Christian mother killed by Muslim attacker after rape attempt in Pakistan

A Christian mother of four was slaughtered by a Muslim colleague in Pakistan after she resisted his attempt to rape her at the factory where they worked.

A scene from Karachi, Pakistan, where the incident took place

Zubaida Bibi (35), a cleaner at a garment factory in East Karachi, was attacked by a Muslim co-worker on 12 October. She went into the bathrooms to clean the facilities and he followed her, locking the door behind them.

When he attempted to assault Zubaida sexually, she cried for help, at which point the attacker pulled out a dagger and slit her throat. She died at the scene. He was arrested at the factory after the management called the police.

Zubaida leaves husband Younas Masih and children Arifa Bibi, Uroosa Bibi, Shahzaib Masih and Aurengzaib Masih.

Younas said:

I want justice... My wife was innocent and noble lady. She was working for our children.

Christian women are particularly vulnerable to sexual attacks by influential Muslims in Pakistan, and incidents are on the rise. They often go unreported, and if a case does reach the courts, the Muslim culprits often walk free.

Barnabas Aid supports a Pakistani Christian legal organisation, CLAAS, that helps women who are victims of rape and other crimes. Lawyers fight for cases to be taken up by the authorities and pursue justice for women in the courts.

CLAAS recently secured a conviction in the case of a 20-year-old Christian woman, Gulshan Bibi, who had been gang raped. After a long and protracted court battle, during which CLAAS faced pressure from influential opponents, the main culprit, Aman Ullah, was sentenced to life imprisonment, while co-accused Ramzan alias Jani was given a five-year jail term.