Dear Friends,

As May draws to a close, we want to share some important updates about our mission to support persecuted Christians across Asia. Your continued generosity remains a beacon of hope for those facing severe hardship and danger.

Unfortunately, our last two appeals raised less than £2,000 each—far short of what is needed to meet the growing demands of our work. This shortfall is slowing our ability to respond swiftly and effectively to urgent needs.

To maintain the pace of our efforts and deliver the breadth of support our beneficiaries so desperately require, we urgently need to raise £15,000 this month. Every contribution, no matter the size, brings us closer to this goal and makes a real difference in the lives of those who rely on us.

I would also like to ask for your support with a petition we are promoting on behalf of homeowners affected by Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC). Many of these families now face bankruptcy and homelessness—through no fault of their own—due to flawed Government and local authority cost-saving decisions made in the 1960s. These decisions were never disclosed to the homeowners, who are now bearing the consequences decades later.

You can learn more about this crisis [here].

As one of the affected homeowners, I am personally appealing to you to sign and share this official UK Government petition. We’ve already gathered nearly 5,000 signatures, but we urgently need to reach 10,000 by June 17th, 2025, to ensure this issue receives the attention it deserves in Parliament.

Crushed with Bricks, Silenced by Hate – Demand Justice for Asif Masih a Christian farmer murdered by Islamists

A tragic incident in Sheikhupura has shocked the local Christian community, as a Christian farm worker was brutally beaten by Muslim landlords following a minor dispute over cattle trespassing. The victim succumbed to his injuries after four days in the hospital. The British Asian Christian Association (BACA) supported the grieving family, attending the funeral and covering all associated costs. 

Horrific Sexual Assault of Christian 6-Year-Old Girl in Bihar Highlights Deep-Rooted Caste and Gender-Based Exploitation

On 10th January 2025, in the Lalunagar village of Bihar, a tragic incident unfolded involving six-year-old Santhusti, the daughter of Pastor Ramashish and Sabitha Devi. The young girl was allegedly abducted and sexually assaulted by 32-year-old Vivek Singh, a resident of the nearby Vydhyanadhpur village. Singh belongs to the dominant upper-caste Singh community, known for its affluence and social influence. 

Faith on Trial: How India’s Conversion Laws Are Crushing Tribal Christians

Earlier this year, we shared the disturbing news of five tribal pastors from Rajasthan, India, who were arrested under false allegations of “forced religious conversions”—a charge frequently used by anti-Christian extremists to silence and intimidate minority believers in India.

These humble pastors—Pappulal Valvai, Tolsingh Garasia, Makanlal Garasia, Suresh Garasia, and Rajesh Garasia—all hail from impoverished tribal forest communities in Banswada District, Rajasthan. Their faith in Christ, embraced through personal transformation and spiritual conviction, has inspired others in their villages. Despite their poverty and social marginalization, these men have courageously led house churches where people gather for worship, prayer, and fellowship.

Justice Delayed, Faith Undiminished: Zafar Bhatti’s 13-Year Ordeal Behind Bars

Zafar Bhatti, a devout Pakistani Christian and former charity worker, has endured an agonizing 13-year imprisonment after being arrested in July 2012 on false charges of blasphemy. In 2022, after a decade of judicial delays and suffering, he was wrongfully convicted and sentenced to death under Pakistan’s harsh and widely abused blasphemy laws. These laws continue to be wielded as weapons against religious minorities, with little regard for justice, evidence, or the devastating human cost.

Zafar has always maintained his innocence, asserting that the accusations were fabricated due to deep-seated religious bias and hostility toward his Christian identity. He is now the longest-serving blasphemy convict in Pakistan’s history, and his case epitomizes the brutal misuse of the law and the systematic persecution of Christians in the country.

Aleeza’s New Prosthetic Leg Restores Her Mobility and Her Joy for School

On 17th December 2017, a peaceful nativity service at Bethel Memorial Methodist Church in Quetta, Pakistan, was shattered by a brutal terrorist attack that left nine innocent worshippers dead. Among the survivors was a little girl named Aleeza, just 1.5 years old at the time, whose life was forever changed by the tragedy.

Aleeza sustained life-threatening injuries from shrapnel, including severe bowel damage and the traumatic loss of her left leg below the knee. While her initial treatment at a public hospital proved inadequate—resulting in dangerous gangrene—it was the urgent intervention by the British Asian Christian Association (BACA) that saved her life. She was transferred to a private hospital in Karachi where skilled surgeons performed a second operation that halted the spread of infection and stabilized her condition

A Fresh Coat of Hope: Restoring Comfort and Dignity for the Children of Shama and Shehzad

In the heart of Pakistan, where faith can tragically become a matter of life and death, three children—Suleman, Sonia, and Poonam—continue to carry the weight of an unimaginable past.

In November 2014, the world recoiled in horror when Shama and Shehzad, a young Christian couple, were falsely accused of blasphemy. What followed was an act of unspeakable cruelty: they were brutally tortured and burned alive in a brick kiln by an extremist mob. This atrocity, driven by religious intolerance and hatred, left their three innocent children orphaned, traumatized, and at the mercy of a society that had already taken everything from them.

"We’ll be sharing updates on Sunaiha and Saba Shafique's progress in our next newsletter. We’re currently experiencing a very busy period and sincerely thank you all for your continued patience and support.

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.