Dear Friends,

Thank you for your incredible generosity in response to our last appeal—your donations exceeded £3,000!

Your support has already made a tangible difference. We’ve funded urgent medical surgery for Nabeel Masih, Pakistan’s youngest-ever blasphemy prisoner, who has now had painful lipomas removed from his body. Next week, Shabbir Masih is scheduled to undergo hernia surgery. We’ve also sent significant aid to the five pastors falsely accused of forced conversions in India, and to Santhusti Bee, a young girl who was sexually assaulted at just six years old.

A full update on these cases will follow next week, but our work is far from over. Many others still urgently need our help—including a young bomb survivor from the 2017 Quetta attack, for whom we’ve been providing new prosthetic limbs as she grows. We've also received a request for help from the orphans of Shama and Shahzad. They urgently need new school uniforms and home improvements after being relocated to a new house, following their grandfather’s heart surgery and move closer to family.

In this update, we’ll share both new and ongoing cases—some heartbreaking, some hopeful, and all deserving of your continued prayers and support. Please consider forwarding this newsletter to friends and family. Together, we can act more quickly and reach further into communities that are sufferi

Lipomas Removed, Pain Relieved: Blasphemy victim Nabeel Masih Thanks BACA Donors for Life-Changing Surgery

Lahore, Pakistan – 11 April 2025
On 9th April, 24-year-old Nabeel Masih underwent a successful surgery at Farooq Hospital in Lahore for the removal of several large lipomas from his thighs—masses that had caused him immense pain and discomfort for years. Thanks to the financial and moral support of donors through the British Asian Christian Association (BACA), Nabeel is now recovering well and feeling significant relief.

BACA Appeals for Urgent Funds to Support Orphaned Children of Christian Martyrs Shama and Shahzad

Kasur, Pakistan | April 2025 – The British Asian Christian Association (BACA) continues its long-standing commitment to the orphaned children of Shama and Shahzad Masih, a young Christian couple who were falsely accused of blasphemy and brutally murdered in 2014. As these children grow and thrive under BACA’s care, the charity is now seeking urgent funds to complete essential remedial works on their home and to provide for their summer and educational needs.

The Hidden Crisis on Our Doorstep: Rough Sleeping in London and Redbridge Soars

The latest Rough Sleeping Snapshot in England: Autumn 2023 paints a grim picture of homelessness across the nation, with a staggering 27% rise in rough sleeping since 2022. In total, 3,898 people were estimated to be sleeping rough on a single night in autumn 2023. For London, the numbers are even more harrowing, accounting for one in four of all rough sleepers in England.

Here in Redbridge, the crisis is hitting particularly hard. Our borough recorded 67 rough sleepers, one of the highest counts among outer London boroughs and more than double what it was just a few years ago. Ilford town centre, in particular, has become a visible epicentre of homelessness — a painful reminder that the housing crisis, the cost-of-living squeeze, and diminishing support services are pushing more people to the streets.

Brutal Assault on Christian Man in Factory: Muslim Supervisor Attacks After Refusal to Convert

A horrific incident took place at a paper factory, where a Christian man was brutally assaulted by his Muslim supervisor after he refused to convert to Islam. The attacker used a sharp paper cutter to violently cut the Christian man’s throat in a gruesome act of violence. The police swiftly took action by registering an FIR against the supervisor and apprehending him.  The incident has sparked widespread outrage, and the victim is receiving support from the community as authorities work to bring the perpetrator to justice.

Raped at Gunpoint by Muslim Gang, But Not Defeated: Stand with Shumaila and Adnan

In Faisalabad, a Christian woman was brutally assaulted by three Muslim men at gunpoint after they tied up her husband in a sugarcane field while the couple was on their way home from work. The police have since arrested the perpetrators and placed them in judicial remand. The British Asian Christian Association (BACA) has visited the family, providing them with legal support and financial assistance to help them seek justice and recover from this traumatic ordeal.

Justice Won, But Struggles Continue: Father of Murdered Wife and Son Needs Surgery

Shabbir Masih, a 61-year-old grieving father whose wife and son were brutally murdered in 2021 by an intolerant Muslim neighbor, has turned to the British Asian Christian Association (BACA) for urgent assistance with a hernia surgery.

Six-Year-Old Girl Brutally Assaulted: Indian Christian Family Seeks Justice Amidst Police Inaction

Lalu Nagar, India – Six-year-old Santhusti Bee, daughter of Pastor Ramshish Manjhi (35) and Mrs. Sabitha Devi (30), was brutally assaulted on January 10, 2025, in a horrific crime that has left her family and community in deep distress. The couple, who also have a two-year-old son, run a small house church with 30 worshippers and sustain their livelihood as daily wage labourers in agricultural fields.  Read more (here)

A Beating, a Donkey, and a Cry for Justice: The Brutal Humiliation of Mr. Masih

A Christian man was brutally assaulted and humiliated by a group of influential Muslims in his village for collecting firewood. The attackers shaved the man’s head, eyebrows, and mustache before parading him through the streets on a donkey in a degrading display. The police have registered an FIR and arrested two individuals involved in the incident, while the main perpetrators are currently on pre-arrest bail. In response to this act of violence and humiliation, the British Asian Christian Association (BACA) team visited the family to offer their support and stand in solidarity with them.

BACA Secures Justice for Murdered Christian Brothers, Seeks Further Legal Support

Two Christian brothers, Imran Daniel (30) and Arslan Daniel (24), were brutally shot and killed by drug lords Ali Butt, Qadir Butt, and their accomplices in the main bazaar of Rachna Town, a suburb of Ferozwala, in October 2024. The attack stemmed from a heated confrontation after the brothers refused to allow drug sales at their salon. Imran was killed instantly, while Arslan succumbed to his injuries en route to the hospital.The British Asian Christian Association has been standing by the grieving family, providing ongoing support as they fight for justice

Aleeza’s Fight for Mobility: A Story of Survival and Strength through God

Aleeza was just 1.5 years old when she survived a horrific terrorist attack on the Bethel Memorial Methodist Church during a nativity service on 17th December 2017. The brutal assault claimed the lives of nine innocent worshippers, leaving a deep scar on the Christian community in Pakistan. Aleeza’s survival was nothing short of miraculous, made possible by the courageous efforts of volunteer Christian security officers who risked their lives to protect others.

Five Pastors Arrested in Rajasthan for Alleged Forced Conversions: A Call for Justice

On January 10, 2025, a disturbing incident unfolded in Parthapur village, Banswara District, Rajasthan, where five Christian pastors were arrested under allegations of forcefully converting Hindus to Christianity. The accused pastors, including Jyoti Garasiya (42 yrs), Hurmal Valwai (27 yrs), Peter Garasiya (22),  Badra Garasiya (29) and Rajesh Garasiya (49 yrs), were detained for five days before securing bail. The case has sparked concern among the local Christian community, raising fears of religious intolerance and persecution.

We received very few funds towards the help of Sunaiha and Saba Shafique after our last newsletter and call for more support so that we can progress help for these families.

Deprived Children in Peru (sorry I added the Challenges Abroad main donation link last time)

In addition to my work with BACA, I am traveling abroad with my university’s Challenges Abroad team to support deprived children in Peru. This follows the impactful experience in Thailand I had last year, where I gained valuable insights into how charities uplift vulnerable children. I hope to build on that knowledge to enhance BACA’s work in supporting disadvantaged communities. 

To help cover the costs of this program, the Challenges Abroad team has launched a Chuffed Campaign (click here), and any donations would be deeply appreciated. Your support will allow me to participate in this important initiative while continuing my mission to bring hope to those in need. So far, I have raised £40 towards the £2,000 needed for the volunteer experience, and I hope more of you will join me in supporting this cause.

Your generosity enables us to fight for justice, safety, and freedom for those who need it most. Please consider making a donation—every contribution helps us continue this vital work.

“Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.” — Psalm 82:3

With gratitude and blessings,

Hannah Chowdhry

British Asian Christian Association

For more ways to support our work, please visit our donation page. Your generosity is greatly appreciated.