Meet Mehreen Bibi, a Persecuted Christian and a survivor of a horrifying sexual assault in Punjab, Pakistan. Her father, Inayat Masih, was a bonded slave at one of the brick kilns in central Punjab. Mehreen, along with her mother, Venus, and five siblings, lived in the kiln compound.
Modern-Day Slavery in Pakistan:
Modern-day slavery remains a stark reality in Pakistan, particularly in the brick kiln industry. Vulnerable families like Mehreen’s often find themselves trapped in a cycle of bondage, forced labor, and extreme poverty. Many suffer in silence, facing unimaginable hardships, and lacking access to basic rights and protections. Our organization is working tirelessly to raise awareness, provide support, and advocate for the rights and freedom of those ensnared in this modern-day scourge.
Here is the Story of Mehreen
Mehreen and her family were caught in a harrowing cycle of debt at the brick kiln. This distressing situation unfolded when her father, Inayat Masih, fell ill, and they borrowed money from the kiln owner to cover his medical expenses. Tragically, the kiln owner exacerbated their predicament by imposing exorbitant interest charges on their initial loan each month, pushing them further into the abyss of financial despair.
Mehreen herself wasn’t employed at the kiln; instead, her parents worked tirelessly to break free from the debt burden. Mehreen’s primary role was caring for their home. However, when she visited the kiln to deliver food and water to her parents, she faced severe harassment from the kiln owner’s son. He would inappropriately touch her, use offensive language, and make unwanted advances, including proposing marriage and pressuring her to convert to Islam.
Disturbingly, when Mehreen reported this harassment to the kiln owner, his response was shockingly inappropriate. Instead of reprimanding his son and addressing the issue, he physically assaulted Mehreen, even accusing her of attempting to engage in an affair with his son.
When his son found out that she had complained to his father, the next day when she was going to visit her parents, he abducted her and took her somewhere else. Aside from raping her multiple times, his friends also raped her for several hours.
I went home and told my parents, but we were poor and couldn’t report the incident because the other people involved were rich and powerful. Sadly, a few weeks later, my father passed away because he felt ashamed and embarrassed about what had happened. They continued to work at the same kiln and endured various hardships imposed by the kiln owner and his son.
How ECSPE Rescue this Family
In Pakistan, our faith-based organization is determined to champion religious freedom and the human rights of all those experiencing religious discrimination. When our field pastor informed us about this incident, our team devised a plan to rescue Mehreen’s family in the middle of the night when the kiln was less guarded by watchmen. Our team accomplished this mission successfully, rescuing not only Mehreen’s family but also several other Christian families who had been enslaved at that kiln.
Mehreen’s story is a powerful reminder of the impact your support can make. With your help, we were able to rescue her family from a life of bondage and despair.
But there are countless more families like Mehreen’s still trapped in the shadows, facing unimaginable hardships. They need us to be their voice, their lifeline to freedom.
Your donation can make a difference. It can help us rescue and support more families who are victims of modern-day slavery. We can break the chains of bondage together and bring hope to where it’s needed most.
Donate today and be part of the change: https://ecspe.org/donate/
