Minahil, just six years old, was raped at the Asan School System by Muhammad Hassan, an employee of the institution. The man was arrested after a complaint from the family, the tests carried out on the girl confirmed the abuse and the DNA results are awaited. Christian and Muslim leaders visited the victim and expressed their condolences to the parents.
Lahore () – A new case of sexual violence, involving a Christian girl who is only six years old, shakes consciences in Pakistan. An interfaith meeting was held on November 9 at St. Francis Catholic Parish in Kot Lakhpat, a suburb of Lahore, in an attempt to ease tensions and ensure support and justice for the little victim. Minahil, daughter of Samsan Masih and Sonia Samsan, a student at the Asan school system in Faisal Town, was the victim of abuse by Muhammad Hassan, a Muslim and school worker.
According to witnesses, the man raped the girl on October 31. An incident that is unfortunately not isolated, but rather brings to light the harsh reality of the persecution and injustice suffered by minorities, especially Christian women and girls. An episode that has once again made visible the need for collective action against child abuse and for the protection of vulnerable children, regardless of their faith or ethnicity.
A complaint was lodged against Muhammad Hassan at Faisal Town police station; Thanks to the quick response of the police, who cooperated with the victim’s family, the aggressor was arrested and is in preventive detention. Meanwhile, the girl has undergone a medical examination, which has confirmed the sexual violence carried out against her, while the family – who, despite poverty, fights for justice – awaits the DNA results. To date, Minahil’s condition is not good, especially from a psychological point of view, due to the trauma suffered.
The sexual violence suffered by the girl is part of a broader picture of abuse, persecution and violations suffered by women and girls, even very young, in Pakistan, such as rape, kidnapping, forced marriages, confinement and lasting psychological trauma. These atrocities are often used to exploit and oppress them, depriving them of their dignity and basic human rights. Therefore, in response to Minahil’s case, a meeting was called to promote religious harmony, in which leaders from different faiths participated. Personalities from the Islamic world and Christianity attended an event under the motto of unity, dialogue and mutual respect. A delegation of personalities from both faiths also visited the girl’s home and assured her of their full support in the matter.
Fr Lazar Aslam OFM Cap, priest and well-known human rights defender, chaired the meeting, which brought together prominent speakers from different religious backgrounds, including: lawyers Kashif Nemat and Mishal Shamas, Maulana Asim Makhdoom, Mufti Syed Ashiq Hussain and Allama Qari Khalid Mahmood. Mufti Syed Ashiq Hussain stated that “neither the army nor the police want girls to be exploited or abused.” «We are at the side of the victim’s family and we assure them of our full support in this case; “The author – the Islamic leader stressed – must be tried in accordance with the law.” It should be noted that this is a prominent figure and his statement underlines the commitment of the police and the government in their efforts to prevent exploitation and ensure justice for victims. The mufti concluded by stating that Minahil is “a daughter of the nation” and that minority children “should not be mistreated or abused.”
P. Lazar referred to Pope Francis when he underlines the importance of “interreligious dialogue as a necessary condition for world peace” (Evangelii Gaudium 250). ‘By working together,’ he said, ‘we can create a safer, more compassionate world for all children.’ Finally, the priest thanked all participants for their solidarity with the Christian community, praised their support and assured the family of spiritual, moral and financial assistance. He concluded by recalling “the family’s Christian faith” and promised to “follow the case closely, ensuring that the perpetrator is prosecuted in accordance with justice.”
Photo: Flickr / Un Women Asia and Pacific
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