A Pakistani Christian woman who escaped her rapist and abductor and was then returned to her persecutors by her family, has won her freedom through the Pakistani law courts in April.
Fouzia Bibi was abducted on 23 July 2015 while cleaning the home of her family’s slave-master. She managed to escape. The British Pakistani Christian Association (BPCA) urged the UNHCR and Western nations to provide Fouzia with asylum. Sadly, no assistance was offered.
New law
The poor response from UNHCR and safe nations in the West, coupled with threats from the family of rapist Nazir Ahmed, led to the family of Fouzia returning her to her nightmare. Having a slave master, the family found themselves in an extremely vulnerable position. BPCA did not give up on Fouzia and once again helped her escape.
In February 2017, BPCA got wind of a new law that penalised perpetrators of forced marriages. In discussion with Fouzia it was decided that they would pursue a divorce case for her. The first hearing of Fouzia’s case was meant to be heard on 14 February but was postponed. At the second hearing, on 17 March, the rapist failed to appear and he had no legal representation. BPCA’s solicitor, Naiz Aamer, argued that the failure for the defendant to appear at the court without reason was in violation of court procedure. The judge ruled in his favour and an ex-party proceeding was passed.
At the last hearing, on 27 March, Fouzia had to record a statement of her kidnap, rape and forced marriage which was accepted and the court passed an ex-party judgment in favour of Fouzia. After a tumultuous two years Fouzia had finally gained her freedom and her divorce was granted.
