[HT Forum] Fw: Pakistan Christian Alert

Tue Apr 17 12:09:23 CDT 2007

Hi all,

As CLAAS is one of the charities that we support through our giving, I thought, this latest information will give you some deeper insight about Pakistani Christians. 

Wilson

----Original Message----
From: info at claas.org.uk
Date: 13/04/2007 15:10 
To: <wilson.gill at lineone.net>
Subj: Pakistan Christian Alert

>From CLAAS- UK

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>From CLAAS- UK

A Christian community leader Accused of Blasphemy 
Five Christians are charged under the Blasphemy law, including an 11 year old child. 
CLAAS speaks for Christian students in Pakistan    
CLAAS organised a one day (Pakistani) lay and clergy leadership consultation in London 
US state department criticized the government for human rights violations in Pakistan. 

A Christian community leader Accused of Blasphemy

On Saturday 24 March 2007, a false case was registered under the blasphemy law against community leader Amanant Masih, from the village of Nabipura (district Sheikhupura/Punjab).  

According to reports from CLAAS-PK, Amanat Masih is a respected Christian in the community and is also the voice of local Christians; as a result, he is ostracized by the local Muslim feudal lords. 

His agony started when his 2nd wife, Shamim Bibi left him for another man and to bring her back home he went to the talisman, Peer Liaqat Ali. The talisman gave him some papers with Quranic verses written on them and asked him to spread them in the streets and bury them in his room. However, he denies defiling the Quran and scattering the Quran’s pages in the street.  

On 23 March 2007, at about 3:30 pm a huge crowd of people lead by Qaisar Mehmood, Abdul Majeed, Molvi Mehmood Ahmed, Munawar Hussain, Amir Shahzad, Chaudhry Abbas Ali, and Ghulam Rasool attacked Amanat Masih’s house.  They beat him and accused him of desecrating the holy Quran. 

The crowd attacked Amanat’house on information from Razia Bibi, who told the local Muslims that she had seen the Quran’s pages scatted on the roof of Amanant Masih’s house. Amanant Masih has denied tearing and scattering the pages. The crowd also dug up the gourd of Amanant’s house but they found nothing, then they took him to their farmhouse and tortured him in to confessing to the crime that he never committed.

Later he was handed over to the police. Amanant Masih told the SP (superintendent of police) that he had not done anything and that he was only being punished for being the voice of the local suppressed and poor Christians. 

CLAAS believes that Amanant Masih is innocent, as nobody has seen him tearing and scattering the Quran’s pages in the streets and on the roof. Also, nothing has been found at the digging of his house. It is just a case to settle personal scores. 

Five Christians are charged under the Blasphemy law, including an 11 year old child.

It is very alarming situation as the 3rd blasphemy Case has been registered against five Christians including one minor Rashid  Masih 11 years old,  Slamat Masih, Sahba Masih, Sheela Masih, and Sadique Masih(father of Rahsid Masih)  in toba-tek-singh; two other cases were registered against Martha Bibi in January 2007 and Amanant Masih in March 2007. Christians in Toba-Tek-Singh, (Punjab, Pakistan) are very concerned because of the growing number of false blasphemy cases against Christians and the misuse of the blasphemy law. 

 An FIR was registered against all the above mentioned names on April 1st 2007 by Abdul Gaffar of Bakshi Park for using blasphemous language and desecrating stickers with the names of Allah and the Prophet Mohammad written on them. 

On April 1st, the Christian colony of toba-tek-singh was attacked by 80 Muslim youths and Rattan Masih was injured and admitted in to hospital. 

Slamat and Sheela Masih have been arrested, whilst the other people are on the run. However, the police has arrested 2 other innocent Christians Ittefaq Masih and Green Masih even though their names are not in the FIR but because they are relatives of the accused. The police have warned that Ittefaq and Green will not be released until everybody is arrested.   

Local church leaders are in contact with the local Muslim community leaders and are trying to resolve the issue but there no news of any success.

CLAAS speaks for Christian students in Pakistan   

CLAAS has expressed its concern over the ordinance passed in 1987 giving 20 extra marks to Muslim students who are Hafiz-e-Quran (have learnt the Quran by heart). In a letter to the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shukat Aziz CLAAS has said that this ordinance not only contradicts the statements and claims of equal rights for minorities made by the President, Prime Minister and Ministers of Pakistan, but is also against the constitution of Pakistan and international human rights laws.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
This ordinance distinguishes between Muslim and non-Muslim students and also diminishes the chances for non-Muslim students obtaining admission in colleges and universities. Consequently, non-Muslim students are deprived of their educational rights, their rights of employment and are prevented from serving their own country.

Nasir Saeed the coordinator of CLAAS-UK has also said that this ordinance should be abolished and every Pakistani should be treated equally. However, if for any reason this ordinance cannot be abolished, then Christian students must be given a quota (reserved seats) according to the population which is a minimum 2.7 percent, and if the government of Pakistan is not willing to abolish the law or reserve seats for the Christian students in colleges and universities and in professional institutes, then we will have to take this matter at the international level. 
CLAAS organised a one day (Pakistani) lay and clergy leadership consultation in London

On  17th March 2007, CLAAS arranged a consultation of Pakistani Clergy in UK and lay leaders to discuss the current situation of Christians in Pakistan and what strategies and collective action should be adopted to make a difference in the lives of Christians in Pakistan. The Consultation was chaired by Rev. Alwin Samuel ( Chair person of CLAAS) and several Christians from all over the UK participated and in the discussion. Mrs Parveen Aneel (Programme Officer) presented a brief report on the activities, achievements and limitations of CLAAS in 2006 and Mr. Nasir Saeed ( Coordinator of CLAAS) highlighted the main issues faced by the Christians in Pakistan after giving an introduction of the day. Participants enjoyed and appreciated CLAASs’ endeavours for awareness raising and campaigning to end the blasphemy and other discriminatory laws against Christians and religious minorities in Pakistan 

US state department criticized the government for human rights violation in Pakistan.

Despite the efforts of the Government of Pakistan to curb fundamentalism and to make Pakistan an enlightened and moderate state, the human rights situation and religious intolerance is increasing. According to a press article of the US state department in March 07, there are increasing cases of murder rape and torture. Christians have been accused of Blasphemy laws during the first 3 months of the year. Christian girls have been raped and even murdered in the beginning to 2007. The government did not do much to help the victims. According to US state department report, reporters were harassed, intimidated and arrested in growing numbers and the Government did little to fix widespread corruption in the Government and police forces. Security forces reportedly raped women and children during questioning.

Prayer line

Ø      we pray to the Lord for Martha Bibi,  Amanant Masih, Rashid Masih, Salamat Masih, Sahba Masih Motta , Sheela Masih and Bao Masih who have been recently falsely charged under the blasphemy law and whose lives are in danger, we also pray for their relatives who are also suffering for being related to them. May the lord protect His people.
Ø      Let us pray for the Christian students in Pakistan who are being discriminated because of their faith and are being deprived admission. 
Ø      Let us pray for Saleem and Rashid, Kamar David, Ranjha Masih, Naseem Bibi, 
Rani Bibi, Anwar Masih and all the Christians who were acquitted from blasphemy charges but are still in hiding to protect their lives. May the Lord protect them and provide a safe haven for them. 

Ø      We bring the work of CLAAS to God’s attention, may the Lord bless the work of CLAAS and help us to be able to make a difference in the lives of our suffering bothers and sisters in Pakistan. May the Lord bless our friends and supporters, as it is because of their generosity that CLAAS is able to continue its struggle
Ø      Let us pray for CLAAS-PK’s staff who are harassed everyday and face threats for working on the front line may the Lord protect them and bless them abundantly. 
Ø      Let us pray for wisdom for the Government of Pakistan, so that they may be able to provide religious freedom to Christians and other minorities in Pakistan, and change the constitution of Pakistan that discriminates against Christians instead of protecting them. We pray especially for the repeal of the Blasphemy Laws.
Ø      Let us pray for those who support the work of CLAAS. May the lord bless them with more and be with them in what ever they do in their lives.

For further information please contact:
CLAAS-UK
P O Box 81
Southall
Middx
UB2 5YQ
Ph: 020 88679180
Fax: 020 88677422
http://www.claas.org.uk/ 

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