Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Sheikhupura (Agenzia Fides) – Besides the case of a Christian married couple burned alive on 4 November, another serous episode caused concern among the Christians in Punjab: only days ago in the town of Rana, Shiekhupura district, a Christian women was beaten and stripped of her clothes by two Muslims, brothers Muneed and Mobeel Gondal, following an argument with the two men who were the woman’s employers.
Fides was told that the women, Elisabeth Bibi, aged 28, a Christian and mother of four children, was pregnant. She was beaten, scorned and humiliated, deprived of her dignity was forced to walk naked through the town. She was later taken to hospital where, because of her injuries, she lost the child she was carrying .
Intimidated the woman’s relations did not report the fact to the police at first. But other members of the local Christian community contacted a Christian lawyer Sardar Mushtaq Gill, a defender of human rights, asking him for legal assistance. The lawyer told Fides that the police failed to draw up a file, or arrest any suspects. Speaking with the family, Mr Gill learned that the brothers of the victim had received serious threats. Now the woman’s husband has reported the incident to the police and there will be an investigation. According to the mistreated woman, who works as a waitress, she was told that she “did not meet the requirements” and in fact she had rejected sexual advances on the part of her employers who decided she should be punished. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 9/12/2014)
