EGN NEWS DESK
Three women illegally detained by their employers have been pressured to testify that that they had transformed to Islam and wished to return to their captors, however a judge in Pakistan returned them to their Christian dad and mom, sources stated.
Justice Shakil Ahmed of the Lahore High Court on Thursday (Aug. 15), allowed the sisters, ages 9, 13 and 16, to retract their pressured claims and gave custody of them again to their dad and mom, Naveed Masih and spouse Mina Naveed, brick kiln employees in Kasur District, Punjab Province, stated Katherine Sapna, govt director of authorized advocacy group Christians True Spirit.
The couple had despatched their daughters to a Muslim girl, Haleema Bibi, in September 2023 for placement as home employees, however quickly Bibi informed them that employers have been demanding 300,000 rupees (1,077 USD) as a “safety deposit” to return their oldest daughter, Sapna stated.
Sapna and the dad and mom have been allowed to talk with their daughters after they testified that they wished to return to their Muslim captors.
“When the women felt a bit relaxed, they informed us that Haleema and their employers had pressured them to inform the courtroom that that they had transformed willfully and needed to return to their newfound Muslim households,” Sapna informed Christian Daily International-Morning Star News.
Sapna stated that the women informed them that every one three employers had used the identical technique to thwart the dad and mom’ efforts to recuperate them.
“It’s fairly attainable that Haleema gave this concept to the employers,” Sapna stated. “This pattern of utilizing spiritual conversion as a device for bonded labor is growing, significantly within the brick kiln business in Punjab.”
Poverty had pressured the dad and mom to ship their daughters, 16-year-old Hina Naveed, 13-year-old Neha Naveed and 9-year-old Mehru Naveed, to Bibi, stated their mom, Mina Naveed. She stated Bibi had discovered employment for a number of Christian youngsters of New Abadi, Chak No. 68 village in Pattok Tehsil. Bibi works on fee and acts as a contact between the households and the employers.
“Haleema assured us that they might be positioned in good houses, and we believed her,” Mina Naveed stated. “Most of the kiln employees ship their youngsters to work in houses to complement their earnings. Only then can one handle to feed the household, particularly if it is a huge one.”
Her youngest daughter, 5, fell unwell in July, so she known as Bibi to return their oldest daughter to look after her because it was very troublesome for them to acquire days off from the kiln, she stated. Mina Naveed requested Bibi to request Hina’s employers to provide her a 10-day depart in order that she might care for her unwell sister.
“After a few days, Haleema informed us that Hina’s employers have been demanding 300,000 rupees as a ‘safety deposit’ to return the woman,” she stated. “We have been shocked to listen to this absurd demand and refused to simply accept it. When we insisted on Hina’s unconditional return, Haleema began threatening us with authorized penalties.”
Mina Naveed stated that after seeing Bibi’s perspective, she demanded that every one three of her daughters be returned to her instantly.
“But she bluntly refused to take action, saying that every one three women had transformed to Islam and couldn’t be given to their Christian dad and mom,” she stated.
With assist from CTS, the couple filed a petition within the Lahore High Court for the restoration of their daughters from unlawful detention.
“The whole courtroom was shocked when the women stated that they have been Muslims and did not wish to go along with their dad and mom,” Sapna stated. “It was a delicate case, and we laud Justice Ahmed for making the correct choice. He gave the dad and mom ample time to speak to the youngsters, they usually [the parents] succeeded in convincing them [to retract their statements].”
The oldest daughter, Hina, stated that her Muslim employer, Madiha Sameer, had informed her that changing to Islam was the one option to save herself from her household.
“She brain-washed me into believing that my father would do horrible issues to me if I went again,” Hina informed Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. “She stated he would ship me to Dubai as a intercourse employee or might even promote my physique organs for cash.”
Hina stated that Sameer mistreated her throughout her employment at her house.
“Baji [Madiha Sameer] used to beat me additionally, and the whole time I used to be there she made me sit on the ground to have my meals,” she stated.
Her youthful sisters had related experiences.
“My employer, Uzma Faisal, pressured me to inform the courtroom that I had accepted Islam and needed to reside along with her,” Neha informed Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. “She too portrayed a really destructive picture of my dad and mom.”
Mehru, the youngest daughter, stated she was very blissful to be again along with her household.
Sapna stated CTS helps the women to rebuild their lives.
The courtroom kept away from ordering authorized motion towards Bibi and the three Muslim households for trying to forcibly convert the women to Islam. According to the courtroom order, the judge disposed of the petition after the women “expressed their need to hitch their father/petitioner.”
Pakistan ranked seventh on Open Doors’ 2024 World Watch List of essentially the most troublesome locations to be a Christian, because it was the earlier 12 months.
© 2024 Christian Daily International-Morning Star News
