No Justice for Christians in Pakistan

The Christian community in Pakistan was outraged by the acquittal on Nov. 27 of a rich Muslim man accused of raping and murdering a young Christian girl. Chaudhry Naeem was found not guilty of raping and murdering Shazia Bashir, a 12-year-old Christian girl. Naeem’s wife and son, who were accused with him of having forced Bashir to work as a maid in their home and of physically mistreating her, also were let off on all charges. Bashir died in January. Some charged that medical tests were manipulated to show that Shazia died of a “skin disease,” and testimonial evidence from her family was deemed insufficient by the court. “It is not the first time that, in cases like this, the outcome of the process leaves influential Muslim citizens unpunished, despite the atrocities committed on poor and helpless Christians,” said Nasir Saeed, head of the Center for Legal Aid Assistance and Settlement