Chairman of the British Pakistani Christian Association Wilson Chowdhry met with a Chinese Christian Charity in Iraq to share ideas on how to protect vulnerable
rape victims in a purpose made safe house.
Image above shows Wilson before school for ‘Internally Displaced People.’
The leader of a Chinese Christian charity who have been providing support for internally displaced people within Iraq for the last five years, contacted
Mr Chowdhry after learning about the BPCA safe houses in Pakistan. He called Mr Chowdhry for some advice on how to initiate a similar safe house
project in Iraq as the Chineses charity had a growing number of women under their care who had escaped the clutches of the rapists they had been sold
too. Many of these women are finding themselves being ostracized by their community due to the stigma attached to them and few have any possibility
of a future marriage. Moreover, many of these women find that employers do not want to hire them due to ingrained cultural bias against
Yazidis and Christians and the rejection that arises for rape victims in middle-eastern culture. As a consequence many women had been forced
into prostitution meaning they are facing the same demoralizing sexual captivity they had struggled to escape from.
Harrowing stories of how women were bought back by their families at the cost prescribed in a list produced by IS, illustrated the demeaning perception
IS extremists have for women in their captivity. Heroic stories of extreme bravery such as one young woman of 17 was sold into sexual slavery with
her aunt and debauched by the same man and his friends, reminds us of God’s providence. The two women plotted their escape together, and after complaining
about nightmares they secured sleeping pills from their captors. However, they did not actually take them and managed to save them and later ground
them into a powder. One night they slipped some of the powder into tea they had brewed for their rapists and when the men fell asleep they were
able to escape. The two women walked hundreds of kilometres over the next few days and eventually found safety in Erbil. It was quite a feat
that they were not recaptured and survived the arid desert heat without any resources not even a compass. God has a purpose for the lives of these
two women, that is evident and BPCA felt privileged to be invited to help.
Wilson Chowdhry shared principles and practices adopted at our safe houses such as the need for biblically based trauma counselling, provision of vocational
and academic learning and ongoing support through mentors. These facets have enabled the BPCA to help housed women back into a normal social environment.
BPCA uses a model that does not cling to cultural concepts of the need for a mother figure but helps girls develop into strong independent women
bereft of any dependency except to God. That is not to say, ongoing support is not available but our mentors ensure participants at our safe
house focus on God and the power he provides for a solution to any difficulties that may arise. Prayer, bible study, worship and fellowship with
a local church are intrinsic to our rehabilitation, they are all enmeshed with the practical support provided by our experienced officers.
As we write this story work is beginning on the construction of a safe house for up to 10 traumatized girls and women in Erbil, Iraq. The centre
will contain a stitching centre, small chapel and will link into the work of their school for internally displaced Yazidi’s. The charity is also helping
Christians and Yazidis who have fled their homes in long established communities elsewhere in Iraq reinstate their lives in Erbil, by helping the completion
of construction of homes that were once being built for Christians in Erbil. An American named Dr Paul has dedicated his life to helping these
victims even living with them in a partially completed home. He provides construction training and manages the projects and has already set up an efficient
construction team utilizing local young men. The group are desperate for doors and windows to install on many homes and portable heaters as few
homes have central heating or generators. A gift of 10 kerosene heaters provides small comfort to a few homes but getting supplies to Erbil can
be a very difficult mission. Overseas freight culminates in land vehicle transport across dangerous terrain where bandits can capture goods. Local
purchase prices can be high but buying locally is probably the best solution for this project going forward.
Iraqi graffiti remembers the dark day when IS emerged in their country.
Apparently before 2014 grants were being given to help create an enclave where Christians could live. However when IS started their campaign
in Iraq most of the Christians from the enclave fled to the west leaving partially built shells that internally displaced people (IDP) took shelter
in. Some of those Christians that fled gave the homes up to these victims without any cost, others have now started to charge rents to the IDP’s
as they recognise the properties in some cases are now almost completely built and have a value. Although it might seem unscrupulous as these
families will no doubt be supported in the safety of the west, it is a situation that can not be altered.
The charity has informed us that of the Yazidi’s they are working with, many are starting to understand the principles of the Christian faith. Moroever,
they have been inspired by the love and generosity of Christians who have given up so much to help and support them. There is a belief that a few of
them have already accepted God but are not openly willing to share their new found faith for fear of being shunned by their community.
Whilst Wilson Chowdhry was there he met a team of three Chinese Christian volunteers who were renting an almost complete home owned by Iraqi Christians
abroad. The exhibited faith in God and devotion to their work visible but their inspiring stories of the growth of Christianity in China was
very inspiring. Two of the volunteers came from areas of much warmer climate in China and had never experienced the chill winter of Iraq, which
at night was below 2 degrees centigrade. This is quite some sacrifice when you understand that the winter winter in Iraq was to get harsher yet.
Mr Chowdhry also met with many Yazidi and Christian boys involved with the home rebuild project.
BPCA have agreed to look into the possibility of funding a Pakistani Christian stitching teacher to be sent to Iraq to help develop their vocational
learning centre. We have also offered to try and raise funds to send across one of our mentors to train staff in biblically based trauma counselling,
if we raise enough we would like our mentor to remain at the safe house in Iraq for the period of one year. One way or the other we would like
to raise funds for the charity working in Iraq to show solidarity with our persecuted brothers and sisters there.
Construction begins on a safe house for girls and women raped by IS
Wilson Chowdhry Chairman of the BPCA said:
“Although my visit was ostensibly made to share BPCA practices to help the charity working in Iraq to develop a safe house for vulnerable women and girls, my travels meant much more to me. It was a chance for me to show solidarity with our Christian brothers and sisters in Iraq who face similar persecution in their homeland to Christians struggling in Pakistan. I was able to have fellowship with the wider family of God and used the opportunity to share witness of the love of God to Yazidis too, who recognized the sacrifice made by the risking of my life to share fellowship with them.
Erbil is safer then the rest of Iraq but still a high risk area, moreover during our travels we drove along roads that took us into areas that are known to be treacherous and were at one point less then 10km from the war zone at Mosul. The risk was worth it I learned a great deal about the God-fearing Iraqi church, their struggles and support for one another. Moreover the BPCA now has an opportunity to give real practical help to fellow persecuted members of our Christian body, and in doing so will be able to illustrate we are one in body and soul through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”
BPCA has initiated a Chrismas appeal to help support Christians in Iraq. This will be a one of appeal that may be reinstated next Christmas, however we firmly believe the IS insurgency will have been eradicated by then. If you would like to donate to help these victims then please (click here) and reference your donation ‘Love for Iraq’.
If you look carefully you will see a small cross on the peak of the hill in the centre. It used to light up and distinguish the Christian enclave whilst incentivised by the former government. Now the lack of electricity in the region means it acts as a beacon of hope during daytime only.
A former UNHCR humanitarian tent is now being used as a business premises to sell road side refreshments. Shattered communities do what they can to rebuild their lives. This tent was less then 10 km away from the Mosul war zone.
A shepherd tends to his flock just as in the time of Abraham who walked in this same region once known as the land of Ur.
Hard at work developing a centre for internally displaced people in Iraq.
The metal boxes outside home are sanitary units providing toilets that have been plumbed by the Chinese charity – none of the homes had any plumbing before. In most cases doors and windows are not fitted on homes and some still have no roof. However, people are working to help each other communally.
In a moment of fun with some local boys Wilson Chowdhry states he beat the young boy next to him at pool. Wilson can be cruel sometimes and does seem to be over egging the victory. However he states it he only won as national pride was at stake and he could not let Britain down. Moreover, Wilson assured us he taught the boy new pool skills that he can use on future opponents so will have gained something too. Hmmm..