Pakistan: Young Christian widow beaten in field

Saima Farhad Gill © ACN

Source: ACN

A young Christian mother of two in Pakistan ran for her life after being accused of blasphemy before being cornered in a field and beaten by a mob. Saima Farhad Gill, a widow, living in a village, near Gojra, in the Punjab, was saved by police and placed in custody after being charged under Pakistan's notorious blasphemy laws.

Saima's neighbours in Chak 304 Kator, claimed they had found in the bin documents bearing the name of her daughter, Emma, aged nine, which included ripped pages containing the Qur'an.

The enraged mob blocked the roads. The police were able to reach Saima and she was taken into custody in Toba Tek Singh.

Saima, who is about 33, was yesterday (Wednesday, 7th August) charged under 295B of the Pakistan Penal Code in which the sentence for desecration of the Qur'an is life imprisonment.

Saima's maternal uncle is now looking after Emma, and her brother, Saviour, aged seven.

Speaking to Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), which supports persecuted and other suffering Christians, prominent Pakistan Catholic priest Father Bonnie Mendes said: "Saima has had a hard life after losing her husband in a road accident in September 2019.

"She continued with courage, giving her children education in a private school, a few kilometers from her home. Let us pray for her safety and for the safety of her two small children."

LINK

Aid to the Church in Need: www.acnuk.org