Catholic Girl Raped by Muslim Man in Pakistan

Criminals threaten family, who had made the complaint -- the rape of a Christian girl doesn't always count as a crime.

Faisalabad (kath.net/Fidesdienst)Gulfam, a 9 year old Catholic girl, was raped in the District of Tehsil Samundari  (Diocese of Faisalabad).  In connection with this occurrence the local church issued a report on the episode, which Fidesdienst published, that above all their concern in the view of the situation of  poor Christian families, who are often the victims of discrimination, violence and abuse.  "This episode is horrible.  I have spoken with the girl and the family and have tried to console them", said Bishop Joseph Coutts of Faisalabad in communication with Fidesdienst.  "We must develop a just and pastoral strategy, so that the phenomenon of abuse to Christian girls can be prevented".

The 9 year old Gulfam goes to the third grade.  She lives in village number 226 in the Administrative District Tehsil Samundari.  On the 10th of December she left with her 7 year old cousin, in order to go to a nearby sugar field to gather wood. Shortly after the younger girl returned home alone  and said that Gulfam had been taken by a man from the field.  Subsequently, the family present hurried to the field and found there the man who was in the process of assaulting the girl.  The perpetrator took flight and the mother of the girl brought the half-naked child back home.  A little later the parents reported the rape to the police.  The man was apprehended in the meantime, but the family is now in deep shock and fears violence from the majority Muslims in the village, because subsequently, they were threatened by the relatives of the perpetrator and were persuaded to withdraw the charge.  AS the girl reported the man had offered her money and when she refused his offer, was violently assaulted.


Link to kath.net... original.