‘Such heart-rending incidents represent our collective failure and put our whole society to shame. No girl deserves to go through this.’ – Shehbaz Sharif, currently Prime Minister (then Leader of the Opposition)
Pooja Kumari was only 18 when she was shot and killed in March this year, by a man who broke into her home with two other men. They initially attempted to abduct her before shooting her. Reportedly he had previously asked her to marry him, and she had refused.
Every year hundreds of Hindu girls, like Pooja, and Christian girls are abducted and forced into marriage with Muslim men. Many of them are minors.
Find out more at csw.org.uk/pakistan
Sunday 7 August
Pray for comfort and peace for Pooja’s family. Her attacker was arrested shortly afterwards, and reportedly confessed to the murder. Pray that justice will be done swiftly.
Monday 8 August
Pray that the government will take strong action to combat the issue of abductions, forced conversion and forced marriage, so that Pooja’s tragic murder will be the last ever case of violence against a girl from a religious minority.
Tuesday 9 August
A Muslim man said to be suffering from mental illness was killed by a mob in February, after he was accused of burning pages of the Qur’an. Pakistan’s blasphemy laws are often used against both Muslims and non-Muslims to settle personal scores or to resolve disputes over money, property or business. Pray that these laws would be amended or repealed.
Wednesday 10 August
Thank God that the chapter on religious minorities has been reinstated in a key textbook in Pakistan’s curriculum - for years religious minorities have been written out of the country’s past, and schoolchildren have learned a distorted version of history. This is just one victory following our Faith and a Future campaign, which many of you took part in, campaigning for an end to religion-based discrimination in education.
Thursday 11 August
In 2019 the UK government informed one state that it would receive no further funding for education while its textbooks contained hate speech. This was another of our campaign calls - praise God that this issue is being taken seriously.
Friday 12 August
‘Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you.’ - Psalm 89:14. Pray that Pakistan’s government would be characterised by righteousness and justice.
Saturday 13 August
Father God, we know that your heart is broken by the injustices that led to Pooja Kumari’s death, and that you grieve with her family. We ask you to comfort them, that Pooja’s memory would be a blessing to them, and that her death will lead to lasting change. Amen.