POC 22 Suman Nasir Family
Escape to Freedom
Our family:
1- Nasir John – July 7, 1971 (Husband)
2- Suman Nasir – June 13, 1986 (Self)
3- Eliazar – November 6, 2007 (Son)
4- Alithia Kerien – June 18, 2012 (Daughter)
5- Ezebela Olivia John – May 27, 2016 (Daughter)
Arrived as refugees in Bangkok: January 25, 2014
Refugee Status: “Refused” by UNHCR
Details on gaining Refugee Status is here.
In the Shadow of Blasphemy, Hope Leads the Way
Suman Nasir, a Christian from Peshawar, Pakistan, recounts the severe persecution and violence she faced due to her faith, which ultimately forced her and her family to flee the country. Suman worked as a beautician at a salon in Karachi, where she was the only Christian employee. Her life took a drastic turn when her colleague, Sabah Ahmed, began harassing her for being a Christian and pressured her to convert to Islam. Sabah, whose brother was a member of the radical Islamic group Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, accused Suman of blasphemy after a heated argument about religion.
In September 2012, Sabah physically attacked Suman at the salon, calling her a “blasphemer” and threatening her with death. The salon manager intervened and helped Suman escape. However, the threats continued, and a few days later, Suman and her sister-in-law were shot at by two men on motorcycles. Suman’s sister-in-law was severely injured, and the family realized the attack was meant for Suman.
Fearing for their lives, Suman, her husband Nasir John, and their children fled to Peshawar. Despite changing their phone numbers and relocating, Suman continued to receive death threats from Lashkar-e-Jhangvi members, who vowed to find and kill her for allegedly insulting Islam and the Prophet Mohammed.
In October 2013, Suman and her family decided to leave Pakistan. They applied for tourist visas to Thailand and, on January 25, 2014, flew to Bangkok, seeking safety and international protection from the ongoing persecution they faced as Christians in Pakistan.
More information…
Suman Nasir — Detailed Statement
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First published: 2025/08/01/
Latest revision: 2025/09/15/