POC 05 Dominic Joseph Family
Shadows of Faith
Our family:
- Dominic Joseph – Born July 11, 1964 (Father)
- Aqeela Dominic – Born July 27, 1978 (Mother)
- Gershon Joseph – Born July 29, 1998 (Son)
- Marsha Dominic – Born November 27, 1999 (Daughter)
- Abishai Dominic – Born March 27, 2001 (Son)
Arrived as refugees in Bangkok: Februry 4, 2017
Refugee Status: “Refused” by UNHCR
Details on gaining Refugee Status is here.
In a world where faith is a battleground, one family fights to survive
Dominic Joseph, a Christian from Jhang, Pakistan, recounts his life and the persistent religious persecution he and his family faced, ultimately leading them to flee the country. Born into a large Christian family, Dominic worked in agriculture and later in road construction before settling in Karachi with his wife, Ageela, and their three children. They built a life together, running a nursing care service and investing in property.
However, their lives were repeatedly disrupted by violence and threats from Sunni Tehreek, a radical Islamic group. In 2008, Dominic’s brother-in-law, Mushtaq, was brutally attacked for evangelizing, and Mushtaq’s son was killed. This marked the beginning of a series of threats and violent incidents targeting Dominic’s family. In 2009, armed members of Sunni Tehreek stormed Dominic’s home, threatening his family for sheltering Mushtaq, forcing them to flee and relocate multiple times.
In 2009, Dominic’s brother-in-law, Patras, was shot and later kidnapped by Sunni Tehreek, who forced him to convert to Islam. Patras’ conversion led to further threats against Dominic’s family, including the kidnapping of Dominic’s son, Gershon, in 2016. Gershon was held for ransom and released only after Dominic agreed to pay a large sum of money.
Fearing for their safety, Dominic sent his wife and son to Thailand in 2017. He continued to face threats, including a direct warning from a Sunni Tehreek member on a bus, who demanded that Dominic convert to Islam or face death. Dominic and his remaining children went into hiding, moving between villages and cities to avoid further attacks.
In 2018, during the nationwide protests following the acquittal of Asia Bibi, a Christian woman falsely accused of blasphemy, Dominic and his family hid in a mission compound in Multan to escape mob violence. Finally, in 2019, Dominic and his children fled to Thailand, joining his wife and son, seeking safety from the ongoing religious persecution in Pakistan.
More information…
Dominic Joseph — Detailed Statement
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First published: 2025/07/31/
Latest revision: 2025/09/10/