Christian
boy in Pakistan kidnapped, beaten and forced to become
Muslim
A
15-year-old Christian boy from the province of Sind in Pakistan has been kidnapped
and taken to an Islamic religious school where he was beaten and forced to
become a Muslim, according to a Barnabas Fund report.
Zeeshan
Gill was kidnapped in broad daylight on the way home from school, on Nov. 7. He
was taken to a madrasa (Islamic religious school), where he was beaten to
submission and forced to say the Islamic creed. Henceforth, his captors
informed him, he was a Muslim and if he tried to run away or return to
Christianity, they would kill him. He was made to fast daily. Furthermore his
captors even started to give him training in the use of guns and grenades.
His
anxious mother, Razia, who works in the Civilian Hospital Sargodha, Sind, was
informed of his whereabouts three days later by the mosque attached to the
school. She was informed that Zeeshan had willingly embraced Islam and would
not be returning to her. In desperation she turned to local court officials who
sent a bailiff to the madrasa. There he met Zeeshan and listened to his
account, but the terrified boy simply repeated that he had converted willingly.
The bailiff was not deterred and ordered the director of the madrasa to appear
before court, with Zeeshan, on Nov. 14.
Razia
was present at the court hearing that day. When she listened to her son give
evidence, she was amazed to hear him reiterate, in the apparent safety of the
courtroom, that he had embraced Islam of his own freewill and would only go
home with her if she converted as well! Razia begged the judge to let her meet
Zeeshan alone. The judge replied that would be fruitless as her son was clearly
a sensible boy and, even though a minor, had the right to become a Muslim.
Since this was an irrevocable decision, she was now powerless, the judge
informed her, to do anything about it.
On
Nov. 20. Zeeshan was allowed to go home to collect his clothes; however the
madrasa sent along an escort with him. Then four days later his captors told
him that he was imminently to be sent on jihad in Kashmir, where he would have
to “spread Islam at 120kph.” His director let him go home to say
his goodbyes — unaccompanied. It was at this point that Zeeshan felt able
to reveal the truth to his mother, that he had been kidnapped, forcibly
converted and held against his will.
The
family immediately fled southwards, where they were put in contact with the
Centre for Legal Aid, Assistance and Settlement (CLAAS) in Lahore, who in turn
informed Barnabas Fund of Zeeshan’s case.
Barnabas
Fund works to support Christian communities mainly, but not exclusively, in the
Islamic world where they are facing poverty and persecution.
Michael
Ireland is Chief Correspondent, ASSIST News Service.