October 29, 2024 – Thousands of Pakistani Christian families fleeing severe religious persecution are stranded in Thailand, a country with strict immigration laws that does not recognize asylum seekers, forcing them to live as undocumented immigrants. These families, some of whom have lived in Thailand for over a decade, endure extreme hardship while waiting for a chance to secure safe futures in welcoming countries.

In Thailand, where there are no formal systems to support or even recognize asylum seekers, these families suffer from inadequate financial resources, lack of food, no employment opportunities, and limited medical support. Without access to education for their children, they face daily stress, fear of deportation, and profound mental health struggles. Thai immigration law is stringent, and those without valid visas are subject to arrest and detention in the Immigration Detention Center (IDC) or even criminal jail. Royal Thai Immigration Police conduct frequent raids, stopping individuals on the streets, searching condos, and workplaces. Recently, in September, 15 Christian asylum seekers were detained, and in a separate incident, a family of five was arrested and detained at the IDC.

A Pakistani Christian asylum-seeking family has been arrested in Thailand after Thai immigration officers raided the condo where they had been living in hiding. Five family members, including a young boy left mentally impaired after being hit by a train when 5 years old, were taken into custody. The entire family is now being held in Bangkok’s notorious Immigration Detention Center, known for its harsh conditions and overcrowding.

In the small village of Saif Mari, located in Mirpur Khas, Sindh, nearly 20 Christian and Hindu families are struggling with the basic necessity of clean drinking water. These impoverished farm worker families have no access to a hand pump and must rely on water from irrigation ditches located in distant sugarcane fields—a perilous and unhealthy source.

Despite the United Nations’ global recognition that clean water is a fundamental human right, millions of people around the world continue to live without access to it. Sindh, one of the most water-scarce regions in Pakistan, is a stark example. While government and non-government agencies have mobilized resources to address this issue, rural villages like Saif Mari, where Christians reside, remain in dire need.

On 20th October, doctors successfully performed cataract surgery and fitted new lenses to restore the eyesight of Nawab Bibi (76), wife of Zafar Bhatti (56), Pakistan’s longest-serving blasphemy convict under section 295-C.

Nawab Bibi has become increasingly frail, with age-related decline and ongoing health issues like persistent high blood pressure severely impacting her vision. Last month, she confided in a BACA officer that she had fallen twice due to her deteriorating eyesight. With a heavy heart, she shared, “The only wish I now have, after Zafar’s release, is to see him and care for him in the time I have left.”

The British Asian Christian Association (BACA) continues to stand by blasphemy victims and their families in Pakistan, offering vital support and security through its safe houses. The ongoing assistance provided to young Nabeel Masih and longtime detainee Zafar Bhatti illustrates how these safe houses are critical to the survival, dignity, and well-being of those targeted by blasphemy laws.

In 2016, our charity successfully rescued a rape victim, Fouzia Sadiq, from her abductor by secretly providing her with a mobile phone and transporting her to safety. Unfortunately, due to the lack of immediate secure housing, her family—under severe societal pressure—returned Fouzia to her captor (click here). Despite this setback, we managed to help Fouzia escape once more and ultimately secured a divorce for her (rather than an annulment) to protect her from accusations of an “illicit affair,” which could have endangered her life, even though she was entirely innocent (click here). 

This experience underscored the critical need for a permanent safe house where rape victims can receive immediate protection and care. We are committed to establishing this resource to prevent similar situations in the future.