Excerpt from The Targeting of “ Minority Others” in Pakistan

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There was a mass deportation charter flight to Pakistan from UK on 6^th  February 2012, it’s unclear if this was the first. Another took place on 19^th March 2012 [PVT120] at least one of the airport-transfer buses for this flight was branded “Just Go! Holidays by Coach” and the plane allegedly departed from London Stansted Airport. Then, another took place on 11thApril 2012, and another on 1^st May 2012

In the main centres in which many ‘failed’ asylum seekers (inclusive of many people from Pakistan)xi are held before deportation, the following types of targeting measures have been undertaken (the descriptions below do not cover the brutalisation – some would say torture - of targeted ‘Others’ that occurs whilst restrained and in transit to the airport or detention centres, and also whilst detained in detention centres) :xii

25^th from Pakistan] detained at Yarl’s Wood immigration [detention centre] in Bedfordshire … which began on 5^th February and involved some 84 women at the start, was sparked by detainees protesting against their prolonged detention and inhumane treatment at the hands of the Serco security guards and the immigration authorities. The hunger strikers’ demands included an end to the “physical and mental torture at the centre” and “all false allegations and misrepresentations by the UK Border Agency (UKBA) regarding detainees”; an end to the detention of children and their mothers, rape survivors and other torture victims and to the separation of children from their mothers.

Two and a half weeks on, at least 20 women are still on hunger strike, while others have stopped but are refusing to eat the “repugnant” food provided by the prison management. On the 8^th February, Serco security guards tried to break up the protest by force. Some 70 women were locked in a corridor for up to 8 hours without access to food, water, toilet or medical care. Many collapsed and about 20, who tried to climb out of the windows, were beaten up and taken into isolation cells. Four of the women, singled out as ‘ringleaders’, were taken to Bedford police station and subsequently transferred to HMP Holloway in London, without being charged with any offence or brought before a judge. Testimonies by Yarl’s Wood detainees, many of whom have fled torture, rape and destitution, have revealed that racial, psychological and physical abuse had been inflicted on the hunger strikers by Serco staff. xiii

Thank you for reading this and please know that your sharing, liking and commenting on this post goes a long way in helping to give voice to the persecuted.

All proceeds from the sale of the book support the work of the BPCA.  Much of the early sales will be used to support victims of the Peshawar bomb attacks - December 2013.

Under-reported news from round the world

Scald marks on Christian convert Afghan Asylum seeker

Often we complain about events concerning Pakistani Christians that should make the news, but don't.

Here are a few under (or non) reported news items from round the world. First up is the report about an Afghan convert to Islam who fled and sought asylum in Norway. There in a Norwegian asylum centre, after deducing he had converted to Christianity because he did not fast during Ramadan, other Afghan asylum seekers decided they had to 'enact jihad', so they grabbed him, knocked him to the ground with a pot of boiling water and then poured it all over him. The convert, 'Ali' (not his real name, which he refused to give, due to the danger of further repercussions in the asylum centre!) was taken to hospital, while the his room was trashed. When he came back the next day and tried to enter his room, an acidic substance had been smeared all over his door handle. Ali and the other Christian converts are fearful for their lives, even though they are in a Norwegian asylum centre - the Muslims have determined to kill them. There have been reports from time to time of similar sentiment against converts to Christianity in the UK asylum system. In matters like these, Western politicians should heed the teaching of Jesus - that mercy be shown to the merciful, and the corollary, as stated by Jesus' brother James in the New Testament - 'judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful.' James 2.13 and also the parable of the wicked servant. Those who engage in such behaviour are not worthy of refugee status and should be forcibly returned to their countries of origin in response to the contempt they have shown for the mercy shown them. Story Source : Barnabas Fund

Another story I have been watching for a while, and is only just starting to come to light a little in the Main stream media is the Zimbabwean governments war on the Anglican church in Zimbabwe, primarily because it is Anglican - eg deemed British. Of course, this violent regime has been attacking churches and pastors of all stripes, but there is a particular campaign against the Anglican church.

Finally, and I haven't seen this even in Israeli media, but a friend visiting Jerusalem has said that as the news came of the storming of the Cairo embassy, the Palestinians in Jerusalem have been letting off fireworks in celebration and throwing parties. Tensions are high, he says. Echoes of 9/11 - remember how the Palestinian street reacted then.... Palestinian society desperately needs Jesus to save them from this wicked and evil culture of death and anti-semitism. Ditto Egyptian society, and Pakistani society, and.... the list could go on....