Pakistan: New report highlights sexual attacks on Christian women

Fr Aslam prays with Asma and her mother © ACN

Source: Aid to the Church in Need

An investigation carried out by a priest in Pakistan has shone a light on the plight of Christian women and girls subjected to rape and other sexual violence.

The report by Franciscan friar Father Lazar Aslam - which was sent to Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) - provides case studies of women from the minority Christian community who have been sexually abused.

It includes the attack on 20-year-old Asma, who was lured into a car by someone she knew on 3rd May 2025, before being driven to a house where she was raped by four men.

Asma's ordeal was videoed and she was told that if she did not provide sexual services to the men in the future, they would make the footage public.

The report states: "Asma and her family are now facing ongoing threats and intimidation. They live in constant fear due to the existence of the assault videos and the danger of further retaliation.

"Despite their repeated appeals, local law enforcement has provided minimal cooperation, and there has been no visible progress in the investigation."

Also included is the case of 17-year-old Samiya from Lahore.

Her mother found the young woman dead in the flat where she worked as a cleaner on 14th February 2025. The flat's owners claimed she had committed suicide, but a medical investigation revealed that Samiya was gang-raped before being murdered.

Samiya's family made a formal complaint, but three months on they are still awaiting justice.

The report also includes the sexual assault of Shumaila. On 25th March 2025, she was travelling with her husband when they were stopped and robbed by three armed men. When the robbers discovered that the couple were Christian, they raped Shumaila in front of her husband, as well as severely beating him.

In the report Father Aslam called for action to help all survivors of sexual crimes. He wrote: "We demand justice for the victim family and call upon the state to provide safety and security to the family, who are poor and minority, while the culprits are powerful and have already issued threats".

With thanks to Filipe d'Avillez.

LINK

Aid to the Church in Need: www.acnuk.org