Fouzia Sadiq, a Christian living in Pakistan with her three children, had managed to escape a horrible ordeal which lasted for two days. According to Sadiq and other reports, she was kidnapped by her family's Muslim landlord and was forced to marry him.
According to CBN News, Sadiq and her family were sold by their grandfather to Muhammed Nazir for about $43 each. They'll only be able to attain their freedom if they manage to pay off Nazir for around $1,440 for each family member.
Under this agreement, which constitutes as slavery, Sadiq is required to work at the brick kilns of Nazir as a bonded laborer. Although this practice has been deemed illegal in Pakistan since 1990, it still continues today due to the lack of proper actions by authorities.
Sadiq's horrible experience occurred in July last year when she was called by Nazir to clean his home as he was expecting guests. But, after she didn't return home on that day, her family feared that something might have happened to her. Her brother Paris visited Nazir's house to ask for her whereabouts but he was forcibly sent away.
The family soon learned that Sadiq was forced by Nazir to marry him. Fortunately, her relatives got in touch with the British Pakistani Christian Association or BPCA which secretly got in touch with Sadiq to organize her escape.
Through the efforts of the organization and her brother, Sadiq was able to flee from Nazir's house and now she and her family have been placed under the protection of the BPCA. According to the victim, for days, she was tortured and raped by Nazir.
Despite the ordeal that Sadiq went through, she and her family are still very thankful for her safe return.
"God has worked a miracle," Paris said according to the BPCA's press release. "Now she is free we will do whatever we can to make sure she is not forced back into depravity her Muslim captor subjected her to. We ask the prayers and support from Christians everywhere."
BPCA noted that it is currently coordinating with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the British Embassy to obtain a humanitarian visa for Sadiq. According to the organization, she will never be truly safe from Nazir and others like him as long as she is still living in Pakistan.
