ICC Press Release

 For Immediate Release:
Another Young Christian Girl Abducted

 
You are free to disseminate the following news. We request that you reference ICC (International Christian Concern) and include our web address www.persecution.org.

(1/21/04) The Washington-DC based human rights group, International Christian Concern (ICC) www.persecution.org, has just become aware of another abduction of a Christian girl in Pakistan. Young Christian girls in Pakistan are often abducted and raped, and they are a powerless minority without real rights or recourse for crimes committed against them by Muslim men.  When they are abducted, these girls are often forced to “marry” Muslim men.

Shamim Kausor, the daughter of Afzal Masih, is a resident of 335 GB in the district of Toba Tek Singh (their family is one of only two Christian families in the Muslim village), and she was abducted on December 31, 2003.  This is the second time she has been abducted by Muslim men.  Her sisters witnessed a jeep pull up outside their home from which several men jumped out and abducted Shamim at gunpoint. Several neighbors recognized one of the kidnappers from which he had previously abducted Shamim a few months ago.  At that time, prompt action from her father and the police led to Shamim’s rescue before she was harmed. Her father tried to initiate legal proceedings against the man, but he was strongly dissuaded by Muslim village leaders.

The kidnapper taunted and threatened Shamim after the first abduction, and at one point he said "A beautiful girl like you should not remain Christian. I will make you Muslim and you will bear a Muslim child.” The police are not interested in helping the Father this time. 

ICC urges American Christians to please pray for recovery of Shamim Kausor, the safety of her family, and justice in this case. Donations may also be made to ICC’s Hope House. Hope House is a home for young Pakistani Christian female rape victims where they can be nurtured emotionally, spiritually, and taught skills where they can lead self-sustaining productive lives.

ICC is a Washington-DC based human rights organization that exists to help persecuted Christians worldwide. ICC delivers humanitarian aid, trains and supports persecuted pastors, raises awareness in the US Church regarding the problem of persecution, and is an advocate for the persecuted on Capitol Hill and the State Department. For additional information or for an interview, contact ICC at 800-422-5441.