{"id":2162,"date":"2017-11-23T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2017-11-23T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.britishasianchristians.org\/full-previous-archive\/2017\/11\/23\/13-y-o-humanitarian-stuns-100s-of-londoners-to-silence-as-she-explained-an-estimated-700-christian-girls-are-raped-and-forced-into-islamic-marriage-every-year-in-pakistan-2\/"},"modified":"2017-11-23T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2017-11-23T00:00:00","slug":"13-y-o-humanitarian-stuns-100s-of-londoners-to-silence-as-she-explained-an-estimated-700-christian-girls-are-raped-and-forced-into-islamic-marriage-every-year-in-pakistan-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.britishasianchristians.org\/full-previous-archive\/13-y-o-humanitarian-stuns-100s-of-londoners-to-silence-as-she-explained-an-estimated-700-christian-girls-are-raped-and-forced-into-islamic-marriage-every-year-in-pakistan-2\/","title":{"rendered":"13 Y\/O humanitarian stuns 100’s of Londoners to silence as she explained an estimated 700 Christian girls are raped and forced into Islamic marriage every year in Pakistan"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hannah Chowdhry speaks out for young Christian rape and forced marriage victims in Pakistan<\/strong><\/p>\n

Last night on the steps of Westminster Cathedral 100’s of Londoners were shocked into silence as a 13 year old student volunteer for the British Pakistani
\nChristian Association, described the torturous life that faces Christians in Pakistan.<\/p>\n

Hannah Chowdhry who is a student at Kantor King Solomon, High School in Barkingside, Redbridge and a volunteer for the BPCA, spoke of the suffering of
\nmillions of Christians in Pakistan, during a presentation that she read out to Londoners who amassed outside Westminster Cathedral last night (22nd November
\n2017).  <\/p>\n

The atmosphere at the event which had been organised by Aid to the Church in Need (ACNUK), a Catholic Charity, was one of sombre attention as people gathered
\nto hear about the plight of Christians suffering across the globe during a day designated as ‘Red Wednesday’.  ON their website ACNUK describe the
\npurpose of the event:<\/p>\n

“Red is the Christian colour of martyrdom. Christians are the most persecuted faith group in today\u2019s world and #RedWednesday will honour all Christians who suffer and die for their faithfulness to Christ\u2019s message of peace and love.<\/span><\/p>\n

“#RedWednesday will shine a light on Christian persecution but also highlight the injustices perpetrated against other faith groups.”
<\/span><\/strong>
\n
The initiative is in its second year and Landmarks in the UK, Ireland, Iraq and the Philippines were floodlit in red to highlight the persecution of faith
\ngroups for their \u201cpeacefully held beliefs\u201d.<\/p>\n

Around 50 buildings in the UK were lit up in red, including London\u2019s Houses of Parliament, 12 cathedrals \u2013 some Anglican, some Catholic \u2013 as well as schools
\nand universities. More than 80 Catholic churches and universities in the Philippines were also floodlit for the event after the country\u2019s bishops\u2019 conference
\nendorsed the initiative.<\/p>\n

In Iraqi Kurdistan, Chaldean Catholic Archbishop Bashar Warda of Erbil  committed his church to being  lit in red. Warda, whose diocese has been
\ncaring for more than 100,000 people mainly Christians who fled Islamic State in 2014, said local Catholics would also take part in a prayer vigil that
\nwill end in a church he opened last year, to cater for the influx of refugees.<\/p>\n


\n
Houses of Parliament lit red<\/strong><\/p>\n

By far the youngest speaker at the Westminster event Hannah Chowdhry explained to visitors that an estimated 700 Christian girls are kidnapped, raped and
\nforced into Islamic marriage every year. She then clarified that an estimated average age of the kidnapped girls is 13 years. When she revealed that she
\nwas a 13 year old Pakistani Christian girl the silence in the crowd was palpable.<\/p>\n

Hannah had obtained the statistic via a report produced by Muslim NGO Movement of Solidarity and Peace in 2014 (click here)<\/a><\/p>\n

Hannah Chowdhry, spoke to the BPCA, after the event, she said:<\/p>\n

“Most people around the world know about the kidnapping of 276 girls from Chibook in Nigeria, a crime that shocked the globe. Yet though 700 girls are believed to be raped and forced into Islamic marriage every year, no-one bats an eyelid.  In fact the world stays silent.<\/span><\/p>\n

“When I think of what these girls have had to go through I shudder, I would feel totally lost in a similar situation and am sure I would lose all hope. So I choose to speak out for them.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Hannah described violence in the form of terrorists attacks, the burning of several Christian communities and over 1 million Christian slaves who are deployed
\nin the brick kilns of Pakistan, during a moving speech that caught the attention of all visitors.<\/p>\n

She was met with a rapturous applause that delayed the sharing of actual persecution accounts by her father Wilson Chowdhry, who is Chairman of the British
\nPakistani Christian Association.<\/p>\n


\n
Wilson Chowdhry sharing persecution accounts.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hannah Chowdhry, added:<\/p>\n

“Events like Red Wednesday provide an opportunity to raise awareness of global persecution of Christians and people from other faiths. Sadly however, too often people who hear these messages do nothing to bring change to the terrible persecution it is this apathy that allows persecution to continue.<\/span><\/p>\n

“I am praying that Pakistani leaders become ashamed of their current treatment of minorities and alter <\/span><\/span>
\nthe current unfair political system and social climate in their nation.”
\n
<\/span>
\n
Please sign our petition end rape and forced marriages in Pakistan <\/span>(click here)<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Wilson Chowdhry Chairman of the British Pakistani Christian Association, said:<\/p>\n

“Aid to the Church in Need deserve great credit for putting on such an important and successful event. Red Wednesday provides a spotlight on the growing levels of violence that Christians face across the globe. Moreover the Westminster event was exceptionally well attended and helped build bridges between concerned politicians and senior religious leaders in the UK. <\/span><\/p>\n

“Never has there been a more important time for Christians to work in solidarity. In fact Christian persecution is at the highest level for centuries and the gruesome accounts of persecution make harrowing reading. I will pray that next year participation at Red Wednesday will surpass this years enabling concerns about the growing targeting of Christians to reach an even larger audience.”<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

A Cross Procession took place from 5.00pm from the Houses of Parliament which was illuminated in red to Wesminster Cathedral. After arriving at Westminster
\n Cathedral visitors were treated to a wonderful performance from Soul Sanctuary Gospel Choir, followed by short films and music videos and a host of
\n speakers from different church denominations and cultures speaking about the persecution that their communities were facing. Other guest speakers included:<\/p>\n