An 18-year-old Christian girl, Shaheen was born into a poor family enslaved at a brick kiln. Despite working day and night they still did not make enough to live.
Shaheen’s father was diagnosed with heart disease and was unable to work for several weeks. The family had to take out another loan to pay for his treatment, but unfortunately he died of sudden cardiac arrest shortly thereafter.
The loan was increasing exponentially but now the brick kiln owner and his assistant began sexually harassing Shaheen and her mother. Because of this, her mother decided to get Shaheen married. She found a suitable husband for her, Naeem, who was also a brick kiln laborer, and they got married.
The owner was very angry at Shaheen and her mother because of this marriage and demanded much more now than the actual loan. All three continued to work at the kiln unable to pay the debt, and Shaheen became pregnant.
When she was five months pregnant, the owner and his assistants kidnapped Shaheen and transferred her to another brick kiln. The owner threatened Naeem and her mother that they would rape Shaheen and kill her child if they did not return the loan. Naeem had arranged some money but the owner increased the loan again. They were helpless and did not know Shaheen’s condition.
Naeem contacted RAM through one of his relatives and asked for help.
We immediately filed a petition in Lahore High Court for the recovery of Shaheen. The court ordered the police to recover her, but because we only had the address of Naeem and Shaheen’s mother, Shaheen could not be found.
It took two weeks of struggle to find her location and one month to free her. She was really weak after she was recovered, but her child was fine.
RAM immediately transferred Shaheen and her husband to the Sablone House. She had a complete medical checkup was done.
After one week Shaheen and her family were transferred to another city where they started settling in to their new life.
WASEEM’S STORY | NEW FOOD CART
Young Christian Waseem holds a 3-year diploma in baking and fast food. He was running a small setup in Jaranwala selling fast food last August when a mob attacked his town over blasphemy allegations. During the attack, not only was his house burnt but also his baking...
IMRAN’S STORY | BACK IN BUSINESS
Last August, Imran's house was burned during the widespread mob violence against Christians in Jaranwala. A Christian tailor, Imran worked from his home, where he stored his clients' fabric. Unfortunately, he lost all his Muslim clients who demanded compensation for...
AMNA’S STORY | SCABIES FOR 16 MONTHS
Amna recently traveled about 18 miles with her children to come our medical Life Center. She told us that for 16 months she had suffered from scabies. Nothing had healed her. As a result, not even her own relatives would come to her house anymore. Her husband had died...
