POC 02 Abner Afzal Family
Escape from the Shadows
Our family:
- Afzal Abdul Karim – April 18, 1954 (Father)
- Zakia Afzal – September 17, 1966 (Mother)
- Abner Afzal – December 9, 1998 (Self)
Arrived as refugees in Bangkok: October 24, 2023
Refugee Status: “Refused” by UNHCR
Details on gaining Refugee Status is here.
When faith is under attack, escape is the only refuge
Abner Afzal, a Christian from Pakistan, recounts a series of events that led to his family fleeing the country due to religious persecution. Born into a Christian family, Abner completed his education in Karachi, including a high school diploma and a 3-year IT program. In January 2023, he began assisting his father in running their family tailoring business, Salika Tailors and Drapers.
On August 16, 2023, Abner had a confrontation with Nasir, a neighboring shop owner and a fundamentalist Muslim, who criticized Christianity and questioned Abner’s faith. The situation escalated, and Nasir’s aggressive behavior, including insults and threats, terrified Abner. The intervention of Abner’s father and an employee prevented the situation from turning into a blasphemy charge, which could have severe consequences in Pakistan.
The next day, August 17, 2023, Abner was attacked by six men near his shop. They physically assaulted him, confiscated his shop keys, and threatened him and his family, demanding that Christians leave the country. The attackers referenced the desecration of the Quran in Sweden as justification for their actions. Abner managed to escape and informed his father, after which the family went into hiding at their aunt’s house.
Over the following weeks, the family faced continued threats. On August 22, 2023, a mob from a Sunni organization came to their house, accusing Abner of blasphemy and demanding the family’s whereabouts. The family decided to leave Pakistan, and Abner renewed his passport on August 30, 2023. They obtained Thai tourist visas and sold their shop to fund their escape.
On October 23, 2023, Abner and his parents finally flew out of Pakistan, seeking safety from the ongoing religious persecution they faced as a Christian minority in the country.
More information…
Abner Afzal — Detailed Statement
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First published: 2025/03/30/
Latest revision: 2025/09/10/