100 Christian Families Freed From Slavery In Pakistan; Thousands Still Held (Worthy News In-Depth)

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By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News

ISLAMABAD (Worthy News) – There was hope Tuesday for at least some of the thousands of Christians held as “bonded labors” in Islamic-ruled Pakistan, with Christian aid workers telling Worthy News they freed 100 Christian families ahead of Christmas.

Most of these modern-day slaves were held by Muslim owners of brick kilns to pay off their debts, Worthy News established.

Brick kiln workers “are generally low paid, and Christians are often among the most impoverished of people in Pakistan,” explained Christian charity Barnabas Fund, which is involved in a rescue and debt repayment operation.

“I couldn’t even afford one meal a day,” said Nadeem, a Christian brick kiln worker in Pakistan, in comments shared with Worthy News. Only one name was used, and the exact location was not mentioned amid security concerns.

Nadeem recalled that his employer kept a large chunk of his and his wife Yasmin’s already low wages as “a loan repayment.”

The couple had no choice but to enter into this agreement as Nadeem’s eldest daughter Muqadas has diabetes, and it was the only way he could afford her treatment, he said.

Doctors had reportedly warned of the risk of organ failure. With nearly half of his wages being kept back, Nadeem “could no longer afford even one full meal a day.”

HELPING DAUGHTER

Yet “Nadeem had done the only thing he could to help his daughter. But as a result, he had lost nearly half of his wages,” Barnabas Aid said.

He isn’t alone, as “This is the reality for thousands of low-paid Christian brick kiln workers in Pakistan,” according to Barnabas Aid.

“When faced with an emergency or illness, their only option is to take a loan from the brick kiln owner. These debts then keep them bonded to the brick kiln,” the charity told Worthy News.

“Until the debt is repaid, they become trapped and cannot seek another job. They cannot pay off their debt, as money is deducted from their wages to pay the interest. It becomes impossible for them to pay off the loan in full.”

According to Christians familiar with the situation, their debt – and therefore even they themselves – can even be sold to another brick kiln owner. “No wonder Nadeem describes his situation as ‘slavery and forced labor,’” Barnabas Aid added.

Nadeem confirmed that the impact of brick kiln debt also impacts those whose lives have barely begun. He said that to make bricks for his employer, not only his wife but also his children had to join him in the dirty and difficult work.

“I had to ask my kids to drop out of school and help me out,” he recalled in the remarks shared with Worthy News. Worthy News learned that Nadeem’s wife, Yasmin, and their children had to work in the brick kiln just to have enough food.

CHILDREN ROBBED

“The result of situations like this is that Christian children are robbed of the opportunity to gain the knowledge, skills, and formal qualifications that they need to improve their prospects. Many work in the brick kilns for the rest of their lives,” Barnabas Aid said.

Brick kiln owners apply unmanageable levels of interest to their employees’ debt, according to investigators. As a result, the debt may never be paid off in full. The debt is then passed on to the worker’s children and sometimes even their grandchildren.

“In these ways, indebtedness and bonded labor pass down the generations like a curse. The poor are punished for their poverty – and the punishment is even deeper poverty,” Barnabas Aid said.

However, “Praise God that Nadeem, Yasmin, and their children are among 100 families freed from bonded labor in the 23rd phase of Barnabas Aid’s loan repayment project,” the charity said.

“I give thanks to God,” added Nadeem. He now receives his full salary without any deductions, allowing him to afford the necessities of life. His children have now returned to school to continue their education.

“But there is more work to do. Thousands more are trapped in the relentless misery of bonded labor in Pakistan’s brick kilns.”

Barnabas said it had launched an appeal to supporters to help it continue to free more bonded laborers and experience what Nadeem calls “the grace of God” to be set free. “We are now preparing for the next phase of our mission to set free our brothers and sisters,” Barnabas Aid said.

It added that it had also urged its supporters to “pray for the success of our work.” Citing Bible verse Psalm 136:12, the group said that the Lord, who saves with “a mighty hand and outstretched arm,” is able to set more of “his people free.”

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