Christianity and slavery: the unheard stories from Pakistan’s brick kilns

As we walk through the brick kiln factory, we see walls of bricks surrounding a kiln that reaches high to the sky and flows with smoke. We see men at the top of the kiln stoking the hot fires with coal. They wear wooden shoes because the temperature in the summer would melt rubber soles. Beyond the kiln, we see an assembly line of families on the flats. A few members make the mud and use a rickety wheelbarrow to bring it to the brick makers, who crouch, knees fully bent. There’s a rhythm to their workflow that’s almost like music.

Grab mud and place it in the mold. Pinch more mud from the pile and slap it on top. Flatten it. Pat it at the corners. Flip it. Pull the mold and start another. When they’ve finished a line of bricks, row after row, with the insignia of the brick kiln owner, lay in the sun until they’re ready to move—either to store or to bake.  

For many brick kiln workers and persecuted Christians in Pakistan, this is part of everyday life. It often starts at 4 a.m. The daily brick quota can range from 1,500 to 2,500 bricks per family. 

But there’s more to the story.   

Most brick kiln workers here are persecuted Christians, and they’re not free. They’re in bonded slavery, paying off insurmountable debts that will likely be carried to the next generation and the one after that.  

Many believers in Pakistan are impoverished and discriminated against as the minority. Christians comprise less than 2% of the population, and those at the bottom of the economic scale face even greater persecution.   

Brick kiln owners often entice believers with loans to help them pay for urgent medical bills, their daughters’ weddings, food or rent in hard times. With no other forms of income or support, these offers are challenging to pass up. But these loans are snares to keep families, many of them persecuted Christians, trapped. Their daily wages are garnished for interest, and the meager wages will likely keep them in slavery for decades unless something breaks the cycle—some form of grace.   

Until then, they’re owned by the brick kiln.  

People like Azeeb.  

Azeeb, a strong believer, has been in bonded slavery for over twenty years. He lives in a small home at the brick kiln factory. He has a large family and introduces us to his sons, daughters, and grandkids. They all work at the brick kiln to pay off their debts.  

A small calf bleats in the distance, just outside the small room where the girls sleep. Goats are in the courtyard, and the hot afternoon sun bears down on us. He pulls out a plastic table and a few chairs and invites us for tea.  

“We’ve been in the kilns for close to 25 years. Someone once paid off our debt, but when my daughters got married, I was forced to take another loan. It’s what the poor man must do again and again,” Azeeb says.  

But Azeeb doesn’t dwell on his hardships long. He quickly turns the conversation to gratitude. “Still, we thank Jesus, our God, a thousand times because He gave us health and courage. We are living and eating—and now you’re here to meet with us!” he says. One of his daughters sets a tray of small paper cups on the table. “The tea is here!” he says, with raised hands in celebration. 

We enjoy tea with Azeeb, and he shares more about his family, his faith, what it’s like to be a persecuted Christian in Pakistan—and the challenges of bonded slavery.  

He accepted Jesus at a young age and fully committed his life to follow God. “Even today, I need to walk on God’s path. I have never worshiped shrines or idols,” he says. Throughout his life, he’s experienced discrimination for his faith. People in his community have tried to convert him to Islam—offering him money to convert as well. But he has always refused. And he says Christians often get the worst jobs no one else will take.  

In a hushed tone, he says he wishes the brick kiln owners were Christians, not Muslims, because, as the minority, he can receive the brunt of the fury when things go wrong. But he can’t speak up or fight back. Being the minority here means knowing your place. “We still thank God for all our provisions,” he shares, “But the attitude of Muslims has not been so good to us.” 

It’s a cycle that won’t resolve on its own. “We wake up at 4 a.m. in the morning and leave for work after having breakfast. We work until 4 p.m. And after paying all our monthly expenses, our debt will still increase,” Azeeb says. 

In addition, the brick kilns are not a safe place for Christian women or young girls—who are vulnerable to the threat of sexual harassment and abuse with no way to find justice. The situation is bleak. 

“My whole body believers in Jesus,” Azeeb adds. “My hope is only in God. Jesus can help us. The hope is that God will encourage other believers to help us and get us out of the stress of paying off the debt,” Azeeb shares.  

Azeeb offers encouragement for Christians in the US who are praying for him. “Keep believing in God. Keep your hope in Him. Don’t get disappointed about your circumstances; trust that God is with you—and as believers, we are ONE!” 

We finish our tea and Azeeb asks us to remember the many brick kiln workers in prayer. “Ask for God to protect them—and to provide their freedom,” he says. 

As I reflect on the lives of Azeeb, his family and persecuted Christians like them, their unwavering faith in the face of adversity is striking. Their story underscores the need for our support in prayer and practical ways. We are not mere observers but can play an active role in bringing change and hope. So let’s keep them in our thoughts, offer our prayers, and provide tangible support to help them break free from the cycle of bonded labor. As Azeeb said, “As believers, we are ONE.”

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Through our partners, GCR provides schools for the children in the brick kilns, vocational training for young adults, mobile medical relief—and debt relief for families entangled in bondage. We ask you to prayerfully give today to help persecuted Christians like Azeeb and his family in Pakistan—as well as persecuted believers around the world who experience extreme persecution in countries like Burkina Faso, Turkey, India, North Korea, Afghanistan and many others.

About The Author
Brian O. is a staff writer for Global Christian Relief, a nonprofit Christian ministry that works to strengthen persecuted believers and raise awareness regarding Christian persecution. For more information, visit our website at GlobalChristianRelief.org.