London: In Custody: Innocent Pakistani asylum seekers seated at a desk in the Immigration Detention Centre, facing the threat of brutal incarceration, particularly affecting women and children.

A Pakistani Christian asylum-seeking family has been arrested in Thailand after Thai immigration officers raided the condo where they had been living in hiding. Five family members, including a young boy left mentally impaired after being hit by a train when 5 years old, were taken into custody. The entire family is now being held in Bangkok’s notorious Immigration Detention Center, known for its harsh conditions and overcrowding.

This incident highlights the plight of Pakistani Christians fleeing persecution, who, despite seeking refuge, face the constant threat of arrest in Thailand. Without official refugee recognition, they live in fear of raids and deportation, with little hope of legal protection. The family’s current situation is dire, raising urgent concerns about their safety and well-being.

On the afternoon of Thursday, 24th October, Royal Thai Immigration Officers conducted a raid on Phutthabucha Road in Bangkok, arresting 47-year-old widow Rubina Babar and her family. The family members arrested included her two daughters, Simran Babar (25) and Marish Babar (23), as well as her two sons, Wishal Babar (21) and Soham Babar (17). Soham, a young boy with special needs, has lived with his condition since childhood, after being hit by a train when 5 years old. The family, peacefully asleep in their small rented apartment at the time, was abruptly woken and detained by immigration officers.

Following the arrest, the family was confined to the Immigration Detention Center in Sathon, Bangkok, where they are expected to face a judge and be fined for overstaying their visas. The Babar family fled Lahore, Pakistan, in 2013 after enduring severe persecution following false accusations of desecrating the Quran. Their situation now underscores the precarious circumstances faced by many Pakistani Christian asylum seekers in Thailand, as they continue to live under constant threat of arrest and deportation.

Babar Masih, the late head of the family, tragically passed away in 2021 after falling from a ladder while working for a pittance, without any safety measures or insurance. His death left his widow, Rubina Babar, and their children in extreme hardship. Since then, the family has endured continuous struggles, trying to survive without their main provider. Learn more (click here).

https://youtu.be/FMsvJvi1gl4

Rubina recently contacted our officer from the Immigration Detention Center (IDC), pleading for assistance to pay the overstay fine for herself and her four children. The fine is 6,000 Thai Baht (£136) per person, totaling £680 for the entire family. In her distressing message, Rubina expressed her deep concern for the family’s future:

Please pay our court fine so we may not be sent to criminal jail. My son Soham suffers from epilepsy and experiences severe fits.”

She also voiced fears for the safety of her daughters, adding, “I am worried about my daughters. Please pay our fine and save us from going into criminal jail.”

In addition to the fine, Rubina has requested BACA’s help with the bail money required to secure the family’s release. The estimated bail for a single person is 80,000 Thai Baht (£1,824), bringing the total sum needed to £7,296 to cover the bail for Rubina, Simran, Marish, and Wishal. Soham, who is underage, does not require bail. The family is now relying on BACA for financial assistance to avoid being transferred to a criminal jail and to secure their release. To help us raise these funds you can donate (here).

Juliet Chowdhry, Trustee for the British Asian Christian Association, expressed her deep concern about the family’s situation, stating:

“This family has already endured immense suffering after fleeing persecution in Pakistan, only to encounter further hardship in Thailand following the death of their patriarch. This loss has left them stunned and struggling to support themselves through the challenges of life as refugees. We must act swiftly to prevent them from being sent to a criminal jail, especially considering the vulnerable condition of their son, Soham. No one should be forced into such a desperate situation simply for seeking safety.”