A new investigation led by Franciscan friar Fr Lazar Aslam has brought to light the widespread sexual violence endured by Christian women and girls in Pakistan. The report, submitted to Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), documents a series of harrowing case studies that highlight the vulnerability of the country’s minority Christian community.
Among the cases detailed is that of 20-year-old Asma, who was lured into a car by an acquaintance on 3 May 2025. She was subsequently taken to a house and raped by four men who filmed the attack and threatened to release the footage unless she complied with further demands. Asma and her family have since faced ongoing intimidation and threats, with local police reportedly making little progress in the investigation.
Another case involves 17-year-old Samiya from Lahore, whose mother found her dead in the flat where she worked as a cleaner on 14 February 2025. While the flat’s owners claimed she had taken her own life, a medical investigation revealed Samiya had been gang-raped before being murdered. Her family continues to wait for justice three months after her death.
The report also recounts the ordeal of Shumaila, who was travelling with her husband on 25 March 2025 when they were stopped and robbed by three armed men. Upon discovering the couple were Christian, the assailants raped Shumaila in front of her husband and severely beat him.
Father Aslam’s report makes a passionate plea for urgent action to support survivors and protect vulnerable Christian families. “We demand justice for the victim family and call upon the state to provide safety and security to the family, who are poor and minority, while the culprits are powerful and have already issued threats,” he wrote.
The findings highlight the ongoing dangers faced by Christian women in Pakistan and underscore the urgent need for stronger protections, improved law enforcement responses, and greater support for survivors of sexual violence.
