The construction of a safe house for Christians in Pakistan is underway, with the British Asian Christian Association (BACA) hoping the property will provide safety for believers who have experienced false blasphemy charges and sexual violence.
The site will be BACA’s first safe house and will provide temporary but secure accommodation for two small families, supporting them for a short period until they are able to rebuild their lives in locations far from their original homes.
The immediate priority is to quickly make the site operational, but future plans include the addition of a second and third floor to increase capacity and provide on-site vocational training programmes, as disclosed to en by BACA trustee Juliet Chowdhry.
Detailing how those working at the safe house will prevent persecutors from discovering it and ensuring the safety of those inside, Chowdhry revealed that everyone involved will be “under strict confidentiality agreements and trained never to disclose the location or details of the property.” Additionally, the property will be equipped with 24-hour armed guards, CCTV, panic alarms linked directly to the police, and controlled entry through a secure main gate and foyer.
