A Boy in a Rickshaw

In Muslim nations it is typical to kidnap Christian girls to force conversion to Islam then forcibly force the girl to marry. On the other hand if a Muslim girl willingly and voluntarily decides to marry a Christian man in many cases it is illegal and in all cases Islamic rabble rousing will most likely occur to reclaim the Muslim girl to her family.

The Muslim dominated nation with the largest population of Christians is Egypt. Kidnapping of Christian girls for forced conversion and forced marriage is an epidemic in Egypt where the Christian population is about 10%. Wherever there are non-Muslim minorities in a Muslim nation dominated by an Islamic legal structure kidnapping, conversion and marriage occurs frequently as well. I get updates of Muslims oppressing Christians from Christian Human Rights Activist and journalist Shamim Masih frequently. Pakistan also suffers just as Egypt from Muslims kidnapping Christians. Shamim relates the report of how Muslims threaten rioting and murder for a Muslim girl and a Christian young man falling in love and against the will of both sets of parents elope.

JRH 2/18/14

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A Boy in a Rickshaw

By Shamim Masih

Sent: 2/17/2014 8:26 AM

ISLAMABAD: The formation of Pakistan (as religious extremist think) and the search for an Islamic identity are inextricably linked of the wider issues of global politics and the rise of Islamic fundamentalism has been a side-effect, and religious intolerance places the minorities of the country in a shaky position.

On February 11, young Christian Asim Saleem 22, (rickshaw driver) went to see his girlfriend, Sunair 20 of a Muslim background. He intended to marry her but his parents kept thwarting him and demanded that he should avoid her. The couple decided to take the bold step of cross-faith marriage a dangerous ambition in Pakistan, and got married that same day in the local court. Asim didn’t involve his parents while marrying the girl. So the couple eloped and travelled away from their families. On the very same day, religious leaders informed of the marriage by Sunair’s family went to the Christian community where Saleem lived and demanded recovery of the Muslim girl. Saleem and other community members were unaware of the elopement and marriage and requested some time to investigate, but they couldn’t find them during the given time period. Muslims under the leadership of Qari Sohail returned and warned the local people that if they could not produce the couple; a Muslim mob would return and sat ablaze their houses. They warned the residents that people would be executed in retribution.

A few terrified Christians found courage to inform the police about this critical situation and the rest fled to escape to the nearby place to save their life and their loved ones. The Police became alert and ready to suppress any violence. On Friday, 14 February, after Jumma prayer [Friday prayers in Islam], a large mob travelled to the Christian enclave intending to vandalize Nazarat Colony. However the local police surrounded the Christian houses of Nazarat Colony. Christian inhabitants of the said colony had already fled the homes for safety as soon as a precaution against further attempts.

In a bizarre twist of events, the police have filed a case against Asim Saleem, First Investigation Report (FIR) [Editor: A Google search turns up info about “First Information Report – HERE is the explanation] 114/14 under the section of abduction and enforced matrimony, PP 265-B. A further allegation has been made against him for theft of 54000 Rupees and 5 grams of gold. However these allegations are reportedly false. The police also arrested two Christian men, Bashir Masih 45 and Shaukat Masih 35 who are the cousins and the father of the accused. Both were allegedly tortured and forced to make a confession admitting to be involved in taking hostage the Muslim girl. The father of the accused died of a heart attack whilst in custody. The Investigation Officer (IO), Mohd Shabbir stated that the police kept these two for their own good and wellbeing. He advised that all action taken was for the safety of Christian community; for they have to show them that the administration has kept them to convince the extremists. Later they were released, with sore bodies.

Christians and Hindu girls are abducted, forcefully converted to Islam and married to influential Muslims, but police do not file any cases against [abducting] Muslims. Even the court does not support in this matter [of abduction and forced marriage]. But if a Muslim girl marries a Christian boy willingly, extremists arrive to vandalize the Christian communities. Is not this inhuman? 

Be Blessed,

Shamim Masih

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Edited by John R. Houk

Brackets in Shamim’s narrative indicate editorial additions including links.

© Shamim Masih

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Shamim Masih’s Donate/Support info:

Editor: For Americans especially, I have discovered the best way to donate to Shamim Masih is via Western Union sending to a Western Union agent in Islamabad.

FOR USD TRANSFER.
Intermediary Bank:                         MASHREQ BANK, NEW YORK
Intermediary Bank SWIFT BIC:         MSHQUS33
Beneficiary Bank:                         JS BANK LIMITED
Beneficiary Bank SWIFT BIC:                 JSBLPKKA
Bank A/c # at Intermediary bank:         70008227
Title Of a/c                                Shamim Masih
Beneficiary Account Number:                 405527

Top of Form

IBAN #                                        pk80jsbl9530000000405227


FOR GBP TRANSFER.
Intermediary Bank:                         MASHREQ BANK, LONDON
Intermediary Bank SWIFT BIC:         MSHQGB2L
Beneficiary Bank:                         JS BANK LIMITED
Beneficiary Bank SWIFT BIC:                 JSBLPKKA
Bank A/c # at Intermediary bank:         00010855
Title Of a/c                                Shamim Masih
Beneficiary Account Number:                 405527
IBAN #                                        pk80jsbl9530000000405227



FOR EURO TRANSFER.
Intermediary Bank:                         MASHREQ BANK, LONDON
Intermediary Bank SWIFT BIC:         MSHQGB2L
Beneficiary Bank:                         JS BANK LIMITED
Beneficiary Bank SWIFT BIC:                 JSBLPKKA
Bank A/c # at Intermediary bank:         10847
Title Of a/c                                Shamim Masih
Beneficiary Account Number:                 405527
IBAN #                                        pk80jsbl9530000000405227 Bottom of Form