The Harsh Reality of Religious Persecution in Pakistan
Imagine stepping out of your car, unknowingly treading on a few pieces of paper on the pavement, only to be arrested and charged with offenses that could lead to a life sentence. In Pakistan, this nightmare is a shocking reality.
This exact scenario happened just months ago to a Christian rickshaw driver in Pakistan, who, when getting out of his vehicle, inadvertently stepped on some pages that were allegedly part of the Quran. Because he is a follower of Jesus, his punishment was especially severe. Sadly, this is just one example of religious persecution in Pakistan, where Christians comprise just over 1% of the population.
Understanding Bonded Labor and Its Impact on Christian Families
Shockingly, modern-day slavery still exists in Pakistan. Consider working your entire life as a bonded laborer, toiling in a brick kiln for $1.50 a day, trapped in a cycle of generational debt to pay off predatory loans. Perhaps the loan was due to a medical bill the family simply couldn’t pay. Or the main breadwinner passed away. Simply because of their faith, Pakistani Christians face religious discrimination and are denied access to education, good jobs and fair wages.
Recent incidents of mob violence against Christians, sentences handed down under blasphemy laws, and more disturbing injustices continue to escalate, despite the Pakistani government’s recent resolutions to address violence and protect vulnerable communities.
While religious freedom and freedom of speech are constitutionally protected rights in the U.S., these rights are not an option in some countries, where speaking your mind is punishable by death. While as Americans, we readily exercise our rights to worship as we choose, hold differing opinions, and speak out on things we care about—so many cannot. Pakistan’s violent incidents against Christians should remind those of us with the freedom to practice our faith, that elsewhere people like us are being jailed or killed for the same privilege.
How the Church Can Make a Difference
As the Church, I believe there’s so much we can do to help, even if from afar. Prayer is vital and praying for hope is essential. Pray that our persecuted brothers and sisters will be sustained and encouraged by the hope they have in Christ.
And then practically, we should not give up hope that change can happen abroad, nor should we shy away from being part of that change. The organization I lead, Global Christian Relief, is invested in making a difference in the lives of Christians in Pakistan. This year, we are working to pay off the debt of 50 families from bonded labor working at brick kilns, freeing them from the slavery that holds them captive—often over generations. Although bonded labor was technically banned in 1992, the kilns continue operating and thriving due to a lack of government oversight, corruption, and the influence of the kiln owners. In many ways, this type of slavery is part of the societal norms inside Pakistan.
While families remain trapped in bonded slavery, Global Christian Relief helps provide schools for their children, mobile medical clinics, and vocational training. When a family is freed, our organization provides an income generating project that families can use to build a business outside of the kilns, along with a six-week financial training course for the families.
Mobilizing for Change: What You Can Do
When the Church mobilizes, it’s a beautiful thing to witness. Your prayers and actions on behalf of persecuted Christians in Pakistan could mean the difference between freedom and imprisonment. It could transform the lives of families and communities. By working together, we can make a difference in helping others escape from the bondage of religious persecution.
David Curry is the president and CEO of Global Christian Relief, an organization that advocates on behalf of those who are persecuted for their Christian faith throughout the world.
