The Portal November 2018 | Page 20

THE P RTAL November 2018 Page 20 Aid to the Church in Need Praying for Pakistan’s suffering Church Murcadha O’Flaherty reports T housands of people are praying for religious minorities in Pakistan – including imprisoned Christian mother of five, Asia Bibi – suffering under the country’s blasphemy law. Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need is supporting Asia Bibi’s family and others in need through Pakistan’s National Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP). Through the NCJP and other organisations ACN has helped victims of blasphemy forced to go into hiding across the Muslim-majority country.   The charity brought Asia Bibi’s family to the UK in mid-October. Asia Bibi’s daughter Eisham Ashiq with her father, Ashiq Masih spoke of their concerns for her safe release. They also raised awareness of the use of the death penalty in blasphemy cases, which are often brought against Christians and members of other religious minorities in Pakistan.   At the time of writing this article, Pakistan’s Supreme Court is reviewing Asia Bibi’s case. The country’s blasphemy laws call for the death penalty or life imprisonment after conviction for using derogatory remarks against the Muslim Prophet Mohammad – a charge denied by Asia Bibi. Reports note that extremist groups in the country are primed to protest violently if she is released by the courts. Father Emmanuel Yousaf, NCJP’s national director, also came to Britain with Asia Bibi’s family. Calling for prayers for the suffering Church in Pakistan, Father Yousaf said: “Please join with Christians and others worldwide praying for Asia Bibi’s safe release and an end to persecution of religious minorities in Pakistan.”  Helping isolated and poverty-stricken Christian communities across Pakistan, ACN is rebuilding churches attacked by extremists, or damaged in suspicious circumstances. This support sends a signal that the Christian communities are not going to be forced out by acts of intimidation and violence. In Muzaffarabad, in Pakistan’s northerly Kashmir district, ACN helped fund the rebuilding of St Thomas’s Church, which was burnt to ashes in an “unfortunate incident”. Archbishop Joseph Arshad said: “A rapid response will help us rebuild the church and uphold the life of the community. A new church will allow more people to attend Mass and other celebrations as well as community-based activities taking place there.” The charity has also provided 80,000 ACN Child’s Bibles in Pakistan’s main language, Urdu, for young Christians. With low literacy levels across the country, especially among Christians and other minorities, the 128-page Child’s Bible is a crucial learning tool for families who cannot afford a decent education for their children. Father Emmanuel Asi, Executive Secretary of the Catholic Bible Commission Pakistan, told the charity: “The Child’s Bible is a gift presented to children at their Baptism or Confirmation and it is used in Sunday School Ministry and by religion teachers. It is thus highly welcomed in Pakistan.” Aid to the Church in Need - www.acnuk.org contact: [email protected] or call 020 8642 8668 Both images © Weenson Oo/picture-u.net: Asia Bibi’s daughter Eisham Ashiq with her father, Ashiq Masih (right) and Joseph Nadeem; Father Emanuel Yousaf, National Director of Pakistan’s National Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP)