Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Sialkot (Agenzia Fides) - Four young Muslims from Sialkot raped a 15-year-old Christian girl Monaza Bibi, and filmed the gang rape. As Fides learns by Christian lawyer Mushtaq Gill, who is dealing with the case, the victim's father reported the incident and two of the perpetrators were stopped by the police. Gill met with the family and is trying to provide legal assistance even though the family is poverty-stricken. The girl's father said he had suffered pressures and had been threatened to prevent him from filing a complaint, but the man boldly denounced those who threatened him. Police have confirmed the existence of a video concerning the violence that will constitute evidence against the culprits.
"Many Christian girls continue to be victims of sexual assault by young Muslims, who go unpunished", said Gill to Fides, noting that "in this case there is also a video, flaunted as a trophy". In Pakistan, rape is used by Muslim youth as an instrument of power over the girls of religious minorities, poor and marginalized families. It is a form of violence that aims to reaffirm the subjugation of Christians to Muslims. Rape victims face terrible difficulties and psychological trauma. It is estimated that cases of rapes regarding Hindu and Christian girls in Pakistan are about a thousand every year. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 29/09/2014)
