whilst her parents
were out, she was abducted from her home and forced to convert and marry a
Muslim man.
Though her parents received Huma’s conversion papers and
marriage certificate - to a man named Abdul Jabar - the family are sure the
papers are fake, due also to them being dated to the very same day the young
girl went missing.
Recently, Huma’s abductor has threatened both her parents
and their lawyer, Tabassum Yousaf, that he would accuse them of blasphemy. The
High Court of Sindh lawyer has worked on many cases of forced marriage, and
speaking with Aid to the Church in Need, she says that these threats are
common. She explains that the abductors often say, “If you do not stop
searching for your daughter, we will rip pages out of the Koran, place them on
your doorstep, and accuse you of profaning the sacred book”.
Abduction in Pakistan
Abducting for the purpose of forced conversion and marriage
is a major issue in Pakistan. Most of the victims are Christian or Hindu girls
and young women - both religious minorities in the country - who are forced to
wed against their will to much older Muslim men.
Of the 159 cases reported between 2013 and 2019, some 16
girls and young women have gone before the Sindh High Court asking for support
against their forced marriages.
Tabassum Yousaf explains:
“Many Christians do not know that they have the
same rights as Muslims. The poverty and lack of education of our brothers and
sisters in faith allows Islamic fundamentalists to abuse their social, political,
economic and religious powers to persecute Christians. And the judiciary is
under strong pressure from political parties, which do not provide minorities
with the right legal support”.
Aid from ACN
This is why the economic support provided by Aid to the
Church in Need (ACN) is “fundamental”, she adds. With the charity covering
costs, the family will be able to pay for an experienced Muslim lawyer, and, if
necessary, take the case to the Supreme Court.
“And if we win and bring Huma home, such a sentence will
also greatly help the many other Christian girls kidnapped and forcibly
converted to Islam. But to do this we need international pressure, because
despite our efforts to draw attention to the case, everything in Pakistan is at
a standstill".
Pope and Prince
Just this month, Pope Francis dedicated part of his
catechesis during a General Audience to the many Christians today who are
“persecuted and marginalised”.
“Today in the world, in Europe,” the Pope pointed out, “many
Christians are persecuted and they give their lives for their faith, or are
persecuted with white gloves, that is, left aside, marginalized.”
“Martyrdom,” he stressed, “is the air of the life of a
Christian, of a Christian community.”
Along with Pope Francis, offering his support this month is
HRH the Prince of Wales. In a Christmas video message specifically aimed at
persecuted Christians, Prince Charles highlights that, as Christmas is
approaching, those “who carry the cross of suffering today” are held in his
thoughts and prayers.
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