THE
P RTAL
February 2016
Page 17
What is going on
in Pakistan?
Clare Creegan of Aid to the Church in Need gives some answers
The government
in Pakistan has become seemingly less responsive to the threat against
Christians and other religious minorities as acts of persecution have increased. Christians are treated like
second-class citizens, facing discrimination and oppression in their everyday lives and instances of violence
largely go unreported. Intimidation against Pakistan’s Christians has not only become more prevalent, but
institutionalised as the government has apparently conceded to pressure from extremist Islamic groups.
Suspect interpretation of the blasphemy laws has
become the pretext for violence against minorities.
The controversial legislation has drawn criticism
from international watchdogs who have called on the
Pakistani government to re-evaluate their human rights
laws. Those accused of desecrating the Qur’an can face
life imprisonment and the penalty for blaspheming
against the Prophet Mohammed is death.
In November 2014, a Christian couple were beaten
and burnt to death after a rumour spread that they had
been burning pages of the Qur’an. Shahbaz Masih and
his pregnant wife Shama Bibi were taken from their
home in Kot Radha Kishan village by a mob of more
than 500 people and beaten in front of their young
children. Some sources reported that the allegations
against them were made following an argument
they had with their Muslim employer about money.
Campaigners opposed to the blasphemy laws have
long held that religious discord is often used to conceal
the true motive for a crime.
people falsely accused of blasphemy.
In a fact-finding trip to Pakistan in December 2015,
ACN UK’s Head of Press and Information, John
Pontifex, witnessed the persecution Christians suffer
first-hand. Many of the projects ACN support in the
country foster interfaith relations in order to improve
religious tolerance between the Muslim majority and
minority groups. During his trip John met Father
Emmanuel Pervez who had set up an annual football
tournament to encourage aspiring sportsmen from
across Pakistan’s four provinces to play together
regardless of their difference in faith.
Numbering just three million in a country of more
than 180 million, Christians suffer repeated acts of
oppression and violence. It is only through projects
such as Fr Emmanuel’s football matches that prejudices
are broken down and inter-faith relations are formed.
The charity works with a number of project partners
to train Sisters and seminarians, connecting catechists
with communities in need and building new churches
One of the most high-profile cases of the blasphemy for expanding congregations.
laws used to convict a non-Muslim is that of Asia
Bibi, a Christian mother of five who was accused of
As well as caring for the persecuted Church in
taking the Prophet’s name in vain. Her case received Pakistan, ACN funds around 5,000 projects in more
international attention after she became the first than 130 countries around world each year. Without
woman in Pakistan to be handed the death sentence support from ACN and other organisations, many
for blasphemy.
Christian co mmunities could be at risk of disappearing
from many parts of the world altogether.
Despite receiving a temporary stay of execution
Clare Creegan co-authored
in July, she remains incarcerated. Asia Bibi has also
Persecuted and Forgotten?
come under threat while in prison, being kept in
A report on Christians oppressed
isolation for fear of being attacked by other prisoners
or militants after a Muslim cleric offered a reward of
for their Faith 2013 – 2015
500,000 rupees – about £4,000 – for the person who
For information about Aid to the Church in
successfully killed her. As a result, her family have
Need and how you can help, please visit
also had to go into hiding. The National Commission
www.acnuk.org
for Justice is just one organisation that helps reor contact them at
house people threatened by extremism. ACN helps
the Commission which also provides legal advice for
[email protected] or 020 8642 8668
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