By David Virtue
Christian children have become the victims of recent violence. The
shocking protest of a Catholic Member of Parliament in Pakistan: "In
Karachi children are being raped and tortured to eliminate the presence
of Christians."
Children raped and tortured, families extorted,
abuse and violence taking place at the expense of terrified victims who
remain silent: this is the reality of what is happening to the Christian
community in some suburban quarters of Karachi, Southern Pakistan's
biggest city and the capital of the Sindh province.
Speaking to
Catholic news agency Fides, Michael Shind, a Catholic MP working in
Pakistan's Sindh province, gave a shocking statement condemning the
situation for Christians in the Country. A statement by Vatican Radio,
warned that for months now, Christians in the areas of EssaNagri, Ayub
Goth and Bhittaiabad, have suffered indescribable violence perpetrated
by members of political movements, such as the Pashtuns that are
characterized by a strong ethnic and Islamic identity. Christian
families are going through living hell but "people are not reporting the
abuse for fear of retaliation.
Just last month, 15 cases of rape
were reported. In EssaNagri there are real "torture cells" where
Christian children are imprisoned and tortured. "Captors ask for ransoms
of up to 100.000 rupees and if families cannot pay, the little ones are
tortured until they are beyond recognition." The result of the violence
that has been going on over the past six months is that numerous
families have decided to leave Karachi. "These acts of violence are
aimed at eliminating Christian presence in the area; it constitutes a
kind of ethnic cleansing: we are seen as slaves who are unworthy of
setting foot on Pakistani soil."
In another case reported, a
so-called "house of tolerance" was opened near a Catholic Church in Ayub
Goth where "Christian girls from destitute families are forced into
prostitution." Although the authorities have been made aware of this,
they have not taken any action yet. Javed is launching an appeal to ask
"for an end to the oppression of our community."
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