Liberate Two Families from Slavery this Christmas: Your Support Matters

Published: Tue, 12/05/23

Liberate Two Families from Slavery this Christmas: Your Support Matters

Dear all,

It's been a while since our last email, and this newsletter will include numerous articles as we bring you up-to-date.

To kick things off, we're thrilled to share some uplifting news, starting with our volunteer, Hannah Chowdhry. She was honored as a Leadership Trailblazer by the Duke of Edinburgh Awards Scheme during their "This is Youth" Ceremony. Congratulations to Hannah for this well-deserved recognition! You can read more (here).

We're also pleased to announce the successful installation of another clean water pump in Sindh. This initiative aims to provide local flood victims with consistent access to clean water, contributing to the overall well-being of the community. Read more (here).

In a recent development, we've successfully funded a new prosthetic limb for Aleeza. At the tender age of 1.5, she became a victim of a terrorist attack while her family was worshiping in a Quetta Church. Read more (here).

In a positive development, we are delighted to announce that Juliet Chowdhry attended a roundtable discussion at the Foreign Office in London. During the session, she was able to articulate her concerns regarding the challenging situation faced by Pakistani Christians. We are optimistic that this engagement will open up more opportunities for collaboration with the Foreign Office. Read more (here).

It's disheartening to note a less optimistic development. We express our concerns about the decline in the number of people of Pakistani origin in the UK identifying as Christians, as indicated by the Census for England and Wales. There has been a significant decrease, with almost one-third fewer individuals now declaring their faith as Christians, dropping from 17,118 to 12,327. Read more (here)

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" Isaiah 9:6

As we enter the advent period and everyone prepares to celebrate the birth of Christ, our Saviour, we reach out to ask for your assistance with several appeals. Our main objective is to liberate two Christian families from their indentured labor contracts, enabling them to safely address cases of rape perpetrated by local Muslim gangs.

Nagina, Sunaiha, and their families have demonstrated immense bravery in confronting the rapists who have threatened to subject these young Christians to further harm if legal action is pursued. Our goal is to relocate them to a place of safety, aid in rebuilding their lives, and support them in seeking justice. This involves ensuring the incarceration of the brutal rapists who currently believe they are immune to consequences. You can read about Nagina (here) and Sunaiha (here).

The situation in Manipur, India, is deeply distressing, and we continue to prioritize support for the displaced people in the area. The scale of the crisis, with over 60,000 displaced individuals, underscores the urgency of the matter. The targeted attacks on Christians, including indiscriminate killings and rape, have garnered international attention, shedding light on the severity of the situation. The reported burning of over 300 churches earlier this year is devastating, and as winter approaches, the immediate needs for food, clothing, and essential domestic supplies become even more critical. We have prepared a 30 minute eye-witness documentary about the violence which you can watch (here):

A young man lost his life, murdered by individuals for expressing support for Israel during the recent conflict. His grieving family is seeking assistance to achieve justice and ensure the perpetrator is held accountable. We earnestly call for prayers, advocating for an end to the ongoing war and for people in the region to find faith in Christ. Read more (here).

A fire has left a Christian family with nothing, jeopardizing their very survival and pushing them towards potential enslavement. Your support can make a significant difference in preventing this dire situation. Please consider contributing to our appeal, helping us provide assistance and relief to this family in their time of need. Together, we can make a meaningful impact and offer them a chance for a better future. Read more (here)

Tis the season once more, and Christmas is ushering in a flurry of activity for BACA. We are embarking on an extensive series of outreach programs in Pakistan and Thailand. We hope to distribute over 100 Bibles and 50 Audio Bibles. There will be more about this in our next newsletter.

In addition to this we are extending support for our program in Ukraine. Pastor Vasilev, exemplifying remarkable courage, has opted to stay in Ukraine instead of returning to his native Russia. In this update, we share the latest news regarding our ongoing initiatives in Thailand (click here) and Ukraine (click here).

We hope to write another update in two weeks time as we catch up with a small backlog.

We are still in search of volunteers who are willing to assist us in writing reports. Additionally, if you reside near Ilford, we are looking for volunteers to contribute to our Meals for the Needy Project, which serves an ever increasing number of visitors every week. We have prepared this video to detail what we do at the homeless shelter:

Soaring homelessness crisis in London: BACA's call for urgent action

Reviewing all the projects mentioned above, it's evident that fulfilling these appeals requires a substantial amount of funding. We are hopeful that many of you will join us in reaching these goals and that you'll share details of the appeals that resonate with you with others. Together, we can initiate a program of tangible change this Christmas. Your support and collaboration can make a meaningful impact on the lives of those in need.

Blessings to you all.

Hannah Chowdhry

If you are a regular reader and want to support our work, you can find a range of options for giving donations (here). If you are already giving donations and reside in the UK you may want to switch from Paypal or Stripe payments and pay directly into the charity bank account as we will receive more of your donation. Our bank details are in the same link above. For donors in the US, we have recently established a partnership with a US charity. If you wish to receive details on how to donate to us through them, please feel free to request details via email at admin@britishasianchristians.org.

We upload videos for all our stories on YouTube, Tik Tok, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter and you can join any of our groups for free. But in most cases it is easier to read our news in real-time blog via our 'Current News' page in the header of our website.

For those who prefer to await our newsletter, we have conveniently compiled all our recent news chronologically below. This comprehensive list encompasses all the updates that were not featured in our prior newsletter.

In case any of the provided links encounter issues, you can access all our international news articles by clicking on the designated box below. This will lead you to our website, where you can navigate to the 'Current News' section and select 'BACA News.' Furthermore, you can find additional updates under 'Current News' followed by 'Community Projects' for an overview of all our projects within the UK.

Your continued interest and engagement with our work are greatly appreciated.

You can still give to the appeals from the previous newsletter which can be accessed (here).

Click here for our website

Unraveling Faith: The Complex Factors Behind the Decline of Pakistani Christians in the UK

A surprising decline in the number of Pakistani-origin individuals in England identifying as Christians has puzzled researchers at the British Asian Christian Association. The anticipated doubling of Pakistani Christians in the UK was shattered by alarming statistics from the 2011 Census, revealing a drop from 17,118 to 12,327. When questioned about the reasons behind this decline, Wilson Chowdhry, Chairman of United by Faith, pointed out that the UK Census includes details for international students, a group many Pak-Christian figures might have belonged to. Between 2011 and 2021, the UK Government imposed stricter regulations on international students, eliminating appeal rights and mandating the return of students to their home nations for course or module changes.

Aberdeen Law Student Earns Leadership Trailblazer Title at at Duke of Edinburgh Awards Inaugural ‘This is Youth’ Ceremony

THannah Chowdhry, a law student at the University of Aberdeen, has been recognized as a ‘Leadership Trailblazer’ by This is Youth—an award ceremony organized by the Duke of Edinburgh Awards Scheme.

Cruel deception by three Muslim men leads to gang-rape of 18 Y/O Christian woman

An 18-year-old Christian woman was deceived and raped by three Muslim men. The girl was locked inside a small grocery shop owned by one of the perpetrators.

The desperate parents tirelessly searched for their missing daughter but were unsuccessful. They eventually reported the incident to the police.

The perpetrators forcibly covered the victim’s mouth and subjected her to multiple instances of sexual assault before callously dumping her in a desolate sugarcane field and fleeing.t.

Seeking Justice for 14Y/O Nagina: A Tale of Kidnapping, Rape, and a Father’s Fight

A 14 year Christian girl from a poor brick kiln worker family was kidnapped and raped by three Muslim men on her way to school.

The young girl was kept hostage for 25 days at an unknown location in Lahore.

Nagina Akram was later recovered from the residence of the culprits

A medical report has confirmed that Miss Akram is a juvenile who is underage for marriage, and that she was forcefully raped multiple times during a brutal abduction.

Pattoki police have arrested the main culprit while the other two culprits remain in hiding.

Nurturing Hope: BACA’s Aid Program Amidst the Unveiling of Thailand’s New Asylum Scheme

Thailand recently initiated a new protection program for foreign asylum seekers. However, the British Asian Christian Association, along with the refugees under our care, expresses concern that numerous deserving individuals may face rejection or be deterred from applying due to the fear of arrest and deportation.

Pastor Vasilev’s Church Brings Hope Amidst Winter Challenges in Ukraine

As winter tightens its grip, Ukraine finds itself grappling with extreme weather conditions, causing widespread disruptions across the country. The State Emergency Service reported that 386 settlements in 10 regions have been significantly affected, with snowstorms leading to power cuts and creating chaos on the roads.

The southern port of Odesa, in particular, has witnessed some of the most intense weather, with a staggering 1.5 meters of snow blanketing the region. The Kyiv-Odesa highway is closed, and the aftermath includes a 100-meter-long pipe collapse of a boiler-house in the city. According to NBC News, there have been 71 car accidents in the region over the past 24 hours alone.

Voices of Resilience: Christians in Manipur Courageously Unveil the Ongoing Genocide in India

In the North East Indian state of Manipur, the Christian community is facing a grave humanitarian crisis, marked by violence, displacement, and a systematic attempt to erase their existence. This disturbing reality, unfolding since May 2023, reveals a shocking narrative of persecution and ethnic cleansing perpetrated by the Meitei Hindu community against the Kuki Zo Tribal Christians.

The orchestrated attacks, carefully planned over the course of a year, began with a violent assault on the Kuki Zo community, predominantly Christians of the region. The brutality escalated, leading to the rape, murder, and burning of homes, schools, theological colleges, and churches. This wave of destruction, fueled by the Meitei community’s selfish ambitions for land and a sinister desire to eradicate Christianity, has left over 60,000 to 70,000 Kuki people displaced, seeking refuge in crowded camps, rented houses, or with sympathetic relatives.

Slavery contract offered to Christian Farm Worker in Sindh who Lost Everything in Devastating Fire

In the rural outskirts of Sindh, a heartbreaking incident unfolded as Jammu Masih, a 28-year-old Christian farm worker, saw his entire world crumble when his mudbrick house succumbed to a fierce blaze.

The calamity struck when a sparking straw from a burning pile of cotton residue on a nearby farm found its way to the husky roof of Jammu’s humble abode.

Initially the family received an apology from the landowner who later threatened violence if they sought compensation. Eventually the landlord offered to pay £50 if the family agreed to enter into a slavery contract, which the family have refused till now.

The consequences were dire, leaving the impoverished family grappling with the loss of not just their home but also their possessions, including wheat, money, kitchen utensils, clothes, blankets, and rope beds.

BACA Empowers Bomb Survivor Aleeza Masih (7 yrs) with Prosthetic Limb

Aleeza Masih, a resilient 7-year-old survivor of the brutal terrorist attack on Bethel Memorial Methodist Church in Quetta during advent 2017 (click here), is not only alive but thriving, thanks to the intervention of the British Asian Christian Association.

Aleeza was just 1.5 years old when the attack occurred during a nativity service, claiming the lives of nine innocent people and injuring 52 others.

Sialkot: Innocent Student Brutally Murdered for Social Media Post Supporting Israel – I’ll kill all Christians threatens murderer

Pasrur, Sialkot: In the early hours of the morning, tragedy befell the Talvandi Anayat Khan Bajwa community in Pasrur, Sialkot, when 20-year-old Farhan ul Qamar (20 yrs), an aspiring medical student and devout Christian, was brutally murdered in his own home.

The assailant, identified as Muhammad Zubair (24 yrs), targeted Farhan for expressing support for Israel on social media during the recent conflict with Palestine.

For an agonizing half-hour, the heartless assailant subjected the family and other Christians in the vicinity to relentless abuse, baselessly accusing them of being Jewish agents and issuing ominous threats of mass murder.

The remorseless culprit has since been apprehended by the police, and disturbingly, he has expressed an intention to target other Christians upon his release from prison.

Foreign Office Roundtable discussion on persecution in Pakistan

Fiona Bruce MP, Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief, held a Pakistan FoRB roundtable meeting on 26 October at 2 – 3.30pm.

The roundtable meetings, bring together civil society with FCDO colleagues from the Pakistan Desk and posted in Pakistan to share concerns about the Freedom of Religion and Belief situation there.

The meeting was held at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, King Charles St, London, SW1A 2AH.

Juliet Chowdhry, Trustee for British Asian Christian Association, addressed the event that was also attended by Bishop emeritus/Monsignor Michael Nazir-Ali, John Pontifex of Aid to the Church in Need, Bishop Azad Marshall Moderator for the Church of Pakistan, Lord Alton and David Burrowes the Prime Minister’s Deputy Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief, among others who all contributed to the discussion.

Officers from the British High Commission in Islamabad were also in attendance via an internet link and contributed to the meeting.

Empowering Safety and Well-Being: Khwaja Stop Clean Water Project Mitigates Risks of Assault, Promoting Health and Security

In August of this year, the Sindh region of Pakistan faced severe consequences due to heavy rainfall, resulting in substantial losses of property, livestock, and crops.

Amidst this crisis, the Christian community residing in mud brick houses at Khwaja Stop found themselves in dire need of assistance.

British Asian Christian Association (BACA) played a crucial role in responding to their needs, providing essential items such as food and mosquito nets (click here). Now we have installed a water pump.

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