Lahore: British Asian Christian Association calls for justice, accountability, and greater protection for vulnerable women 

Serious concerns have emerged following reports that two Dutch women were allegedly kidnapped, sexually assaulted, and threatened after travelling to Pakistan believing they had been invited to meet potential business investors. 

According to reports from Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, one of the women, a 35-year-old businesswoman, travelled to Pakistan on 26 June 2026 after allegedly being approached by the grandson of a senior political figure who promised introductions and networking opportunities with investors to support her company. 

The women reportedly said that the man arranged their visas and collected them upon arrival in Pakistan. After spending approximately three days in Islamabad, they were allegedly invited to attend what they believed was a family birthday celebration. However, the women claim they were instead taken to a property in Lahore, reportedly described as the home of the man’s aunt. 

The women allege that once at the property they were held captive, repeatedly assaulted, beaten, and threatened with death. The reported attack is said to have taken place on 29 June. 

According to the women’s accounts reported by De Telegraaf, their attackers then attempted to extort a large ransom from them. The men allegedly demanded up to $1.5 million (£1.12 million), threatening that the women would be killed and that their organs would be removed and sold if money was not provided. 

One of the women reportedly described being beaten for several minutes before being questioned about money. She said the demands increased from an initial request of $200,000, later rising to $700,000, then $1 million, and eventually up to $2 million. 

The woman reportedly told the attackers that she had no money, but said she was threatened with death if payment was not made. According to reports, the attackers then used her mobile phone to transfer approximately $17,000 (£12,700) into a cryptocurrency wallet. 

The women claim they were later told that enough money had been received from their families and that they would be taken to an airport and allowed to leave Pakistan. However, they reportedly remained suspicious and feared the threat had not ended. 

During the journey, the women say the vehicle being driven by the alleged organiser was involved in a collision. They reportedly used the opportunity to escape from the car, grabbing their passports and phones before running into a nearby garage while screaming for help. 

A traffic officer reportedly discovered them at the scene and contacted police. The women were initially fearful and distressed, but reports state that a female police officer helped calm them while authorities began their investigation. 

Four men have reportedly been arrested in connection with the alleged offences, and police are said to be investigating the claims, including attempts to recover the cryptocurrency allegedly transferred during the incident. 

The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that it is aware of the case and is providing consular assistance to the women. However, officials have stated that they cannot provide further information due to privacy concerns. 

Juliet Chowdhry, Trustee of the British Asian Christian Association, said: 

“Our hearts go out to these two women who have reportedly endured a terrifying and deeply traumatic ordeal. No person should ever experience the fear, humiliation, and suffering associated with abduction, violence, and threats to their life. 

“We pray for their safety, their emotional and physical recovery, and that they receive the care, protection, and support they need as they rebuild their lives. We also pray that justice is delivered swiftly and fairly, and that those responsible for such acts of violence against women are held accountable. 

“Every woman deserves to live with dignity, security, and freedom from fear. Protecting the vulnerable and ensuring justice for victims must remain a priority for every society.” 

A wider pattern of concern 

While the case involves foreign visitors, it has drawn renewed attention to the wider issue of violence against women in Pakistan. Women and girls from all backgrounds, including religious minorities and vulnerable communities, have repeatedly faced threats of abduction, forced marriage, sexual violence, and intimidation. 

Previous cases have led to national debate about women’s safety and the effectiveness of law enforcement responses. 

In 2020, a high-profile case involving the rape of a Pakistani-French woman on a motorway outside Lahore caused widespread public anger. The victim had been stranded with her children when she was attacked by two men. The incident resulted in major protests after a senior police official made comments that were widely criticised as blaming the victim rather than focusing on the perpetrators. 

Following public pressure, Pakistan introduced stronger rape legislation aimed at improving the speed of trials and increasing punishments for offenders. However, activists continue to highlight concerns that laws alone are insufficient without effective implementation, improved policing, and a cultural shift towards protecting victims. 

Further concerns have been raised about the impact of Pakistan’s Qisas and Diyat laws, which allow certain offences, including murder, to be subject to private settlements or forgiveness by a victim’s heirs under Islamic principles incorporated into the legal system. Critics argue that in practice these provisions can undermine the deterrent effect of criminal law, particularly when victims’ families face intimidation, social pressure, or financial incentives to withdraw complaints or forgive offenders. 

Campaigners have long called for reforms to ensure that crimes involving violence against women, including murder and sexual violence, are treated as serious offences against society and not only as private disputes between individuals. They argue that the state must retain responsibility for ensuring justice, protecting victims, and preventing powerful individuals or families from avoiding accountability. 

Learn more about the British Asian Christian Association’s safe house project, which is being built to offer a sanctuary of hope, safety, and healing for survivors of rape, persecution, and those fleeing violence and oppression in Pakistan (here). 

Reported rise in sexual violence 

Official crime statistics continue to show troubling levels of violence against women. According to a report published by The News in 2025, Pakistan recorded more than 2,100 reported cases of gang rape during 2024, with Punjab accounting for the majority of reported cases. Islamabad also recorded significant numbers despite being the country’s capital. 

The figures represent only reported incidents, and campaigners have long warned that many cases go unreported due to social stigma, fear of retaliation, pressure from families, or a lack of confidence in justice systems. 

Protecting the vulnerable 

The British Asian Christian Association (BACA) has consistently highlighted the importance of justice for victims of violence and the need for stronger protection mechanisms, particularly for vulnerable communities. 

Women belonging to Pakistan’s Christian minority can face additional risks, including abduction, forced conversion, forced marriage, and sexual exploitation. Families often struggle to obtain justice due to social pressures, discrimination, and weaknesses within local systems. 

Every victim of violence deserves dignity, protection, and access to justice regardless of nationality, religion, or social status. Allegations of abuse must be investigated thoroughly, and those responsible must face appropriate legal consequences. 

BACA hopes that continued international attention will encourage greater action to protect women and girls in Pakistan and ensure that victims are supported rather than silenced. 

Concerns also remain about the support available to survivors after such traumatic experiences. While Pakistan has taken steps through legislation such as the Anti-Rape (Investigation and Trial) Act 2021, which introduced special measures including dedicated courts and improved procedures for handling sexual violence cases, campaigners continue to highlight gaps in implementation. 

For survivors, justice does not end with the arrest of alleged perpetrators. Victims require access to properly trained trauma counsellors, medical support, psychological care, and a justice system that treats them with dignity. In Pakistan, the availability of specialist trauma services remains limited, particularly outside major urban areas, and women’s rights advocates have repeatedly raised concerns about attitudes within some institutions that can place undue scrutiny on victims rather than focusing solely on those accused of committing crimes. 

In the case of the two Dutch women, there will understandably be concern that, after surviving an alleged ordeal of this nature, they receive the specialist support and protection needed to begin their recovery. Their physical safety, emotional wellbeing, and access to compassionate care must remain a priority. 

Juliet Chowdhry, Trustee of the British Asian Christian Association, said: 

“The allegations faced by these two women are deeply distressing, and our thoughts and prayers are with them as they recover from what has been described as a terrifying ordeal. Every survivor of sexual violence deserves compassion, protection, and justice, regardless of their nationality, social standing, religion, or whether their case attracts international attention. 

“The protection of women cannot depend on whether a case becomes a headline or involves victims from a Western nation. Every woman and every girl who suffers abuse deserves the same seriousness from law enforcement, the same commitment to investigation, and the same opportunity to see justice delivered. A society’s commitment to protecting women is measured not by how it responds to the most visible cases, but by how it treats the most vulnerable victims whose voices are often ignored. 

“Pakistan has introduced important legal reforms, including the Anti-Rape (Investigation and Trial) Act 2021, which sought to improve investigations, establish special courts, and strengthen protections for survivors. However, legislation alone cannot deliver justice unless it is implemented effectively and supported by properly trained investigators, prosecutors, judges, medical professionals, and trauma counsellors. 

“There must also be an end to any culture where serious crimes can appear to be resolved through financial compensation, social pressure, or private arrangements. While mechanisms such as Qisas and Diyat have a place within Pakistan’s legal tradition, their application in serious crimes has raised concerns because victims and families may sometimes face pressure to forgive offenders or accept settlements. Justice for rape and murder must not become dependent on wealth, influence, or the ability of perpetrators to negotiate their way out of accountability. 

“We pray for these women and for all victims of sexual violence in Pakistan and around the world. True justice requires that every allegation is investigated with equal determination, every survivor is treated with dignity, and every perpetrator is held accountable under the law.”