PUNJAB PROVINCE, Pakistan — A man in Pakistan who assaulted two Christian women in January and tried to rape one of them will face lesser, bailable charges if arrested.
On Jan. 27 in the Sargodha District of Pakistan’s Punjab province, Abdul Rauf, a Muslim, attacked a woman and her sister-in-law. The two women had ventured onto his land to go to the bathroom because the houses of the women’s village have no latrine, reports the news services Christian Daily International and Morning Star News.
Rauf tried to rape the woman and struck her with an ax handle repeatedly when she resisted, her husband said. The sister-in-law came to the woman’s aid and Rauf attacked the sister-in-law.
Though hesitant to pursue the case, Sillanwali officers finally registered a report. Even though Rauf used an ax handle in the attack, police have filed charges of attempted rape and assault that are less serious and bailable, the news services state.
As of Feb. 5, Rauf had not been arrested.
Pakistan is No. 7 on Open Doors’ 2024 World Watch List of places most difficult to be a Christian. Pakistan’s population is 96% Muslim.
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