12/06/2020 Pakistan (International Christian Concern) – According to local reports, a 24-year-old Christian woman was shot and killed in Pakistan after she refused a marriage proposal and invitation to convert to Islam by a Muslim man.
On November 11, Sonia, a resident of Fazaia Colony in Rawalpindi, was shot and killed in public by Muhammad Shehzad and Faizan, two Muslim men. Sonia was reportedly confronted and killed while she was on her way to work at a garment factory.
According to Sonia’s family, Shehzad had been harassing Sonia for the last six months and had tried to force a physical relationship with her. Sonia refused these advances due to the difference in faith backgrounds.
Eventually, Shehzad proposed that Sonia should marry him and convert to Islam. Shehzad’s mother was even sent to Sonia’s family home in an attempt to negotiate an arranged marriage. Sonia’s family also refused the marriage.
“A few days before the incident, Sonia was again harassed by Shehzad,” Allah Rakha, Sonia’s father, told International Christian Concern (ICC). “Since she was a committed Christian she did not betray Jesus and sacrificed her life for her faith.”
“We are being harassed and pressurized to withdraw the case against culprits,” Rakha continued. “However, I want culprits brought to justice.”
Police have registered a First Information Report (FIR No. 717/2020) against Shehzad and Faizan. However, no arrests have been made at the time of this report.
