14 Year Old Christian Girl Abducted, Forcibly Converted To Islam And Forcibly Married

Kidnapping, rape, forced conversions, land snatching, blasphemy laws and constant harassment are a routine burden for minorities who dare to remain in their homeland of Pakistan.

Rafia Bibi, a 14-year old Christian girl, was abducted, forced to convert to Islam and forcibly married to a Muslim man named Muhammad Imran in Green Town, Lahore

(PATTOKI, Pakistan) - Rafia Bibi, a 14-year old Christian girl, was abducted on December 5th 2012. Three days later she was forced to convert to Islam and on the same day, under threats, she was forcibly married to a Muslim man named Muhammad Imran in Green Town, Lahore, soon after receiving certification of her acceptance into Islam from the Jamia Islamia Mufta Ul Quran.

Her mother, Mansha Masih, resident of Pattoki, filed a FIR against the perpetrators at the Pattoki City Police Station with the help and support of LEAD (Legal Evangelical Association Development).

The perpetrators retorted by submitting a petition to the Court of Additional Sessions Judge Ijaz Hassan Awan for the return of Rafia to her wrongfully wedded husband. On February 4th 2013, Rafia Bibi was asked to appear in Court in order to obtain her testimony. She stated that she had been abducted, raped, and forcibly married to Muhammad Imran. After recording the statement, the Court dismissed the petition.

The perpetrators proceeded to apply for pre-arrest bail, as the date of the next hearing is set for March 12th 2013. They also attempted to force Mansha Masih into a compromise by making threats to kidnap her daughter a second time. LEAD is providing free legal aid in this case, and will contest the bail petition on behalf of the victim's family.

Kidnapping, rape, forced conversions, land snatching, blasphemy laws and constant harassment are a routine burden for minorities who dare to remain in their homeland of Pakistan. They suffer the humiliation of being degraded as third class citizens and even being viewed as subhuman in the eyes of the majority and the legal system.

LEAD is a Christian relief, development and advocacy organization committed to working with ceaseless dedication to aid Christian families and communities and to overcome poverty and injustice that is most often in the form of discrimination, forced labor, forced conversation, and accusations of blasphemy. We request your partnership in this mission with LEAD. As followers of Jesus, we are motivated by God's love to serve all people, regardless of race, religion, gender or ethnicity.

Service in Christ,

Advocate Sardar Mushtaq Gill,

National Director of LEAD.

Edited by Fay V Greco Salem-News.com