A young Christian is currently in hospital and unable to speak after surviving an attack on his life by an Islamist co-worker.
Situations like this are not uncommon in Pakistan, where Islamist extremism and social pressure curtail religious freedom through intimidation, life-threatening violence, and discrimination. Religious minorities make up less than four per cent of the population, with slightly over one per cent estimated to be Christian.
UK Charity Help The Persecuted, which is dedicated to directly helping Christians facing persecution for their faith, is providing wrap-around care to Walid as he recovers. Their on-the-ground team members, Rachid, Farhan, and Fhami recently visited him in the hospital, where they learned the details of the attack from Walid’s family.
The persecution began when Walid and his father took a contracting job at a factory.
Rachid explained: “There was some jealousy from the factory owners and some other people because Walid and his father are Christian. They would ask, ‘Why should a Christian prosper while Muslims struggle?’.”
This led the factory owners and workers to try to force Walid to convert to Islam.
They began to torment him, trying to make him give up his faith, saying, “You are not on the right path. You are going to be an infidel.”
Then came the ultimatum that would change Walid’s life forever: “This is the last time we are giving you a warning. Accept Islam; otherwise, you will have to see the punishment from us.”
Just one per cent of Pakistan's population is estimated to be Christian
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At that moment, Walid stood up for his right to choose his own religion and refused to bow down to Islamist pressure. “I am a Christian, and I have a faith. I love Jesus Christ, and I am on the right path…Don’t try to interfere with my faith.”
The soon-to-be-attackers refused to listen. A man took a box cutter hidden in his pocket and sliced Walid’s jugular vein, intent on ending his life. Walid held fast to his faith even as he fell to the ground, covered in his own blood.
Walid was rushed to the hospital, where he miraculously survived.
His attackers, though temporarily detained, are spreading dangerous accusations that Walid “blasphemed Islam”—claims that could incite mob violence, or worse, against his entire family.
“They don’t have evidence,” Rachid explained. “To cover themselves because they cut Walid’s jugular vein, they are claiming and making false allegations that he was disrespecting Islam.”
Blasphemy laws are routinely used to target Christians in Pakistan
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Christians, particularly in rural areas, are in perilous situations
HELP THE PERSECUTED
Blasphemy laws are routinely used to target Christians, and Pakistan’s blasphemy laws carry severe penalties—including death—for alleged insults to Islam or the prophet Muhammad. Help The Persecuted is currently helping a Christian defend his case at the High Court. The man was sentenced to 25 years in prison for an alleged social media post.
Christians, particularly in rural areas, are in perilous situations. “People never verify,” Rachid said.
“If someone says this person disrespected Islam, people will never observe or investigate. They will take revenge by themselves.”
Because of the ongoing danger, Walid’s family is afraid and uncertain of their path forward.
They told Rachid: “We are a minority. We are fourth-class people.”
For now, they have relocated. They do not know if they will ever be able to return to their village, where they would risk facing mob violence and more false blasphemy charges.
Islamist extremism and social pressure curtail religious freedom through intimidation, life-threatening violence, and discrimination
HELP THE PERSECUTED
Help The Persecuted is covering Walid’s immediate medical costs as he recovers. In time, the charity will help the family rebuild their lives, working with them to help them achieve independence and stability.
“What happened to Walid is not an isolated incident,” explains Help The Persecuted UK Ambassador Tim Osmond. “This pattern of economic pressure, followed by demands to convert to Islam, followed by violence when conversion is refused, and the use of Blasphemy laws is something we’re seeing with increasing frequency across Pakistan.”
In addition to Pakistan, Help The Persecuted works in 14 other Islamic countries through their indigenous, on-the-ground teams in some of the most hostile places in the world. They have directly helped over 300,000 persecuted Christians, providing both immediate care and long-term support to help them rebuild their lives.
*Walid’s name has been changed for security reasons
You can help persecuted Christians throughout the Muslim world by donating to Help The Persecuted here
