Christian Women and Girls Targeted in Pakistan

In Pakistan, Christians are increasingly finding themselves caught in the crossfire between Islamic militant organizations that violently target Christians and a strengthening Muslim culture, which is resulting in  Christians being more and more isolated from the rest of the population.

Significantly, there has also been a sharp increase in the number of attacks against Christian women and girls with many reports of them being raped, kidnapped, assaulted, humiliated in public, forced into marriage and forced to convert to Islam.

It is estimated that as many as 700 Christian girls are abused and kidnapped each year and, in most cases, the authorities ignore the families’ cry for help, and the girls are never returned to their homes. If a girl does manage to leave and attempts to return to Christianity, she is liable to be killed, as she is seen to be converting from Islam to Christianity, a crime of apostasy in Pakistan.

Christian women in Pakistan face a “double persecution”; not only are they Christians, but they are also women and, as such, seen as worth much less than men and are very vulnerable to abuse.

• Pray for Pakistan. With increasing influence from the Taliban, the rights of Christians are being increasingly eroded. Pray for a turning around of this situation and for the government to look to protect Christians in Pakistan.
• Pray for Pakistani women and girls to be seen as having worth that is “above rubies”
• Pray for Christians in Pakistan. For courage, faith and unity. To stand in the face of persecution and know that they are held secure in the palm of their heavenly Father’s hand.
• Pray for Christian women and girls who are subect to abuse and kidnappings. Pray for their safety, for courage and for healing of mind, body and spirit. Pray that they will know how precious they are in God’s sight.

Deuteronomy 32 vs 10: He sustained him (her) in a desert land, in a howling wilderness waste; he shielded him (her), cared for him (her), guarded him (her) as the apple of his eye. (Italics mine)

Source: www.persecution.org; www.opendoorsusa.org