Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Lahore (Agenzia Fides) - Suleman and Sonia go to school. Poonam will also go. The three children are children of Shama and Shahzad Masih, the Christian couple tortured and burned alive by a mob of Muslims on charges of blasphemy in Kot Radha Kishan, in the Kasur (Punjab) District in November 2014. As reported to Fides, the "Cecil Chaudhry & Iris Foundation", led by the Christian Michelle Chaudhry, has taken the responsibility to provide education to all three of the couple's children. The two children Suleman, six, and Sonia, three, have been admitted to a school in Lahore. The youngest, Poonam (one year and a half) goes to kindergarten.
Michelle Chaudhry, president of the Foundation named after the Pakistani Christian hero Cecil Chaudhry, her father, explained to Fides: "We wanted to bring a change for the better in the lives of these children and considered various options to help them. However, having a strong belief in the power of education, we decided to take the responsibility to educate them. It is our belief that education is one of the best defenses against exploitation and injustice and is a valuable tool to break free from a life of oppression and marginalization. Therefore it is crucial to accompany them on a path of education".
The "Cecil Chaudhry & Iris Foundation" is an independent, non-profit organization, dedicated to eradicating injustice in society by supporting the oppressed and marginalized groups, especially religious minorities in Pakistan. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 26/03/2015)
