News

Pakistan | Wednesday May 24, 2006

Appeal for Prayers for Persecuted Christians in Pakistan

Pakistani Christians continue to suffer attacks for their faith

The Pakistan Asian Christian Welfare Organization has issued an appeal to churches and Christian communities around the world to join them on Sunday, 6 August 2006 during their worship in praying for the persecuted church in Pakistan. We are therefore inviting you and your church to join with us in this expression of solidarity with Christians in Pakistan as part of your Sunday service.

Whilst Article 20 of the Constitution of Pakistan guarantees every citizen the right to profess, practice and propagate their religion, the reality for Christians and other minorities is often very different. Using the blasphemy laws to justify their actions Muslim extremists, terrorists and religious leaders have attacked churches and killed Christians throughout the country. In one incident in November 2005, 3,000 militant Islamists attacked Christians in Sangla Hill and destroyed Roman Catholic, Salvation Army and United Presbyterian churches. More recently, in February of this year, churches and Christian schools were targeted in protests over the publications of an anti-Islamic cartoon in Denmark, leaving two elderly women injured and many homes and properties destroyed.

Often these attacks committed under the blasphemy law have very little to do with the issues that surround this legislation. Instead the charges are motivated by many different reasons including economic rivalry, personal enmity and religious hatred. Unfortunately very little evidence is needed to make a charge under the blasphemy laws and it is very difficult for non-Muslims to successfully contest the accusations. Even the judicial system struggles to counter such acts with blasphemy cases attracting scores of agitators disrupting court proceedings, shouting slogans and demanding the death penalty.

Several groups are engaged in lobbying the Pakistan Government, the British Government and the EU to help protect religious freedom and guarantee the safety of majority groups in Pakistan. We recognize however, the importance of underpinning all this work in prayer and ask that you would join with us in praying for Pakistan on Sunday 6 August.

Please pray in particular for the following issues highlighted by the Pakistan Asian Christian Welfare Association:

The thousands of children in Pakistan who are struggling for survival
The hundreds of young Christian girls who are gang raped and subjected to forced conversion into Islam
The network of Churches in Pakistan who provide hope and life for 10 million Christians in Pakistan
For the Government of Pakistan to provide protection to Christians and Muslims from terrorists
Those who wish to destroy the pluralistic character of Pakistan’s multi-faith society
Pakistan’s security, stability, peace and progress which demands faith, unity and discipline.

Thank you for your support