Christians Under Attack

Sania James, 33, was kidnapped April 5 by armed men who stormed her parent's house in the small town of Rawat, just outside Rawalpindi city, neighbors confirmed to BosNewsLife.

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The gunmen allegedly told her father that he would see his daughter again if he pays off a loan of 250,000 Rupees (about $2,940) and a whopping 30 percent interest over that amount, much more than previously agreed.

James said she was taken to farmer Mohammad Shahbaz Ali and was forced to marry him. "I have been tortured, forced to convert and forcefully married" added James, who escaped earlier this month.

FORCED CONVERSION

"Although I did not accept Islam, I was continuously tortured," she told Worthy News and its news partner BosNewsLife, without elaborating. "They even threatened to kill my parents, unless I would convert to Islam. One night I managed to escape and returned home. I have contacted Christian rights groups to help me."

Neighbors, who said they watched the kidnapping, were allegedly unable to intervene. "We have been warned by Ali that if any one will try to help these Christians will have to face dire consequences. Everyone is scared," one of the neighbors, Mohammad Hamza, told BosNewsLife.

Mohammad Shahbaz Ali reacted angrily when asked about the alleged incidents. "I refuse to say anything," he told Worthy News and BosNewsLife.

The kidnapping came five years after the woman's father, Ayub James, allegedly took the 250,000 Rupees loan from his long-time employer Ali to pay for his eldest daughter's wedding.

HIGH INTEREST

Her father, who worked at Ali's farm for two decades, was initially told that the interest over that money would be 15 percent, but that was later doubled, family members said. Ali allegedly told him in February that his family would be attacked unless he paid-off the loan within two months.

In a bid to raise the money, Sania James said she had joined her elderly impoverished father to work at the farm. However, she added, her father was "thrown out of the farm" and she was eventually kidnapped in April.

Local Pastor Faraz Samson, who tried to mediate in the conflict, said he went to Ali to end "the injustice, but he didn't listen." Police officials reportedly claimed they were unable to halt the alleged kidnapping, saying Ali is a very influential man.

"I am shocked that a daughter of a poor man has been kidnapped and the law cant do anything," Pastor Samson said. This is not an isolated incident, according to rights activists. They have expressed concerns that Christian women and girls have been kidnapped across Pakistan, a predominantly Muslim nation, often amid disputes over land and money.

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One Comment

• FresnoJoe says:

  June 1, 2010 at 1:54 am

  Praying!

  “Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?

  The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.

  For the wicked boasteth of his heart’s desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth.

  The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.

  His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them.

  He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity.

  His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity.

  He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages: in the secret places doth he murder the innocent: his eyes are privily set against the poor.

  He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den: he lieth in wait to catch the poor: he doth catch the poor, when he draweth him into his net.

  He croucheth, and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones.

  He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it.

  Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble.

  Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God? he hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require it.

  Thou hast seen it; for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to requite it with thy hand: the poor committeth himself unto thee; thou art the helper of the fatherless.

  Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil man: seek out his wickedness till thou find none.

  The LORD is King for ever and ever: the heathen are perished out of his land.

  LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:

  To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress.” Psalms 10

  Come Quickly LORD Jesus, Come Quickly!