Psalm 82:3 – “Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.”
Dear Friends and Supporters, As we reach New Year’s Eve, all of us at the British Asian Christian Association (BACA) want to wish our
supporters a peaceful and hopeful New Year. As we reflect on the past year, we are deeply grateful for your compassion and generosity, which have enabled us to respond swiftly to some of the most urgent and distressing cases facing vulnerable Christian families. Over recent weeks, BACA has provided safe housing and financial support to the family of 14-year-old sexual assault survivor Sumaira George, following threats and intimidation from the
perpetrators’ relatives. Sumaira was abducted and raped by a group of assailants in Sahiwal, with medical evidence confirming repeated sexual assault. Following arrests and partial bail granted to suspects, the family was forced to relocate for safety. BACA continues to support the family’s pursuit of justice, and seeks funding for urgent legal assistance ahead of upcoming court hearings. Read more (here) In another deeply troubling case, six-year-old Shumaya Saleem and her family were forced to flee their home after a brutal sexual assault and subsequent intimidation and coercion by the family of the
accused. Thanks to donations to BACA’s Emergency Appeal, we have been able to provide immediate financial support, cover temporary accommodation costs, and begin preparations to relocate the family to a secure home for up to one year. However, urgent funds are still needed to secure dedicated legal advocacy to ensure justice is served and to prevent further abuse. Read more (here) We want to sincerely thank our donors and supporters for enabling us to act quickly and decisively in protecting these beleaguered families. Your support truly
saves lives. At the same time, we must be honest: several urgent appeals remain outstanding, and the need continues to grow. We are also grateful to share that we have received a further £2,000 towards our Permanent Safe House project. To complete this vital refuge, we still need to raise at least £4,000 more. Making this safe house fully operational is our New Year’s resolution, and with your continued
support, we hope to complete the project by the end of the month, providing long-term protection for families at extreme risk. Read more about Safe House project (here) We also share this moving interview, Nawab Bhatti shares her experience
of losing her husband, Zafar Bhatti, and the challenges she has faced in the aftermath. Through her story, we witness the resilience of faith and the courage of those who continue to seek justice and protection in the face of profound loss. The British Asian Christian Association (BACA) stands with Nawab, providing her with housing and advocacy as she navigates these difficult circumstances. This video is a testament to her strength, unwavering hope,
and the urgent need for continued awareness and support for families affected by persecution and violence. It also underscores the importance of our Permanent Safe House, which will enable families of blasphemy-accused individuals to be relocated to safety swiftly and securely. As we enter the New Year, thank you for standing with BACA, for standing for justice, and for standing with those who have nowhere else to turn. Isaiah 43:19 – “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” BACA Mobilises
Emergency Support to Protect Child Abuse Survivor Shumaya Saleem and Her Family Amid Threats and Intimidation Following a brutal sexual assault on six-year-old Shumaya Saleem, her family faced intimidation and coercion from the family of the accused, forcing them to flee their home. Through donations to BACA’s Emergency Appeal, the British Asian Christian Association has provided immediate financial support, covered temporary accommodation costs, and is preparing to relocate the family to a secure home for up to
one year. However, urgent funds are still needed to secure dedicated legal advocacy to ensure justice and prevent further abuse. BACA Provides Safe Housing and Financial Support to Family of Rape Victim Sumaira George BACA has provided safe housing and financial support to the family of 14-year-old rape survivor Sumaira George after threats and intimidation from the perpetrators’ relatives. Sumaira was abducted and raped by a group of assailants in Sahiwal, with medical evidence confirming repeated sexual assault. Following arrests and partial bail granted to suspects, the family was forced to relocate for safety.
BACA continues to support the family’s pursuit of justice, and seeks funding for urgent legal assistance ahead of upcoming court hearings. A Sanctuary for the Oppressed: Together, We Can Make It Happen The British Asian Christian Association (BACA) has reached a historic milestone with the purchase of its first safe house in Pakistan—a vital refuge for persecuted Christian families facing serious threats to their lives. Designed with security and dignity at its core, the safe house will provide immediate protection, care, and hope to families forced to flee violence and intimidation. Standing with the Persecuted: BACA’s Relief Efforts in Thailand Pakistani Christian asylum seekers in Thailand live in constant fear due to the country’s refusal to recognise refugees, leaving them vulnerable to arrest and detention. As police raids intensify in December, many families are forced into isolation, unable to work or access basic services. On 30th November, BACA
provided urgent food grants to 10 struggling Christian families, helping them afford essentials like rent, medicine, and food. This support brings vital hope to a community trapped in uncertainty and searching for safety, dignity, and compassion. Christian Asylum-Seeking Family Seized in Thai Immigration Raid—BACA Launches Urgent Bail Appeal A Pakistani Christian asylum-seeking family in Thailand was torn apart when immigration police arrested three adults and detained them in harsh IDC conditions. Their 15-year-old son was released due to his age, leaving his 20-year-old brother struggling alone to care for him. The family urgently needs 150,000 Thai Baht to secure
bail and reunite. BACA has launched an emergency appeal to free them and restore hope in their darkest moment.
BACA Supports Basharat Masih as Critical Court Battle Begins A year after his arrest under false blasphemy accusations, 22-year-old Christian waiter Basharat Masih has finally received legal support. After his previous lawyer withdrew due to threats, his family turned to BACA, who appointed Pakistan’s leading blasphemy advocate, Saif ul Malook. Recent cross-examination has
exposed serious flaws in the evidence, raising hopes for Basharat’s acquittal. As the trial continues, BACA stands firmly with the family—fighting for justice, truth, and Basharat’s freedom. Safe Drinking Water Reaches Christian and Hindu Residents of Jarawater A remote Christian and Hindu community in Jarawater, Sindh, lived for years without clean water. Women and children walked long distances to collect contaminated canal water, leading to sickness and daily hardship. BACA has now installed a water pump, bringing safe drinking water to their
doorstep. The community is asking for help again—this time, to build a much-needed washroom.
New: Support Children Artists and BACA’s Work We are excited to launch our new online shop, showcasing beautiful crystal art canvasses worked on by children from deprived families. Each canvas is priced between £40–£70. While the purchase cost of the artwork ranges from just £4.99–£13.99, there have been additional expenses for transport and handling. The purpose of this project is to
offer a meaningful way for people who might not usually donate to support these children’s futures—by purchasing their artwork, you give a gift that directly empowers and encourages them. These children dedicate their time and passion to create beautiful artwork. All proceeds support them and BACA’s work with orphans and persecuted Christians. Explore the shop and make a difference: [Visit our Crystal Art Shop]
Each of these stories demonstrates the power of your prayers, support, and generosity. Together, we are providing legal protection, emergency aid, homes, and hope to those who are suffering. Your continued
donations make this life-changing work possible. Please consider giving today and sharing these updates with friends and family. Every contribution, large or small, helps restore hope, protect the vulnerable, and bring justice to those in desperate need.
Together, We Can Bring HopeEvery story we’ve shared reflects both immense need and the power of faithful action. With your partnership, homes are being rebuilt, children are receiving care, and the oppressed
are finding hope in Christ’s love. We cannot do this without you. Please continue to stand with us in prayer and support. Your support enables us to meet tragedy with compassion, rebuild lives with dignity, and shine the light of Christ in places of pain. Thank you for standing faithfully with us. Some urgent appeals from last month remain unmet, and we invite you to revisit them in our last newsletter (here).
Supporting Vulnerable Children in Peru — A Personal MissionAlongside my work with BACA, I will soon be joining my university’s Challenges Abroad team to support deprived children in Peru. This opportunity follows the life-changing experience I had in Thailand last year, where I witnessed first-hand how charities can transform the lives of vulnerable
children. I hope to bring the skills and understanding I gained back to strengthen BACA’s mission of supporting disadvantaged communities around the world. To help fund this program, our Challenges Abroad team has launched a Chuffed Campaign. I have already raised £560 towards the £2,000 needed for this volunteer experience, and I noticed that the link in our previous articles was incorrect. The correct link
is now provided, and any donation, no matter the size, would mean the world to me. Your generosity will not only enable me to participate in this important work, but also equip me to return with fresh ideas, strategies, and inspiration to help BACA continue its fight for justice, safety, and freedom for those who need it most. “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. 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 please note that our official Charity name is Help for Persecuted Christians. For donors in the US, we have recently established a partnership with
a US charity who act as a conduit allowing US Citizens to have tax relief on their donations. 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 Facebook. Additionally, our volunteer Hannah Chowdhry shares some of these on her personal Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok accounts, while Juliet Chowdhry shares them on her LinkedIn. Other content on their
personal accounts may not be directly related to the British Asian Christian Association, but you should not find anything inappropriate. In most cases it is easier to read our news in our real-time blog via our 'Current News' page in the header of our website.
      
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. If any appeals resonate with you, we invite you to consider making a donation. Your contributions enable us to expand our efforts and make a meaningful
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Although we receive the majority of our donations when we send out appeals, establishing regular donations would enable us to better respond to emergencies. We extend our encouragement to those of you who eagerly await our newsletters to consider regular donations, as this would significantly alleviate waiting times for the individuals we support. For those residing in the UK, the most cost-effective donation method is via bank transfer.
Our bank details are available on our donate page for your convenience. Please email us a confirmation when you make a one-time or recurring donation so that we can provide receipts if needed and be informed of any specific restrictions. Your ongoing support is invaluable in helping us make a positive impact in the lives of those in need. |
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