In memory of Shanti Nagar

Today is the 16th anniversary of the sacking of Shanti Nagar.  In memory of this, we publish the relevant section of a new report on Pakistan we plan to publish quite soon.  

London Pakistani Christians to hold joint memorial service to remember slain Pakistani Martyr Shahbaz Bhatti!

Shahbaz Bhatti RIP

Funeral Service for Shahbaz Bhatti

On Sunday 3rd March 2013 Pakistani Christians in London will hold a united service to commemorate the life of slain Pakistani Federal Minister Shahbaz Bhatti.  

Mr Bhatti has been labelled as a true patriot who laid down his life for the sake of Pakistan.  He was martyred on 2^nd march 2011 at the age of 42 outside his mother’s house in Islamabad. His martyrdom has been honoured with “Hilal-e-Shujaiat” (Gallantatry Medal) by the President of Pakistan.

He received “Peace Award” for his services in the field of human rights and promotion of peace in Pakistan.

His hard work was acknowledged by the Canadian Human Rights Organisation known as “International Awaz in the shape of “appreciation award” given to him in 1999.

In recognition to his struggle a ‘religious liberty’ was conferred upon him by Finland in 2004.

He was selected by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the rising leadership programme.

In 2009, USA Commission on International Religious Freedom in Washington honoured him with the “Freedom of Religion” award.

Religious extremist forces threatened and pressurised Shahbaz Bhatti for his principle stand against the blasphemy laws, promotion of peace, tolerance and brotherhood.

One of his last public statements was: "these Taliban threaten me. But I want to share that I believe in Jesus Christ, who has given his own life for us. I know what is the meaning of the cross, and I am following the cross," which he followed all the way, to his last breath.

Details for the memorial service are as follows:

Time:       6pm
Date:       3rd March 2013
Venue:   St Andrews Church
                 The Drive
                 Ilford 
                 Essex
                 IG1 3PE

We invite people of all faiths and backgrounds to join us and learn of the huge sacrifice made by one of our generations most progressive humanitarians.

A historical coming together of Pakistani Ministers in London means we are expecting a packed attendance.  The lead Churches and Ministers involved in this Service include the following:

The Revd Wilson Gill - Emmanuel Church, Southall.
The Revd Noble Samuel - Heston Asian United Reform Church 
The Revd Shahbaz Javed - Walthamstow United Reform Asian Church
The Revd John Bosco - MATV
Shaheen Zar - Chairman Ilford Asian Congregation
The Revd Barry Cheesman Ilford High Road Baptist Church
Alan Craig - Christian Peoples Alliance
Simon Standen - Outreach Minister High Road Baptist Church
World renowned Catholic Band Ooberfuse will be performing their tribute to Shahbaz Bhatti and Asia Bibi Campaign song. 

Choirs from Ilford Asian Congregation and Walthamstow United Reform Asian Church will lead the singing of Zaboor.

Father Gareth Thomas Vicar for St Mary's Church will preside over the service.

Chief Guests include:
Dr Martin Stern - Nazi Holocaust Survivor and former medical student of Peshawar University
MP Andrew Stephenson - Pendle Constituency
Zoe Baldock - Open Doors

Matthew Jones - Christian Solidarity Worldwide
Mike Emberson -ACN Area Secretary for the Catholic Archdiocese of Southwark


Please remember our 2nd March 2012 protest and Trafalgar Square Peace concert:

(Click here for details)

Shanti Nagar 16 years on? A Methodist church in Bradford with only one Pakistani Christian family remembers!

Despite the fact that many churches in the UK (including Urdu Fellowships) have forgotten the attack on Shanti Nagar; well it was 16 years ago - an impassioned church  in Bradford, has continued to remember the victims in prayer and charity.  

On 3rd February 2013, St Andrews Methodist Church in Bradford held a 16th Anniversary service for victims of this atrocity.  They have since 2005, supported the Christian village of Shanti Nagar, financially.  The Shanti Nagar St Andrew's Trust is able to send £3400 per year to disenfranchised villagers living there, to support the community in the manner that they choose.  The money has been used to pay wages for health workers and teachers, buy books and uniforms for children and has paid for medical treatment, including operations.

How did this commitment to a small village in Pakistan arise, you may ask?  I wondered too, until I decided to visit their annual memorial service, after receiving an invite from parishioner Saleem Dutt.  

Saleem a survivor of the violence described how supportive the church has been, since his arrival in the UK.  When the church heard his story and of the loss that he and hundreds faced, they felt obliged to help.  This small family; a husband, wife and 3 children have through their passion and desire brought change to their suffering community, through faith.  

The desire to help expressed through this long term commitment  is a wonderful testament to the love of God and in particular Samaritan spirit within this parish church.  I for one was awed by God's mercy shown through the passion they have displayed.  

Circuit Steward Martin Bashforth commented; 

"On 6th February 1997, the village was attacked by a mob of Muslim extremists and its churches were destroyed and homes set on fire.  Still in 2013, its Christian residents receive threatening letters and menacing visits form extremists who are seeking to force them to renounce their Christian beliefs."

He further commented;  

"Other minority faiths, in Pakistan and around the world, also suffer persecution.  It is not just Christians who are at risk, and our objective is to bring an end to all persecution on grounds of personal faith, no matter which religious group it is directed against."

Please Pray for the Christians of Shanti Nagar, for St Andrews Church and the Saleem Dutt family, pray for a continued blessing on all and God's continuing favour.

The Saleem Dutt family

Wilson Chowdhry with the family of Saleem Dutt

If you would like to donate to the work of the BPCA please use the following details:

Pay by using the PayPal facility on the top right hand corner of our blog and electronic means of transfer will be initiated when you click donate written in the yellow oval. 

You can also send your contributions by cheque payable to;

British Pakistani Christian Association.

Address : British Pakistani Christian Association

57 Green Lane

Ilford

Essex

IG1 1XG 

Alternatively should you wish you can pay by BACS, direct debit or standing order by paying into the following account details: 

Sort Code: 20-67-90 

Account Number: 63468976

Bishop MIchael speaks on Christian Persecution

Wilson Chowdhry with Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali and Zoe Baldock from Open Doors UK.

The former Bishop of Rochester, Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali addressed a packed audience for a debate on Freedom of Belief and the Persecution of Christians on Wednesday (30 January 2013).

The event was hosted by Rehman in Parliament and included residents and representatives from local Churches and religious groups in Gillingham and Rainham along with national and international charities.

Bishop Michael described the ongoing persecution in  the "Islamic world" using several countries including Pakistan, Egypt and Syria as a focus for his lecture. 

Bishop Michael estimated that religious freedom is threatened in 130 out of 193 countries in the world, where Christians are the victims in 80% of cases. Bishop Michael has written extensively on this subject  and reminded us about the importance of tolerance."

Bishop Michael also spoke on the erosion of Christian values and heritage that once were an important baseline for structuring the laws and moral codes for the UK.  He described this removal of one set of values for a more open and constantly churning moral view, as a reason for the decline in social cohesion and increased friction.  He feared that challenges to the established church had resulted in a marginalized faith, in which our values and freedoms were being attacked, often for no more reason then the ability to do so.

Wilson Chowdhry who attended the lecture said;

"This revealing event highlighted the severity of attacks on the global Christian Community.  Bishop Michael spoke of the church being in a state of slumber, which is true.  While part of our body is hurting many of us are ignorant of their plight.  Many parishioners throughout the UK are unaware that Christians exist in Pakistan or the Middle East?   If we wish to stem the marginalization of Christians in the UK, firstly we should learn lessons from the treatment of Christians in the Islamic world.  Their erosion of rights began with small legal changes that undermined their status, this resulted in  loss of employment and education leaving a weakened community with no effective voice.  If we are to avoid a similar fate we must speak up for them now and in the same breath save ourselves from a similar fate."

If you would like to donate to the work of the BPCA please use the following details:

Pay by using the PayPal facility on the top right hand corner of our blog and electronic means of transfer will be initiated when you click donate written in the yellow oval. 

You can also send your contributions by cheque payable to;

British Pakistani Christian Association.

Address : British Pakistani Christian Association

57 Green Lane

Ilford

Essex

IG1 1XG 

Alternatively should you wish you can pay by BACS, direct debit or standing order by paying into the following account details: 

Sort Code: 20-67-90 

Account Number: 63468976

Please pray for two victims appealing their existing blasphemy cases!

Dear Prayer Partners,

Tomorrow 11 February 2013 is the hearing of the last stage of the trial of Martha Bibi accused of a blasphemy under section 295C of the Pakistan Penal Code..

The court will proceed under section 540 CrPC (Criminal Procedure Code,1898).

And tomorrowOn the same date will be heard the case of Khuram Shahzad under the  blasphemy laws section 295 B PPC. His  Court hearing will be on exemption from attendance in Court 

Please pray for a positive outcome and for the safety of the victims who have now both been incarcerated for lengthy periods of time.  Please also pray for LEAD who are the advocacy group defending these victims.

If you would like to donate to the work of the BPCA please use the following details:

Pay by using the PayPal facility on the top right hand corner of our blog and electronic means of transfer will be initiated when you click donate written in the yellow oval. 

You can also send your contributions by cheque payable to;

British Pakistani Christian Association.

Address : British Pakistani Christian Association

57 Green Lane

Ilford

Essex

IG1 1XG 

Alternatively should you wish you can pay by BACS, direct debit or standing order by paying into the following account details: 

Sort Code: 20-67-90 

Account Number: 63468976

15 year old Christian girl from Kasur raped by two Muslim men!

A Christian girl of juvenile age (15years) named Fouzia bibi was raped 22nd January 2013, by two local Muslim men in her home town of  Roday, Dristrict Kasur, in Punjab.

The two named men on the FIR are Sher Muhammad and shabbir Ali, registered under FIR No.22/13 at Police station Serai Mughal after an advocacy group called LEAD Intervened. 

Yesterday  (8th Feb) it is alleged that some Muslims including un-uniformed police men, raided raided Kaila Masih's house in the same village.  They beat and tortured Christian women Zareena Bibi,Hameedan Bibi and Sharifan Bibi whilst abusing them verbally.   It is reported by LEAD that the attack was provoked by the arrest of one of the rapists of Fouzia.

Today 9 February 2013,Chief of LEAD Sardar Mushtaq Gill was called by Rev.Saleem Gill and Mr.Kaila Masih to see what could be done to bring justice to these victims.  The Chief Executive of LEAD immediately filed applications to DSP Pattoki for registration of an FIR against the perpetrators of the attack on Kalia Masih's House, and transfer of the FIR against the rapists of Fouzia Bibi from Serai Mughal to DSP Pattoki.

It has been alleged one of Fouzia Bibi's rapists has been arrested but no charges laid against him, the other one is free and has been terrorizing the local community.  Please pray for justice for those who have suffered and pray for the safety of this community.

If you would like to donate to the work of the BPCA please use the following details:

Pay by using the PayPal facility on the top right hand corner of our blog and electronic means of transfer will be initiated when you click donate written in the yellow oval. 

You can also send your contributions by cheque payable to;

British Pakistani Christian Association.

Address : British Pakistani Christian Association

57 Green Lane

Ilford

Essex

IG1 1XG 

Alternatively should you wish you can pay by BACS, direct debit or standing order by paying into the following account details: 

Sort Code: 20-67-90 

Account Number: 63468976

Update from LEAD of Rape case laid against attackers of Fouzia Bibi

Lead report on the rape case laid against the attackers of Fouzia Bibi (sic):

Pattoki: Today 6 February 2013,there is final hearing of the Rapists' bail petition in the court of additional and session judge Pattoki.Lawyer Sardar Mushtaq Gill Chief of LEAD appeared in the court and submitted power of attorney on behalf of victim Fouzia bibi's father Mr.Malooka Masih (complainant of rape case ). The lawyers of rapists withdrew bail application from the court after giving full arguments in favor of rapists for the grant of bail.Mr.Gill also contested the bail petition and gave detail arguments in favor of complainant.Mr.Gill demanded the arrest of rapists but they ran away from the court.
                                  
Mr.Malooka Masih told Chief of LEAD, "this is not only rape incidence of this village , the same persons had  raped a Christian girl Shahna who was also 16 years old in 2012 and the father of the victim girl did not take any legal action against them due to fear of hurt and having not capacity to face them as being workers of landlord."
He told that he had been working with these landlord from last seven years without taking any salary.He told to Chief of LEAD that after registration of the rape case ,the rapists told police that they had given loan  which is now Rs.400,000/-.Mr.Malooka added ,"I have taken only Rs.100,000/- and worked with them four years and ask them many times for rendition of accounts but I was being denied by them". He started weeping "we are like insects of gutter and we have no worth in Pakistan and we are treated as slaves."
Chief of LEAD and Rev.Saleem made satisfied for full cooperation from them and from whole team of LEAD in this case and also prayed for girl and her family.
LEAD Chief Advocate Sardar Mushtaq Gill condemns this tragic incident and demands justice for Fouzia Bibi who was raped.


Chief of LEAD and Rev.Saleem accompanying with Mr.Malooka Masih met with DSP Pattoki and requested for justice by making arrest of culprits.

LEAD will prosecute the trial of this case and will fight for the victim with full commitment. 

Rapes,kidnappings, forcible conversions, land grabbing, blasphemy laws and constant harassment are therefore a daily routine for Minorities who dare to remain in their homeland of Pakistan and suffer the humiliation of being third class citizens and subhumans in the eyes of the majority and legal system.


LEAD is a Christian relief, development and advocacy organization dedicated and committed to work with passion for Children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice, specially for discrimination, forced labor and forced conversion and falsely accused of blasphemy laws. We request to be partner in this mission with LEAD, as followers of Jesus, we are motivated by God's love to serve all people regardless of