Two Christian girls kidnapped, raped in Pakistan

Two Christian girls who were kidnapped, raped and forcibly converted to Islam, two months back, have been finally rescued in Pakistan.

During November 2008, Sisters Parvisha (18) and Sanam (14), were approached by two Muslim men, who offered professional training in cosmetology. This, the family believed, would assist them pay-off debts and decrease their poverty.

After convincing their father, Pastor Sharif Alam, the girls decided to embark on the journey, after which they were driven to an undisclosed location, drugged and locked in a hotel room.

The following day, the accused Irfan and Mehboob, repeatedly raped both the girls and forced them to convert to Islam in a Muslim religious center. The girls were later given Muslim names.

The ordeal continued as the men introduced the girls to two lawyers, whom they said, will help the sisters stay in a government relief home for women. Promising help, the lawyers deceived the girls, drove them to their residence and molested them.

One of the girls, after finding a cell phone lying in the room, telephoned the police, who immediately rescued the girls, and filed an FIR against the lawyers.

The family is obtaining legal assistance from a Christian group, CLLAS, who have promised to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Both the girls, in a statement to the local Magistrate, according to International Christian Concern, said "they want to live and die as Christians and at no cost will leave their family."

From several decades, Christians in neighboring Pakistan has been fighting a silent war against Islamic fundamentalists, who routinely kidnap Christian girls, force conversion and sometimes burn their homes.

Blasphemy charges against Christians falsely accused of writing derogatory remarks against Prophet Mohammed has been very customary. Pakistani law mandates that any "blasphemies" of the Quran be met with severe punishment.

Christians form 1.1% in the predominantly Muslim nation.