URGENT APPEAL: Mum and son shot dead by Muslim neighbours for their ritual impurity
Published: Thu, 08/05/21
Dear All,
It has been a long time coming but the UK Government has now finally lifted most of our COVID-19 restrictions, praise God! The Government still advises care in certain situations and this BBC article provides easy-to-read details (here). There are still churches that have not yet resumed normal services and we pray that slowly learning, worship and fellowship services gets back to normal. People can choose to wear masks and I am sure churches will continue the good practice of having handsanitizer available, but so many of us are now taking the care of having our own small dispensers with us anyway. We all have a responsibility to one another and let's hope that continues.
God is good and we thank him for being with us through our recent COVID-19 journeys.
"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
Isaiah 41:10
During the last period we have continued the COVID-19 testing at our Clementswood Community Centre (click here). We have also continued sharing gifts of reusable clothes, furniture and other items, those left over after several distributions are regularly sent to Pakistan (click here) . We remind you that we no longer have the tenancy for the community centre and if you live in Ilford or the surrounding area and wish to drop items off this will have to be coordinated. You can call us on 020 8500 1192 and we will get back to you with a date for the deposit. Please remember goods must be in good condition, clean and in appropriate bags for us to then work towards a distribution.
In Pakistan, persecution shows no signs of dissipating despite the assurances made by Imran Khan's government. In November, a mother and son were shot dead in the streets because their residential drainage gulley passed by an Islamic shrine and it was flet their ritual impurity was contaminating Muslims. The myth that Christian impurity tarnishs 'ritually pure' Muslims and somehow carries through water is a ubiquitous belief in Pakistan. The attck has left a father, wife and two young children fearful, impoverished and deeply anguished. Read more (here). The Catholic Church has helped the family with a legal advocate and we have been asked to help the family financially as they struggle to make ends meet with the loss of the highest earner. If you can help us raise £100 a month for a year and cover cost for travel to court please donate (here).
Of course we have shared many stories about spiritual contamination through water and remind you that we are still seeking justice for Saleem Masih, murdered for washing in the the same well as Muslims. Several of his murderers have received bail after finally being included in court proceedings and we are confident of justice being done with ths case. Read more (here)
Nabeel Masih the young man who was incarcerated for blasphemy at only 16 years of age, has recently had to endure several postponements to his case and the presiding judge has been changed. He endangers his life everytime he travels to court and we are taking extremely caution with our safety measures, which we cannot completely share with you. The new judge is said to be very conservative in her views but we are still hopeful for Nabeel's exoneration. Read more (here).
Zafar Bhatti has been denied his appeal against his conviction and has now served the longest imprisonment under blasphemy charges in Pakistan ever. Our operations manger has met him in jail and it has been agreed that if the current solicitor fails to get him bail within a month, that we will be given the opportunity to challenge for his freedom with our own legal team. His wife had originally asked for us to take over this case but it has been agreed that one final opportunity will be given to the current solicitor after he plead with Mr Bhatti. For now we continue to support the family financially and Nawab Bibi is recovering well after we provided physiotherapy sessions when she fell, Zafar has also had an eye operation. Read more (here). Please help us to continue our support of this family by donating (here)
A Christian man has been sodomized, and then murdered in the most horrific fashion after pressurized air was pumped through his anus and popped his intestines. His family are being supported by BACA who have registered a murder case with the courts and police. We are hopeful of a prosecution. You can read more (here). Please help us raise the finance to obtain justice for Shehzad Masih by donating (here).
Some of you have sought updates on the two stories we have shared through the year regarding attack on nurses. If anything what COVID-19 has shown us is the value of their work to our communities. In Pakistan brutal attacks on Christian have shown how ungrateful fundamentalist Muslims can be towards these valuable care workers.
Our first update is to inform you that Nurse Tabeeta Gill for who we shared videos that showed how violently she was being attacked has been helped into a foreign counrty (known by BACA) by the Catholic Church. She was accused of a blasphemy by a colleague with a personal grudge which was not investigated by Hospital administration who beat her, locked her in a room and then tried to force her to write a confession for a blasphemy she did not commit. At one point shown in images on our post she is seen flanked on either side by two women in burkas ready to beat her with sticks, as one holds her tightly around the neck. If you missed the video you can have a recap of the story and watch again (here). We thank God for her current safety.
In the case of the two nursesMariyam Laal and Nevish Arooj who were accused of blasphemy after removing a bacteria infested sticker from a cupboard that had some Islamic text. It took us much longer to get in touch with them as the Ministry of Religious harmony first stepped in to provide assistance. However, our Operations Manager has now been in touch with their representatives and we are going to offer these two women legal assistance and financial help for their families, as their case has stallled. They are both still incarcerated and very much in fear for their lives. We will update you in our next newsletter. We share a reminder of their story (here).
You can donate towards any of the appeals above (here).
The Religious Affairs Ministry of Pakistan has recently ruled to oppose the introduction of a law that would prevent religious conversion for those under 18. The fact that more Muslims are and Hindus are converting to Christianity than vice versa is one of the many reasons, we agree with them. the debate began after an increase in reported forced marriages which included forced conversions. BACA is committed to eradicate this social malaise and will continue to fight for more impetus by Pakistani Authorities in this area. You can read more (here).
For the purposes of furthering the aim of eradication of forced marriages I can confirm that I will be sharing my research titled 'Why are Christian girls kidnaped, raped into Islamic Marriage in Pakistan?' submitted for an Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) at my school. This will add some valuable UKAS points to my university application but is something I have been longing to write for some time. Please pray for me as I enter one of the most difficult times in my academic studies my second year of A levels. Please also pray for my youngest sister Leah Chowdhry who has passed her 11+ and will be attending Grammar School from next September. She hopes to be a doctor one day and has already committed herself to travel to Pakistan every year to provide pro bono medical assistance to Pakistani Christians in rural communities - if she qualifies. She joins a growing number of UK Pakistani Christian students who have benefitted from the Grammar School system, our community is becoming more resilient and succesful through God's grace and mercy.
We thank you for your suport and prayers for British asian Christian Associaton, which has enabled us to continue our work for almost 12 years. At this current time we are looking for new trustees especially those skilled in a secreterial role and safeguarding role. We are also seeking volunteers who would be willing to write for our blog and to help with our community centre. If you are interested in any of the above please get in contact.
Blessings
Hannah Chowdhry
Below we list all of the current stories listed above in date order if any of the links do not work or are incorrect you can find the accounts using our international blog link (click here) or local London community blog (here). Please feel free to peruse only the accounts that are interesting for you.
Pakistan Religious Affairs Ministry oppose a restriction on converting religion before the age of 18
By Hannah Chowdhry
A decision by Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs on Wednesday (14th July 2021) opposing a restriction on converting religion before the age of 18 years, is supported by British Asian Christian Association.
Noorul Haq Qadri the Minister for Religious Affairs, during a meeting of the Senate parliamentary committee on minorities' rights, said:
“…if someone aged 14 years wished to convert to some other religion, they could "not be stopped.
Read full account (here).
Court delays prevent acquittal of Nabeel Masih who was 16 when imprisoned for blasphemy.
Nabeel Masih (now 20 yrs) Pakistan's youngest ever blasphemy victim was released from prison through the work of British Asian Christian Association on 18th of March. By this time he had already spent more than fours years of his life in Kasur District Jail. Read more (here).
Since that date British Asian Christian Association have continued the necessary legal work to obtain his acquittal and have also helped with necessary medical treatment to resolve health conditions that arose, while he was isolated in a decrepit cell (click here).
We update you on the current legal timeline since our last article:
2nd June 2021- Judge replaced by Miss Farida Ijaz meaning arguments could not be furnished. This was fortunate for the complainants solicitors as they failed to appear in court. The assistant to the complainant counsel had arrived and made a faux pas in seeking another date for hearing before announcement of change in judge. A new date was set for 13th June 2021.
Miss Farida Ijaz ordered for the arguments to be furnished at next hearing.
13th June 2021- Another lawyers strike [At least one occurs every year] and the complainant counsel openly refused to argue. Next hearing for arguments was fixed for 2nd July.
2nd July 2021 – Again the complainant counsel refused to argue due to lawyers strike. A next hearing date has been fixed.
Irrespective of the delays listed above British Asian Christian Association’s solicitor, Naseeb Anjum is hopeful for Nabeel’s acquittal, he said:
“The Complainant counsel is intentionally delaying the argument.
“It seems to me that the complainant counsel lacks any substantial argument to convict Nabeel Masih who was made to suffer more than four years in prison wrongfully”
Read full account (here)
Murderers of ritually impure Christian have secured bail but will now face trial
With help from British Asian Christian Association, the mother and father of Saleem Masih continue to fight for justice for their murdered son.
Saleem Masih (22 yrs) was beaten to death for rinsing himself off in the tube well of Muslim land owners in Chunia District, Kasur. It should be noted that many Muslim men have been permitted to rinse themselves off in the well for many years, however it was the fact that a ‘ritually unclean’ Christian dared to use the well in this fashion that led to his murder. Read more (here)
On 10th April, The Additional Sessions Judge, Miss Ayesha Khalid after having been convinced by the strong arguments from our solicitor Miss Sumaira Hussain ordered the inclusion of Shera Dogar, Ali Shehzad and Haji Mushtaq into the murder investigation and trial process.
Read full account (here)
Christian man: Pakistan's longest serving blasphemy convict ever has his appeal refused!
The plight of an elderly Blasphemy victim whose farcical charges for blasphemy should never have stood has been exacerbated by yet another refusal of his appeal.
The conviction for Zafar Bhatti (58 yrs) is based on a Muslim witness testimony who was not present at the time of the blasphemy. Moreover the phone and SIM from which blasphemous texts appeared where not even from the phone of Zafar Bhatti. Furthermore he is illiterate and could not have texted in English the language used for the blasphemous texts. Mr Bhatti has lost 9 years of his life to a cruel and undeserved punishment and finds himself looking at being detained for more time yet.
Zafar Bhatti has been living in isolated confinement within the decrepit Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi and is now exhibiting poor physical and mental health.
Read full account (here)
Unwanted items become source of joy for deprived Christians in Pakistan
During the UK's second lockdown we sent 13 bags of clothes, toys, accessories and household goods to Pakistan. Our main priority was to first distribute these items to homeless people in the UK before sharing what remains with Pak-Christians. All the items will go to a number of needy people distributed through local partner churches in Lahore.
We no longer have our community centre depot for collections and are looking into the possibility of placing an unwanted items recycling box somewhere in Redbridge and perhaps Chigwell. Items will then be collecetd by volunteers and distributed as before on the three days we serve the homeless at Clementswood Community Centre and then shipping what is left to Pakistan.
Our last delivery to Pakistan was submitted to a local cargo company this month and will arrive in approximately 3 months.
Read full account (here)
The growing homeless community in Ilford are getting the benfit of COVID-19 tests and pathways to vaccination via BACA
BACA have continued to serve over 40 homeless people a week with food, clothes and other gifts donated by the local community. Any gifts uncollected after 2 weeks are then packaged and sent to Pakistan via sea which takes a few months but is the cheapest option. Our transport of good-condition, unwanted items to Pakistan ensures that nothing is wasted.
Food is being made by our volunteers, members of the community, a restaurant and a church organisation and distributed three days a week. We also hold scheduled food banks for mothers with young children at the local SS Peters and Paul's Primary School.
Read full account (here)
Sodomized Christian man has pressurized air pumped through his body rupturing his intestines and rectum leading to slow painful death
A 35 year old Christian labourer known to be a hard worker has been killed by two Muslim men who burst his intestines by inserting high pressure air into his Anus.
It is believed that before he died Shehzad Masih was gang-raped by the two Muslim men.
The brutal use of high pressure air in such sickening fashion is belived to be have been an attempt to hide the sexual offence the men committed.
Read full account (here)
Mother and son shot dead for hatred of dirty Christians.
Incited by religious hatred and Islamist fundamentalism, a Muslim neighbour mercilessly shot a mother and her son in Kathor Kalan village, Gujranwala Pakistan.
As they were shot dead the murderers called them kaffir (derogatory name for non-Muslims) and shouted out Choora (derogatory word meaning dirty Christians).
The dispute was a long-running feud over the fact that sewage water from the Christian home passed by a Muslim Shrine. A situation that the Christian family were not responsible for.
Read full account (here)
Two nurses accused of blasphemy for removing a bacteria-infested sticker
Two nurses of District Headquarters Hospital (DHQ) were arrested under the notorious blasphemy law of Pakistan despite being involved in the countries COVID-19 response.
On 9th April, an application was filed against Mariyam Laal, charge nurse and Nevish Arooj a third year student of nursing for committing blasphemy for removing a bacteria-infested sticker with sacred inscription from a cupboard they were asked to clean in a psychiatric ward.
Dr. Mirza Muhammad Ali of Civil Hospital Faisalabad, has accused both the nurses of removing the sticker with blasphemous intent. The sticker had the inscription of Darood Sharif on it (Darood Sharif is an invocation or a conventionally complimentary phrase which Muslims make after the name of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. Dr Ali has accused Nevish Arooj of removing the sticker and handing it over to Mariyam Lal to dispose of.
Dr. Mirza Muhammad Ali in his application to Civil Lines police spoke of the incident which occured on 8th April, he said:
“The allegation of a blasphemy has been proven by our medicall committee.
"Mariyam Lal hid this sticker in her hands when she came across a Muslim head nurse Rukhsana. Rukhsana inquired about the concealed item but a confused Mariyam could not give any satisfactory reply.
"Ruskhsana took the torn sticker from Mariyam Lal”
Read full account (here)
Nurse accused of blasphemy is beaten by hospital staff who try to force her to confess to crime she did not commit
Disgusting screen shot taken from violent video illustrating how even 'educated' Senior Hospital staff in Pakistan hold despicable prejudice towards Christians.
A Christian nurse was attacked by hospital personnel who then registered a case against her with local police on 29th January 2021.
Initially local police at Araambagh Police Station refused to charge Nurse Tabeeta Nazir Gill (42 yrs). They initially upheld that there was no evidence of a blasphemy a stance that was also upheld by Hospital Administrators who believed it to be a result of a personal grudge. However pressure was applied by a Muslim mob including leading Islamic clerics who organised a mass protest outside their police station after Ms Gill was kept there for safe custody.
Members of the public weighed in to enact their own violence on an innocent nurse.
A video had been circulating on social media that visually displayed staff members at Sobhraj Maternity Hospital in Karachi slapping, beating and the locking into a room of Ms Gill on 28th January. They can be seen shouting abuse and insults mixed with accusations of a blasphemy. The video also shows attempts to force Ms Gill to sign a confession of a blasphemy, though in her defence she can be heard screaming "“I swear to God I haven’t said anything against the prophet,” she said, “They are trying to trap me under a false charge.”
Read full account and watch videos (here).