THE FRONTIER NEWS Special Edition,November : 2014

Diocese of Peshawar – Church of Pakistan

The Protest walk and Press Conference

November 8, 2014: Diocese of Peshawar along with the Clergy and the Christian Community led by Bishop Mano Rumalshah held a protest from St. John’s Cathedral, Peshawar and gathered in front of the Peshawar Press Club. The participants held play cards and chanted slogans against procession of Christians in Pakistan.

Later, Rt. Revd. Mano Rumalshah in a Press Conference condemned the killing of a Christian Couple i.e.

Shahzad and his wife Shama Bibi and said that it’s an unfortunate day in the history of Pakistan“This incident is a National disgrace. The law of the land is to protect its citizens but a few extremists every now and then keep breaking and misusing it. It’s an insult of the land and the law, thus a greater blow to the humanity”. “ The Christians of Pakistan are law abiding and peaceful citizens, and they respect other people’s believes. The Christians believe in peaceful co-existence of different religions and always play proactive and positive role for interfaith harmony in the region”. He added. The Bishop Mano in his protest speech demanded that the Government of Pakistan should take strict notice of this incident and bring the culprits to the book.

The protest of Christians in images

The Diocese Condemns!

A Christian Couple burnt alive

The Rt. Revd. Humphrey S. Peters and the Diocese of Peshawar strongly condemned the barbaric act of burning a Christian Couple alive in ‘Kort Rada Kishan’, outskirts of Kasure Punab, Pakistan.

According to the sources Shahzad and his wife Shama Bibi came to Chak -59 for their livelihood. The owner of the kiln Yousaf Gujar over a dispute about a non-payment of advance money locked the couple in a room and called upon the villagers. He blamed them (the couple) for blasphemy. After severely beating them, the infuriated mob threw them in the brick kiln and set them afire.

Once again, the personal vendetta against poor Christians is changed into the allegation of Blasphemy Law of Pakistan. This section of the law is always used, rather misused against the Christians for their persecution and extra judicial killings in Pakistan. Shahzad and his wife Shama Bibi (in circle)

Courtesy DAWN NEWS, November 10, 2014

Dawn Report ____________________________

PESHAWAR/LANDI KOTAL: Members of various organizations of minority communities on Sunday demonstrated outside the Peshawar Press Club here against increasing incidents of valiance against members of minorities and demanded of the government to arrest the culprits involved in the heinous crimes.

The All Minority Alliance, Peshawar chapter organized a protest, where the participants asked the government to take steps aimed at creating religious harmony in the country.

The participants were holding banners and placards inscribed with demands for protection to the minorities against violent attacks.The protesters were also shouting slogans against the government’s apathy to protect lives of the

members of the religious minorities. The protesters said that killing of minority people was a conspiracy to fan religious riots and that it was government’s duty to foil such intrigues. Speaking of the protestors, Hindu community leader Haroon Sarb Diyal said that the government was not serious in taking effective steps for protection of the non-Muslims, as it has not taken into account several suggestions given to it from time to time. Sajid Yaqoob Sahortra , a leader of the United Christian Movement, said that the killing of a Christian couple in Kasur strengthened the fear that minorities were not secure in Pakistan. He added that several Sikh community people were killed in Fata and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa but the responsible people had yet to be arrested.

He said that the Christian community would start protest demonstrations to raise voice against the valiance. Meanwhile, Christians living in Landi Kotal on Sunday held a protest demonstration at the Hospital Chowk against the burning of the Christian Couple. Led by Arshad Masih, chairman All-Fata Christian Community, the demonstrating Christians were holding placards inscribed with the slogans against the alleged killers of the Christian Couple and the Punjab government. Speaking on the occasion, Arshad Masih demanded and impartial inquiry into the brutal killing of the couple an exemplary punishment for those involved in the heinous crime.

Minorities protest govt failure to protect them

Violence against Christians Incident Date

(d/m/y) Location Casualities Type/Method Source

Handery Masih a Christian member of the Balochistan party, killed by his own security guard

14/6/14 Quetta 1 killed Shooting http://tribune.co m.pk/story/7217 78/national-party-mpa-hyndry-maseeh-shot-dead-in-quetta

A 7-year-old girl raped and denied treatment after receiving threats from the rapist’s family.

5/2/14 Lahore 1 Sexual assault

Sexual assault http://us6.campa gn- archive1.com/?u =7ec6d7eb2533a 90581f839110&i d=b90923046e& e=ccdede1e61

A Christian man severely beaten and tortured by his landlord

27/4/14 Kasur 1 Injured Targeted attack

http://leadfamily. blogspot.com/20 14/04/a-poor- christian-man- was-beaten- and.html

Saira, a Christian girl ,raped

26/4/14 Lahore 1 Sexual assault

Sexual assault http://leadfamily. blogspot.com/20 14/04/rape-with- seven-years-old- christian.html

A twenty-two year old Christian man named Haroon killed by a coworker after refusing to convert to Islam.

4/18/14 Lahore 1 killed Targeted killing

http://www.thebl aze.com/stories/2 014/04/22/christi an-man-in- pakistan- reportedly-killed- after-refusing-to- convert-to-islam/

A Christian man shot after refusing to convert to Islam

17/4/14 Lahore 1 Killed Targeted killing

http://us6.campai gn- archive2.com/?u =7ec6d7eb2533a 90581f839110&i d=ea5e77376d& e=ccdede1e61

Fact Sheet, Pakistan

Violance towards religious communities in Pakistan

Courtesy: U.S Commission on International Religious Freedom in Pakistan

Church damaged when residents decided to destroy the boards that held Bible verses.

3/10/14 Islamabad 1 church damaged

Targeted attack

http://www.pakis tanchristianpost.c om/headlinenews d.php?hnewsid= 4731

More than one dozen extremists equipped with fire arms attacked the construction site of a church in village Chack Number 3/4L, in Okara district of Punjab province of Pakistan

3/4/14 Punjab Church damaged; unknown injuries & deaths

Targeted attack

http://www.pakis tanchristianpost.c om/headlinenews d.php?hnewsid= 4720

Extremists threatened and tortured a Christian man to convert to Islam.

2/15/14 Pakistan (state and city unknown)

1 tortured/ injured

Abuse http://www.jihad watch.org/2014/0 2/pakistan- muslims-torture- christian-to- force-him-to- convert-to-islam- and-threaten-to- kidnap-his- children

Samariya Masih, 16, kidnapped, raped and forcibly married and converted to Islam.

2/6/14 Lahore 1 female kidnapped & raped

Kidnapping; Rape; Forced Conversion

http://www.asian ews.it/news- en/Christian-girl- abducted,- converted-and- forced-to-marry- a-Muslim-in- Lahore- 30237.html

Sabir Masih, 24-year old Christian man, died while in police custody.

2/5/14 Islamabad 1 killed Torture, Targeted killing

http://www.asian ews.it/news- en/Islamabad:- an-innocent-24- year-old- Christian-man- tortured-to- death-by-police- 30298.html

33 prisoners suffered severe injuries for identifying as Christians.

1/15/14 Lahore 33 injured Abuse http://www.perse cution.org/2014/ 01/15/33- christian- prisoners- abused-in- pakistani-prison/

14-year-old Christian girl abducted, forcibly converted, married.

1/10/14 Islamabad 1 kidnapped, forced to convert to Islam

Kidnapping; Forced Conversion

http://www.pakis tangendernews.o rg/14-year-old- christian-girl- abducted- forcibly- converted- married/

Rashid Mehmood who converted to Christianity in 2005 was killed for converting.

12/26/13 Karachi 1 killed Targeted killing

http://www.christ iantoday.com/arti cle/losing.life.aft er.converting.to.c hristianity/35955 .htm

Unidentified gunmen shot and killed a policeman guarding a Peshawar church.

11/25/13 Peshawar 1 killed Targeted killing

http://www.wort hynews.com/126 73-policeman- guarding- peshawar- church-killed-on- duty

An illiterate vendor beaten by a mob for unwittingly using pages containing Koranic verses.

11/15/13 Lahore 1 injured Mob attack; Targeted attack

http://morningsta rnews.org/2013/1 1/in-spite-of- settlement- islamic-leader- in-pakistan- presses-for- blasphemy-

charge-against- christian/

A leading Christian lawyer survived an assassination attempt by suspected militants.

11/11/13 Lahore 1 injured Targeted attack

http://www.bosn ewslife.com/311 16-breaking- news-christian- lawyer-survives- assassination- attempt

The stores of two Christians accused of blasphemy destroyed.

11/2/13 Islamabad 2 stores destroyed

N/A http://www.asian ews.it/news- en/Punjab,- Christians- hunted-for- blasphemy:- fireworks- wrapped-in- Koran-pages- 29438.html

A suicide attack on All Saints Church in northwestern Pakistan killed at least 119 people.

9/22/13 Peshawar 119 killed; 145 injured

Suicide bombing

http://www.nyti mes.com/2013/0 9/23/world/asia/p akistan-church- bombing.html?_r =0

Boota Masih, a 58-year-old worker at the Liaqatabad Gold Market, killed by Muhammad Asif, his fellow worker, after allegedly blaspheming Islam.

9/20/13 Karachi 1 killed Targeted Killing

http://www.pakis tantoday.com.pk/ 2013/09/20/natio nal/christian- slaughtered-in- karachi-over- blasphemy- charges/

Ishaq Masih, a resident of an Okara district village near provincial

7/27/13 Lahore 1 killed Targeted killing

http://www.religi ousfreedomcoalit ion.org/2013/08/ 14/pakistan- muslims-kill- christian-

capital Lahore, tortured and shot dead.

landowner/

Adnan Masih, an 18-year old resident of Sharaqpur Sharif District Sheikhupura in Punjab, tortured to death in police custody after ten days of illegal imprisonment.

7/10/13 Punjab 1 tortured/ killed

Targeted killing

http://www.huma nrights.asia/news /urgent- appeals/AHRC- UAC-099-2013

St. Paul’s Sarhadi Church Mardan, attacked by extremist, 2012

The extremist’s twin suicide attack on All Saints’ Church, Peshawar, 2013

History of the persicusions and attacks on Christian community in Pakistan

Badami Bagh, Lahore

Rimsha Masih

Salman Taseer (martyr) with Asia Bibi

Arrests and death sentences issued

under section 295-c of the Pakistan

Penal Code go back to the late 80s and

90s all these attacks could be divided

into two groups. The first category

falls under the heading of ‘Mob

Attacks’ and the second category is

determined by individual cases due to

personal grudges and vendetta.

The Mob Attacks are usually intrigued

by a major issue and/or a huge

misunderstanding. Usually the Mob

Attacks are led by the extremist clergy

or religious leaders. The common

practice is that some misled Moulana

or a religious leader ignites the issue

by using loud speaker of a Masque and

intentially infuriates the simple

minded villagers or the urban dwellers.

The most recent Nationwide campaign against Christians was intrigued because of so called Free Western Media; The blasphemous cartoons published by the Danish Media. In other cases the planners, actors and directors are all mixed-up. As it is difficult to pin point one person or a group, all the responsible whether they

politicians, their parties, extremists groups or the Taliban’s, all are there but hidden under the murky waters.

The famous mob attacks on Christians residential areas, villages, and worship places include the tragic incident of Shanti Nagar, the Gojra Incident, The Badami Bagh Saga and attack on Saint Paul Sarhadi Church Mardan, including the suicidal attack at All Saints’ Church, Peshawar.

The notorious and Individual tragic cases/victims include the Salamat Masih case who was rescued and transported to Germany. The Asia Bibi case, the Rimsha Masih case Shahbaz Bhatti, Federal Minister for Minorities murder case and the Sulman Taseer’s,(Muslim) Governor Punjab murder case who was killed only because he wanted to help Asia Bibi.

Nowadays talking against the blasphemy law in any manner has itself become a Blasphemy act within itself. This is just the tip of the iceberg, things are likely to get worse as there are rumors of the presence of an extremist group called “Daish” (ISIS) in Pakistan. A turbulent journey is ahead for the Christians of Pakistan.

A turbulent Journey …

Shanti Nagar, Punjab