Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Lahore (Fides Service) - "We Christians are truly dehumanized, we are treated as objects and as goods to sell. We live in a system where only the powerful have rights. For us Christians, justice in courts is not guaranteed: it is a serious concern in the rule of law, and this is a major cause of suffering and persecution of Christians in Pakistan", This is the complaint, delivered in an interview with Fides, on behalf of a nun who lives in Punjab. The nun, who requested anonymity for security reasons, is responsible to welcome, hide, to recover the Christian girls abused, kidnapped, raped or forced into Islamic marriages. So she is the right person who best knows the phenomenon, because every day she listens to the stories of young people. With regards to Farah Hatim’s case, she tells Fides: " Farah’s case is a very sad story. And, unfortunately, not unique or rare. At least 700 are registered per year and we manage to save only a few dozen girls". "When a Christian family comes crying to us, informing us of a case - the nun tells Fides - we go to village leaders for their support, crucial for the so-called 'law of the jirga' (assembly), customary in the villages. Sometimes they listen and help us. But when it comes to powerful Muslim clans, they say they cannot do anything. So criminal law should be applied, but the point is that trial courts are corrupt and totally manipulated by political men, Islamic fundamentalist leaders, or by large landowners. It is a vicious circle, so justice cannot be guaranteed to Christian minorities: this is a serious concern in the state of law and a major cause of suffering and persecution of Christians in Pakistan ".
The suffering of Christians, says the nun, is part of the general status of women in Pakistan: "Women are not worth anything. Only 8% of women receive education in Pakistan. Girls are often aborted. There is a basic problem of culture and tribal mentality".
In addition, "Christian women have the stigma of belonging to a religious minority: they are the weakest and most vulnerable, they have no voice. Powerful Muslims take advantage. The girls suffer abuse, mistreatment, rapes and must remain silent, otherwise other violence against their family is carried out. There is absolute discrimination: Christians are not real citizens, because they cannot have justice with respect to such blatant violation of their individual rights and community", concludes the nun. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 07/07/2011)
