FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Police Stalling in Case of Underage Christian Girl’s Rape

You are free to disseminate the following news. We request that you reference ICC (International Christian Concern) and include our web address www.www.persecution.org. Contact Samuel Wallace, Regional Manager for South Asia, Europe, and Latin America, 1-800-ICC (422)-5441, [email protected].

(February 17, 2009) The Washington-DC based human rights group, International Christian Concern (ICC) www.www.persecution.org has learned that a crowd of Christians from a rural village in Pakistan blocked a major road for five hours on Sunday to protest the rape of an underage Christian girl and the lackadaisical approach police have taken in investigating her case.

ICC first reported this story on January 26 (“Thieves Rape Girl When They Realize Victim is Christian”), but police have still failed to detain any suspects in connection with the theft of several Christian homes and the gang rape of 14-year-old Naomi in front of her parents. In addition, the police handling this case, Saddr Police Cheecha Watni, did not register the case as the rape of an underage girl, downplaying the severity of the incident.

Naomi’s neighbors and relatives burned tires and shouted out chants critical of the police and Pakistani government, bringing traffic on the road to a miles-long standstill in both directions.

The demonstrators dispersed peacefully after police officials and members of the local government formed a ‘Five Member Committee’ and pledged to look into the matter.

Before dispersing, however, the protesters demanded that the ‘Five Member Committee’ immediately fire the Saddr Police Station Chief Inspector Muhammad Saeed for his failure to prosecute this case.

Samuel Wallace, ICC’s Regional Manager for South Asia, said, “This is the second time Pakistani officials have promised to prosecute this case and find Naomi’s rapists. It is absolutely despicable that Christians have to organize demonstrations in order to get attention from law enforcement officials, and it is even more despicable that the only thing the police have done is give the family promises and organize a Committee. That is not justice; that is stalling.”

Please contact the Pakistani embassy in your country and ask them to take action to ensure that these Christians receive justice.

Pakistan Embassies:

USA: (202) 243-6500, [email protected]

Canada: (613) 238-7881, [email protected]

UK: 0870-005-6967, [email protected]

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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 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.