Christian woman escapes Muslim landlord who forced her to marry him
A Christian woman managed to escape the clutches of a Muslim landlord in Pakistan.
According to the report by Gospel Herald, mother of three Fouzia Sadiq was reportedly kidnapped by her family's Muslim landlord, who then forced her to marry him. She escaped after staying with the man for two days.
Sadiq and her family were sold by their grandfather to Muhammed Nazir for only $43 each.
Under the terms, the family would only be freed if they are able to pay Nazir $1,440 for each family member. The agreement required Sadiq to work at the brick kilns as a bonded laborer.
Nazir reportedly requested Sadiq to come to his house to clean because he would be expecting guests to arrive. However, the Christian mother did not return, and so her family became worried.
They soon found out that their landlord forced her to marry him, and for the next two days, raped and abused her.
The relatives of Sadiq reported to the British Pakistani Christian Association, who secretly contacted Fouzia to prepare her escape.
Through the efforts of the BPCA as well as Sadiq's brother, Paris, the victim was able to escape. Sadiq's family is now under the protection of the BPCA.
Although slavery has been deemed illegal in Pakistan since 1990, the Pakistani government is not always able to enforce the law, meaning some people are still living as slaves in the country. According to statistics from Persecution.org, about 1,000 Pakistani women who are part of minority religious groups are abducted, and forcibly married and converted to Islam each year.
Many of these women are tortured, abused and raped by their 'husbands' and not all are rescued.