Dear friends,

as you know, Shikandar, whose name we have changed out of fear of reprisals, has been fleeing his native Pakistan because of discrimination as a practicing Christian. He endured great hardship on the Balkan route, where we first met him in 2019, but eventually found refuge in a European country. He is doing very well, he has found employment, sharing an apartment with local friends, taking part in communal activities and the local parish.

Yet, there is a major issue that weighs heavily on him: you see, because of the repressions Christians face in Pakistan, his father formally and officially converted the family to Islam when Shikandar was a six year old child. It never stopped him from believing in and practicing Christianity. However, it has been a burden he has carried all his life that has torn him apart and eventually made him leave the country.

From the safety of his European refuge he now seeks to rectify this inconsistency in his life story. He wants to officially and formally revert to his true Christian faith. That would be virtually impossible and unheard of for someone like him in Pakistani society which privileges Islam above all other religions - although the Constitution superficially guarantees the freedom of religion.

With the help of many friends and organizations we now have found a promising path by which we will bring his case to the Pakistan High Court. This will cost €3500 in legal, lawyers’ and court filing fees. We expect, however, that his case will serve as an example to ease access for others, provide for a realignment of constitutional right and societal practices in Pakistan and serve as a platform for mutual inter-religious respect. Thus, we are looking for another €1500 to bring his case to fruition in this way.

Shikandar is getting married next year. As things stand, his Christian fiancee would have to follow his official Muslim religion. His children would automatically be Muslim and had to endure the same dichotomies and injustices that have haunted Shikandar all his life. Let us rectify this contradictory policy, enable us to fight his case in the High Court and fulfill the lifelong dream of a hardworking, well-integrated migrant as a wedding gift!