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The Updater - June 2026

The Updater, June 2026

Message from Fr Arnold: Together we can make it happen

Recently, I have become increasingly aware of the suffering endured by many Christian families in several countries. They face discrimination, persecution, violence, imprisonment, and even death. Thousands have fled to countries such as Thailand and Malaysia seeking safety, only to find themselves living in prolonged uncertainty and hardship, waiting for a secure future.

I felt the Lord placing a challenge before me:

“Reach out to them. Help them find a place where they can live in freedom, safety, and dignity”

Australia has generously opened its doors to persecuted and displaced people from many parts of the world, including Afghanistan, Myanmar, Iraq, and Palestine. LinCoN is advocating that similar compassion and consideration be extended to these persecuted Christian families who long for the opportunity to rebuild their lives in peace.

But LinCoN cannot accomplish this mission alone.

We need people who can advocate for this cause, build alliances, offer professional expertise, create employment pathways, connect us with donor agencies, or provide practical support. Every contribution, large or small, can help bring hope.

How will we respond to reach out to those most in need?

Together, we can make it happen.

Fr Arnold Heredia

Dr Khurram Malik Enhanced LinCoN’s Vision

Dr Khurram Malik is the founder, Chief Executive Officer, and driving force behind HOPE Worldwide–Pakistan, has devoted his life to defending the rights and dignity of vulnerable people. Based in Auckland, New Zealand, HOPE promotes and safeguards the fundamental human rights of migrants, asylum seekers, refugees, and those affected by poverty, persecution, discrimination, and natural disasters.

Fr Arnold requested him to share his experience in operating his highly respected and successful organisation. Emmanuel William hosted him as well as the conference at his home, on 23 April 2026.

Dr Khurram offered several vital recommendations for the LinCoN’s development including broadening our outlook to include other issues besides asylum seekers and persecuted, such as human rights and socio-economic issues. Build recognition and support among politicians, govt officials, social welfare agencies and businesses. Invite them to the Annual General Meeting. He expressed his willingness to establish a Memorandum of Understanding between HOPE and LinCoN.

From L to R: Lenny Fernandes, Emmanuel William, Khuram Malik, Steve De Vos, Aloysious DaCunha, Fr Arnold Heredia and Mohammad Aman Ullah

From Public Flogging to Freedom

The news report stated that Ashiq Masih and Shagufta Sadiq, a young couple from Karachi, had eloped. Shagufta’s parents lodged a complaint with the police. The couple was found at the home of Ashiq’s cousin in Rawalpindi and arrested because they were unable to produce a marriage certificate — an essential legal requirement for a couple living together in Pakistan.

They were promptly brought before a Sharia Court. The final verdict was: Ten years’ imprisonment, a fine of Rs 10,000 each, and ten lashes each to be administered publicly.

A couple of men were fogged in public, but never a woman. Fr Arnold Heredia, Director of Idara-e-Amn-o-Insaf (Justice and Peace Organisation), immediately contacted three prominent women’s organisations. They were equally appalled by the verdict and issued a joint statement to the press demanding a review of the case.

A.K. Brohi, a distinguished advocate, was contacted. He argued that non-Muslims should be judged according to the secular laws applicable to them. Under those laws, he submitted, fornication may be considered a moral or religious sin, but it is not a criminal offence. He further cited examples from Islamic tradition in which Jews and Christians brought disputes before the Prophet Muhammad, who directed them to resort to their religious or legal authorities to resolve such matters.

The court accepted Brohi’s arguments. The punishment of public flogging was set aside.

The ten-year sentence was deemed already served for the time they had spent in custody, and their fines were reduced to Rs 5,000 each.

The accused were released with immediate effect.

Letter from the CEO, Margaret Hamilton

Recently for 8 weeks during the months of April and May, I have been fortunate to walk and support my family to walk along the paths of the Camino – along the Northern Route in Spain. My son-in-law, Juan, who was born in Madrid speaks Spanish fluently so he was our guide and interpreter over the 825km. My daughter, Gen and husband Tim walked every step with Juan while another daughter Natasha came to join us for two weeks in the middle.

None of us spoke Spanish, and though many people we met probably did speak English, we found they were reluctant to. We now have a real appreciation for what many asylum seekers and refugees must experience when they land in a foreign country – they need to learn the language, and it’s not easy. They miss family and friends who could not come with them. Of course, there are many other hurdles and obstacles to overcome.

Over the past six months including while I was away, the LinCoN Board and Team members have been busily working. Our Treasurer, Aloysious, and Executive Assistant, Steve, have worked to successfully set up our Donations capability so it can all be managed online and through our website. We are now ready to handle lots of donations. Also, our Archbishop, Peter Comensoli, has approved a letter being sent by the Vicar General to all Parishes informing them about LinCoN and the work we do.

Our database of Refugees and Asylum Seekers

LinCoN requested asylum seekers to fill and submit an online form with some basic information about themselves. So far, we have 2,258 men, women and children now on our growing database, seeking urgent assistance with resettlement. Here are some of their unedited pleas for help. For security reasons, instead of names, only their initials are displayed

RH FemaleI would like to share my situation that I'm living with my three little daughters and my husband is in Immigration Detention Center and it's very difficult to manage my circumstances of food and room rent and milk for my small daughter. I couldn't find a way how can I get off from this situation. I'm a needy person please take us out our family on a safe place. I would be very grateful for your any kind of help and please help me with my husband to take him out from IDC. Thank you. -----------------------------------------------YMWe are facing many difficulties and challenges in this country as asylum seekers. We truly appreciate this organization for taking the initiative to consider us for resettlement. Your support gives hope to people who are struggling and looking for safety and a better future. Thank you for your kindness, effort, and consideration.--------------------------------------------------AJKWe were caught on December 24, 2019, and I spent a full year and two months in the IDC, while my family stayed there for three months in very difficult conditions--------------------------------------------------------------SK Female
I am the sole breadwinner of my family, carrying the responsibility of keeping my husband and children alive and safe through extremely difficult circumstances. My husband suffers from severe heart failure, and doctors have urgently advised that he needs an ICD implant, warning us that he may not survive another attack if treatment is delayed. Every day we live with fear, uncertainty, and the painful thought that I may lose him at any moment. At the same time, my childrens education is being deeply affected because we are barely surviving financially. We struggle even to meet our daily basic needs. As a mother, it breaks my heart to see my children living without security, stability, or hope for their future. I myself am suffering from anemia and ongoing health weakness, yet I continue trying to hold my family together despite feeling physically and emotionally exhausted. We are living under constant pressure, fear, and hardship, with no real protection or future ahead of us. It would truly be a miracle and a life-saving blessing if the LINCON authorities could help support our request for resettlement to Australia. We are not asking for luxury or comfort â€” only for a chance to live as human beings with dignity, safety, medical care, and a future for our children. We humbly ask for compassion and mercy for our family during this difficult time.------------------------------------------------------------ANDue to continuous threats and violence, My family left Pakistan in October 2025 and arrived in Malaysia seeking safety. We have submitted a UNHCR registration request for international protection and humanitarian assistance for the entire family. Thank You -----------------------------------------------RMDear Sir/Madam, I respectfully submit this urgent appeal for protection for myself. I am Christians from Pakistan who was forced to flee due to a life-threatening situation. I was falsely accused of blasphemy, physically attacked, and threatened with death. In our country, such accusations place a person at extreme risk, and i had no protection from authorities. Fearing for my life. I fled to Thailand. I applied for asylum through UNHCR, but my case was closed. I have now been living in Thailand without legal status. As a result, I am unable to work and are struggling to survive without sufficient food, shelter. I continue to live in constant fear of arrest. I cannot return to Pakistan because my life remain in serious danger. At the same time, I am not safe in Thailand. I am living in extreme hardship and fear every day. I humbly request your urgent assistance in granting me protection and helping me relocate to a safe country where we can live in dignity, work legally, and rebuild our lives in peace. Thank you for your time and consideration. Yours faithfully, RM
--------------------------------------------------SRWe have been living in Thailand for many years as asylum seekers and have faced many difficulties and uncertainties in life. We are sincerely hoping for an opportunity to live in a safe and peaceful environment where we can build a better future for our family. We are hardworking people with different skills and are ready to contribute positively to society. Thank you for your time and consideration.--------------------------------------------ZAMy family asylum seeker in Malaysia and already registered with UNHCR due to persecution in Pakistan with 3 false blasphemy case (295A, 295B, 295C) ----------------------------------------------------------ALWe have been living here for 12 years, and during this long time we have faced many difficulties and suffered a lot in this country. We are currently on bail, and at any time our bail could be cancelled and we may be sent back to the IDC again. Therefore, we kindly request you to please consider our situation with compassion and understanding, help us for Resettlement.-----------------------------------------------------------JMDear Sir/Madam, I respectfully submit this urgent appeal for protection for myself and my family. We are Christians from Pakistan who were forced to flee due to a life-threatening situation. I was falsely accused of blasphemy, physically attacked, and threatened with death. In our country, such accusations place a person at extreme risk, and we had no protection from authorities. Fearing for our lives, we fled to Thailand. We applied for asylum through UNHCR, but our case was closed. We have now been living in Thailand without legal status. As a result, we are unable to work and are struggling to survive without sufficient food, shelter, or security. Our situation became even more distressing when my two daughters and niece were arrested and detained. They suffered greatly in detention, and I was unable to visit them due to my own lack of legal status. Although they were eventually released with the help of others, we continue to live in constant fear of arrest. We cannot return to Pakistan because our lives remain in serious danger. At the same time, we are not safe in Thailand. We are living in extreme hardship and fear every day. I humbly request your urgent assistance in granting us protection and helping us relocate to a safe country where we can live in dignity, work legally, and rebuild our lives in peace. Thank you for your time and consideration. Yours faithfully, JM

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