Family of Pakistani Christian Threatened and Terrorized for Marrying a Muslim Girl

"We are starving and in hiding here and there for our lives" - Maria, who converted to Christianity

(PUNJAB) - After becoming a Christian, a young woman named Maria married Emanuel Masih. They have a beautiful one year old daughter, Yarusha Emmanuel.

The couple has been living very peacefully for the last 4 years, not disclosing their marriage and the conversion of Maria to their respective families.

Maria's younger sister disclosed her marriage with the Christian man and also her sister's conversion, which too place on her first day of marriage while staying at a rented house in Lahore.

"I am told that my family is making threats to my husband's father", Maria said, emphasizing that her family wants her to return.

"My father is very upset and warned me that they will kill you if they find you", said Emmanuel.

"We both requested to many of our friends and Pastors to give us shelter", said Maria. So far there have been no offers.

"I have strong faith in Jesus and have no fear of being killed for faith, rather it will be my pride, but I have only concerned for our little kid", Maria said.

"In Pakistan we are facing many difficulties and hurdles because of Muslim extremist group's threats. We have changed our residence many times, we have shifted from one place to another. Even in the last week we have changed the location of residence but now we are tired. We have no guarantee of our lives," shared both husband and wife".

Marine said, "On 28 August 2012, we went to Nadra Registration Centre on Pece Road in Lahore township, and got token Nos. 9 & 11 for amendment in National Identity Cards because we needed and required the Birth Certificate (B Form) of our Child and amendment in the record of NADRA of our marital status and Change of religion from Islam to Christianity (For Me)."

Maria says that when she presented this before the Officer of Computer operator of record Of NADRA, she was asked many questions regarding her Christian marriage certificate and change of religion from Islam to Christianity.

"She scolded me and used many abusive words and warned me that they would never change the column of religion from Islam to Christianity. I requested her to give me the form without changing the column, she said OK. She shared information about me with her other colleagues, they also warned me the same. She also instructed the Form Giving Officer to hold my form unless she authorized permission. They also threatened my husband with dire consequences of our marriage and my conversion from Islam to Christianity. We, both my husband and me, ran away from NADRA OFFICE for the safety of our lives," Maria said.

"Please pray for us and support us for the safety of my family’s lives, if it will be possible to support us morally and financially. We are starving and in hiding here and there for our lives," Maria said to director of LEAD (Legal Evangelical Association Development).

The hate campaign started a few months ago when the girl's Muslim family started an inquiry about the marriage of their daughter and her conversion from Islam to Christianity. As mentioned, she no longer lives with her family and has little contact with her family.

It was revealed that she is expecting her second child with her husband while it is forbidden in Islam, said Ghulam Masih, the 58-year old father of the Christian man.

Mr. Masih says he has received numerous threats and dire consequences if he does not hand over the girl to the Muslims.

"I and my family member have no any connection with them and do not know whereabouts the couple", he said to Muslims of her village and to the girl's family.

Family members of this Muslim woman who married a Christian here have threatened to kidnap the groom’s sisters and kill them, and other relatives, related the Christian family members to Advocate Sardar Mushtaq Gill.

These two families have appealed to LEAD to help them and provide the safety to their lives.

The couple, after marrying, is forced to live in hiding. Muslim society condemns their marriage and conversion, according to Islam it is punishable by death. The State must defend them, or they will soon disappear, Advocate Sardar Mushtaq Gill.

"The Constitution Of Pakistan, which is supreme law of land, allows to profess and to accept any religion or faith and there is no any restriction in law to get married with Christian, Hindu, Sikh or any other religion. Even then, Muslim society does not accept Marriage of Muslim girl with any other religion including Christianity. "There are many examples in which weds must had to give and to loss their lives", Gill said.