URGENT: Please Help a Persecuted Christian Sister

The persecution of Christians has become more visible lately. Please join in me in trying to help a Christian woman and her children. They are in danger of losing their lives. Your money is not necessary. The funds already exist for her transportation. But please petition the United Nations and your representatives. It will only take a few minutes of your time. Letters are provided below. The following information is from an email written by Rev. Thomas W. Bartzsch in Grand Rapids.

Pastor Afzal Masihs' daughter Tahseen and her children Rain and Trinity fled from Pakistan to Sri Lanka to seek asylum from religious persecution. They now have had their passports confiscated and have been given the threat that they will be deported from Sri Lanka back to Pakistan within the week. We have been praying for them, and now we also need to advocate for them with the authorities as the persistent widow before the unjust judge. It is sad, but these cases are often not decided on their merits but on "volume" - how many people step forward on behalf of the petitioner.

If you are willing, please go to the contact form on the United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees website:

http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/contact_hq 

1) Under "Your Concern" - choose "Individual Cases" 

2) Under "Your Country" - choose "United States of America" 

3) Enter your first and last names and email address. You may choose to put in your city and state. 

4) Type in the Security Code - it is case sensitive. 

5) In the "Question" field you may copy and paste this: 

UNHCR Case number: 640-13C00464 

I am writing on behalf of Tahseen Kanwal, an asylum-seeker from Pakistan residing in Sri Lanka with her two minor children, son Rain (5) and daughter Trinity (4). She was interviewed by the UNHCR on May 26, 2014 regarding her religious asylum-seeking status and a decision has yet to be rendered. Her parents and sisters and brothers are members of our community here and we desire the family to be reunited. 

On Sunday August 3rd, the Sri Lankan authorities confiscated the family's passports and threatened them with deportation back to Pakistan within the week. The family has already suffered the loss of a family member for religious reasons at the hands of the Pakistani authorities, so we are justly fearful for the lives of Tahseen and the children. 

I am asking that you expedite the case and provide Tahseen and her children with the necessary travel documents to emigrate to the United States where she and the children will be welcomed and supported by her family and our community. 

Thank you very much for your help and consideration in this matter. 

6) VERY IMPORTANT - UNCHECK the box that says "I wish to receive informational emails" so that you are not bombarded by emails. 

7) Click on "Send" When the screen refreshes, you may or may not see a confirmation. Do not exit until you're sure the new page is done loading. 

Thank you and God bless you for your work on behalf of our sister Tahseen and her children.

Send and email to your senators and state representative using the following format:

Here is a subject line to use:  

URGENT: Religious asylum for 3 Pakistani refugees - family lives in Grand Rapids 

US CIS I-797 Receipt No. WAC-12-902-71043 

UNHCR Case number: 640-13C00464 

I am writing on behalf of Tahseen Kanwal, an asylum-seeker from Pakistan residing in Sri Lanka with her two minor children, son Rain (5) and daughter Trinity (4). Her father, Rev. Afzal Masih, is a naturalized US Citizen residing in Grand Rapids who has an approved I-130 immigrant petition for relative - see I-797 receipt no. above. Pastor Masih is a member of our Lutheran faith community here. 

In addition, she applied to the UNHCR for religious asylum. She was interviewed by the UNHCR on May 26, 2014 regarding her religious asylum-seeking status and a decision has yet to be rendered. Her parents and sisters and brothers are members of our community here and we desire the family to be reunited. 

On Sunday August 3rd, the Sri Lankan authorities confiscated the family's passports and threatened them with deportation back to Pakistan within the week. The family has already suffered the loss of a family member for religious reasons at the hands of the Pakistani authorities, so we are justly fearful for the lives of Tahseen and the children. 

I am asking that you do whatever is in your power and sphere of influence to assist in the expediting of this case so Tahseen and her children can be provided with the necessary travel documents to emigrate to the United States where she and the children will be safe, welcomed, and supported by her family and our community. 

Thank you very much for your help and consideration in this matter.

Feel free to call their offices if you'd rather. And again, forward to whoever you like. And we'll all say a prayer of thanks for where we live tonight.