Christians in Pakistan continue to face extreme persecution when facing blasphemy law charges, including kidnappings, imprisonment and even torture.
GNA reporter Peter Wooding recently travelled to the country to see how Christian ministry Help The Persecuted is helping those who’ve lost everything to restore their lives. *Names and faces have been blurred for security reasons. This report cannot be broadcast in the Middle East or the Islamic world.
VIDEO SCRIPT
In Pakistan, a single word can cost a Christian everything. For Imran, that word was prophet — printed on a poster honoring his late pastor at a memorial he helped organize. The tribute enraged the local Muslim community, who accused him of blasphemy.
Within days he was arrested. Four years in prison followed.
He says the impact on his family was overwhelming:
That was really, really terrible, devastating and uncomfortable situation for me and my family and some other Christians who were living there. I can’t explain in words. It is so terrible. So this is how I suffered, and I saw the persecution.
His release from prison brought freedom but not relief. Four years without income had left his family in financial crisis. Imran says the support he received from Christian ministry Help The Persecuted was a lifeline:
I have no job. I was out of work. I was hiding myself. And in that situation Help The Persecuted support me, help me. This was an incredible step by them.
In addition to the threat of Pakistan’s blasphemy laws, leaving Islam for Christianity can be deadly. After Usman’s wife came to faith in Christ, her Muslim family reported Usman to the police. Officers arrested him along with his father and brothers. They tortured them in custody, murdering Usman’s father.
The whole village and the police as well, they were against us. They come to our house to look at me. If they could find out me, I could’ve been killed. So we had to run to another city, and it was terrible for me and for my wife.
Again, Help The Persecuted came alongside Usman with practical help and spiritual care — enough, he says, to begin providing for his family again:
After getting the help from Help The Persecuted, they bought me a new bike, so I can survive by doing the motorbike so motor-riding for the passengers. So I’m earning something from that, so the rest helps. I feed my family with that money and it was a relief for my life.
Across Pakistan and 16 countries throughout the Islamic world, Help the Persecuted continues to rescue, restore, and rebuild the lives of courageous believers like Usman and Imran — one family at a time.
People Interviewed and their Titles
Imran
Usman
Names changed for security reasons
Recording Location
Pakistan
Organization featured in this Story
Help The Persecuted – www.htp.org
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EN