Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Faisalabad (Agenzia Fides) - The local Catholic Church calls her "a martyr of the faith": Mariah Manisha was a Catholic girl from Faisalabd who was killed a week ago by a Muslim man who had kidnapped her and intended to marry her. Fr. Zafal Iqbal, a Catholic priest from Khushpur, where the 18-year-old Mariah’s family live, reports to Fides that "the girl resisted, she did not want to convert to Islam and she did not marry the man, who killed her for this. She is a martyr".
The case was brought by Fr. Iqbal to the attention of the Commission "Justice and Peace" and the Bishop of Faisalabad, Mgr. Joseph Cutts. "The culprit was arrested and police are investigating. We hope that justice is done, while the community is sad and upset", notes to Fides Fr. Iqbal. "Cases like these occur daily in Punjab" confirms to Fides Fr. Khalid Rashid Asi, general Vicar of the diocese of Faisalabad. "It is very sad, Christians, often girls, are helpless victims".
Another case solved in past days, is that of the Catholic 72-year-old from Faisalabad, Rehmat Masih, released a week ago, after 2 years in prison and of immense suffering, following a false accusation of blasphemy. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 02/12/2011)
