The BPCA has learnt of a new case in Egypt with disturbing echoes of the situation in Pakistan. Like so many (but not our starry-eyed politicians) have prophesied, the 'Arab Spring' is anything but. Someone in the town of Beni Suef went to authorities claiming that two Coptic boys, one aged 10 - Nabil Rizik, and another called Mina Farag for alleged tearing up papers which included Koranic verses. Egyptian authorities have arrested the boys. Since the Revolution, there have been 18 cases of alleged 'religious defamation' in Egypt, including a Coptic school teacher who has been imprisoned for 6 years for cartoons allegedly put on his Facebook account. In addition, a Coptic schoolboy has been beaten to death by two classmates and his teacher for wearing a cross and refusing to cover up the traditional Coptic cross tattoo on his arm last year.
Source
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Thursday, 4 October 2012
Tuesday, 2 October 2012
Why we must oppose global blasphemy law
We have recently have had our attention drawn to an excellent article by Barnabas Fund on why calls for blasphemy laws should be resisted. Of course, readers of this blog should already have a very good idea why! However, for the bigger picture, you might find this useful.
'Violent protests against the anti-Islam film Innocence of Muslims have sparked renewed calls for an international law banning the defamation of religion, chiefly Islam.
These have come from unsurprising quarters, such as Hezbollah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. On Tuesday (25 September), Pakistan, speaking on behalf of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which comprises 56 Muslim-majority states, called for expressions of “Islamophobia” to be curbed by law. Erroneous comparisons are being made with laws that criminalise anti-Semitism; these rightly protect individuals from prejudice purely on the basis of their racial identity, as opposed to protecting beliefs and ideas from criticism or challenge. What the OIC is seeking is in no way to be equated with, for example, Britain’s archaic and toothless blasphemy law; rather it is a privileged and protected status for Islam.
This is not a new campaign by Muslim leaders. For twelve years, the OIC campaigned for a “Defamation of Religion” UN resolution. Support began to diminish as Western nations realised the consequences for freedom of speech, and in 2011 the OIC moderated its demands. The latest resolutions have shifted focus, seeking to protect individuals from discrimination or violence rather than protecting particular religions from criticism.
The danger now is that, in the face of intensifying and widespread Muslim violence in response to perceived offences to Islam, Western states will give in to fear and sacrifice vital freedoms in the interests of global security.
Sadly, a number of senior Anglican leaders have already surrendered. In a letter to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon dated 15 September, four bishops called for a UN declaration to outlaw “intentional and deliberate insulting or defamation of persons (such as prophets), symbols, texts and constructs of belief deemed holy by people of faith”.
Their appeal came, they wrote, “in view of the current inflamed situation in several countries in response to the production of a film in the USA which evidently intends to offend our Muslim brothers and sisters by insulting the Prophet Mohammed, and in view of the fact that in recent years similar offensive incidents have occurred in some European countries which evoked massive and violent responses worldwide”.
These Anglican leaders (the Most Revd Mouneer Anis, President-Bishop of the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East, the Rt Revd Michael Lewis, Bishop in Cyprus and the Gulf, the Rt Revd Dr Bill Musk, Area Bishop for North Africa, and the Rt Revd Dr Grant Le-Marquand, Area Bishop for the Horn of Africa) are no doubt well intentioned, attempting to protect their vulnerable churches from Islamist violence and even their eradication. But in the same way that paying the ransom demands of hostage-takers only encourages kidnappings, giving in to Islamist violence will only strengthen the hand of extremists.
While Barnabas Fund absolutely condemns Innocence of Muslims and indeed any use of language, images or media that is abusive towards the leaders of other religions, the violent Islamic response that has caused dozens of deaths and the destruction of property is entirely unjustifiable and reprehensible. The charge of “blasphemy” or “offence” should not be used either as a reason to engage in violence or as a reason to curtail freedom of speech and conscience.
A global blasphemy law must be firmly resisted for a number of reasons. Firstly, it directly contradicts existing human rights law. Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states:
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression. This right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media regardless of frontiers.
It is quite proper for the law to protect individuals from discrimination or violence on account of their beliefs, but it is not the role of states to protect beliefs per se.
Secondly, a law against the defamation of religion would in reality protect Islam more than other religions. The fervency that drives the extremists and the fear that grips their targets, as recent events have evidenced, would see to that. While Christians try to follow Christ’s command to “turn the other cheek” in response to insults and attacks, Muslims are called instead to restore their honour when it has been taken from them, and doing this is more important to them than life itself.
Christianity is one of the most maligned religions in the world; Christ is routinely abused, ridiculed and misrepresented in films, television programmes, adverts and articles. Christians have had to learn to bear the pain this causes them in order for the full freedoms that form the basis of any civilised and democratic society to be upheld.
As the debate over the conflict between Western freedoms and Islamic sensitivities continues, it is essential to understand that Muslims believe power and honour rightly belong to them. The Quran says:
“But honour, power and glory belong to Allah and to His Messenger [Muhammad], and to the believers.” (sura 63, verse 8)
Thirdly, a global blasphemy law would put Christians and other religious minorities in Muslim-majority contexts in a position of increased marginalisation and danger. One has only to look at the effect of “blasphemy laws” in specific countries such as Pakistan, where Christians and other non-Muslims are extremely vulnerable to false accusations. Many people spend years languishing in prison and are sometimes even murdered over the flimsiest accusation of blasphemy. Criminalising blasphemy in Pakistan has not resulted in greater harmony between religious groups; it has given the full force of the law to Islamic sensitivities, which has only served to exacerbate tensions between Muslims and minorities.
Finally, the calls from Muslims for protection and respect for Islam are outrageously hypocritical given the treatment of Christians and other religious minorities in most Muslim-majority contexts. Christians are routinely and systematically discriminated against, persecuted and violently attacked; in some countries, especially in the Middle East, there is a deliberate Islamist campaign to eradicate Christianity altogether.
While there remains such demonstrable lack of respect within Islam for other religions and their followers, demands for a global blasphemy law cannot and should not be taken seriously.
And those who may be prepared to sacrifice vital freedoms in the misguided belief that this will afford protection from extremist violence would do well to remember Benjamin Franklin’s famous words:
'They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.'
Source
BPCA's Wilson Chowdhry added 'In so many cases, the excuse used in Pakistan to attack innocent Christians is the izzat, the honour, of Islam or its prophet. And then Muslims go and do dishonourable things, like lie, plant evidence, and commit the very sacrileges they impugn Christians over in the process. There have been a number of proven cases where Muslims have burnt the Koran and placed it outside Christian properties - as well as a number of cases where there is strong grounds for suspecting this is what has happened. However, because it is Muslims doing it, they get away scot free, whereas a Christian who is merely rumoured to have done the same act faces a lynch mob, just like Rimsha did. Such is the hypocrisy of 'Islamic honour'.'
'Violent protests against the anti-Islam film Innocence of Muslims have sparked renewed calls for an international law banning the defamation of religion, chiefly Islam.
These have come from unsurprising quarters, such as Hezbollah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. On Tuesday (25 September), Pakistan, speaking on behalf of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which comprises 56 Muslim-majority states, called for expressions of “Islamophobia” to be curbed by law. Erroneous comparisons are being made with laws that criminalise anti-Semitism; these rightly protect individuals from prejudice purely on the basis of their racial identity, as opposed to protecting beliefs and ideas from criticism or challenge. What the OIC is seeking is in no way to be equated with, for example, Britain’s archaic and toothless blasphemy law; rather it is a privileged and protected status for Islam.
This is not a new campaign by Muslim leaders. For twelve years, the OIC campaigned for a “Defamation of Religion” UN resolution. Support began to diminish as Western nations realised the consequences for freedom of speech, and in 2011 the OIC moderated its demands. The latest resolutions have shifted focus, seeking to protect individuals from discrimination or violence rather than protecting particular religions from criticism.
The danger now is that, in the face of intensifying and widespread Muslim violence in response to perceived offences to Islam, Western states will give in to fear and sacrifice vital freedoms in the interests of global security.
Sadly, a number of senior Anglican leaders have already surrendered. In a letter to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon dated 15 September, four bishops called for a UN declaration to outlaw “intentional and deliberate insulting or defamation of persons (such as prophets), symbols, texts and constructs of belief deemed holy by people of faith”.
Their appeal came, they wrote, “in view of the current inflamed situation in several countries in response to the production of a film in the USA which evidently intends to offend our Muslim brothers and sisters by insulting the Prophet Mohammed, and in view of the fact that in recent years similar offensive incidents have occurred in some European countries which evoked massive and violent responses worldwide”.
These Anglican leaders (the Most Revd Mouneer Anis, President-Bishop of the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East, the Rt Revd Michael Lewis, Bishop in Cyprus and the Gulf, the Rt Revd Dr Bill Musk, Area Bishop for North Africa, and the Rt Revd Dr Grant Le-Marquand, Area Bishop for the Horn of Africa) are no doubt well intentioned, attempting to protect their vulnerable churches from Islamist violence and even their eradication. But in the same way that paying the ransom demands of hostage-takers only encourages kidnappings, giving in to Islamist violence will only strengthen the hand of extremists.
While Barnabas Fund absolutely condemns Innocence of Muslims and indeed any use of language, images or media that is abusive towards the leaders of other religions, the violent Islamic response that has caused dozens of deaths and the destruction of property is entirely unjustifiable and reprehensible. The charge of “blasphemy” or “offence” should not be used either as a reason to engage in violence or as a reason to curtail freedom of speech and conscience.
A global blasphemy law must be firmly resisted for a number of reasons. Firstly, it directly contradicts existing human rights law. Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states:
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression. This right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media regardless of frontiers.
It is quite proper for the law to protect individuals from discrimination or violence on account of their beliefs, but it is not the role of states to protect beliefs per se.
Secondly, a law against the defamation of religion would in reality protect Islam more than other religions. The fervency that drives the extremists and the fear that grips their targets, as recent events have evidenced, would see to that. While Christians try to follow Christ’s command to “turn the other cheek” in response to insults and attacks, Muslims are called instead to restore their honour when it has been taken from them, and doing this is more important to them than life itself.
Christianity is one of the most maligned religions in the world; Christ is routinely abused, ridiculed and misrepresented in films, television programmes, adverts and articles. Christians have had to learn to bear the pain this causes them in order for the full freedoms that form the basis of any civilised and democratic society to be upheld.
As the debate over the conflict between Western freedoms and Islamic sensitivities continues, it is essential to understand that Muslims believe power and honour rightly belong to them. The Quran says:
“But honour, power and glory belong to Allah and to His Messenger [Muhammad], and to the believers.” (sura 63, verse 8)
Thirdly, a global blasphemy law would put Christians and other religious minorities in Muslim-majority contexts in a position of increased marginalisation and danger. One has only to look at the effect of “blasphemy laws” in specific countries such as Pakistan, where Christians and other non-Muslims are extremely vulnerable to false accusations. Many people spend years languishing in prison and are sometimes even murdered over the flimsiest accusation of blasphemy. Criminalising blasphemy in Pakistan has not resulted in greater harmony between religious groups; it has given the full force of the law to Islamic sensitivities, which has only served to exacerbate tensions between Muslims and minorities.
Finally, the calls from Muslims for protection and respect for Islam are outrageously hypocritical given the treatment of Christians and other religious minorities in most Muslim-majority contexts. Christians are routinely and systematically discriminated against, persecuted and violently attacked; in some countries, especially in the Middle East, there is a deliberate Islamist campaign to eradicate Christianity altogether.
While there remains such demonstrable lack of respect within Islam for other religions and their followers, demands for a global blasphemy law cannot and should not be taken seriously.
And those who may be prepared to sacrifice vital freedoms in the misguided belief that this will afford protection from extremist violence would do well to remember Benjamin Franklin’s famous words:
'They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.'
Source
BPCA's Wilson Chowdhry added 'In so many cases, the excuse used in Pakistan to attack innocent Christians is the izzat, the honour, of Islam or its prophet. And then Muslims go and do dishonourable things, like lie, plant evidence, and commit the very sacrileges they impugn Christians over in the process. There have been a number of proven cases where Muslims have burnt the Koran and placed it outside Christian properties - as well as a number of cases where there is strong grounds for suspecting this is what has happened. However, because it is Muslims doing it, they get away scot free, whereas a Christian who is merely rumoured to have done the same act faces a lynch mob, just like Rimsha did. Such is the hypocrisy of 'Islamic honour'.'
Monday, 1 October 2012
Mardan Christians forced to use tent for services after church burnt down by Muslim rioters.
Christians in Mardan worship using a tent as a makeshift church after an arson attack by a Muslim mob razed their church to the ground.
Islamabad Pakistan - Shamim Masih travelled to Mardan, despite risk of highway robbery on a BPCA funded trip to uncover the truth behind the recent attack and two bishops squabbling over funds to assist the church. He wrote;
Mardan Church was burnt ten days back by a large extremist
mob of Muslims, incensed by the anti-Islam movie. Since then Christians live their under significant psychological fear.
Many organizations and government officials have visited the area but nothing
has been done to re-compensate this small community. Moreover the victims have expressed concern that no punitive action has been taken against the
perpetrators by these officials.
The cumulative affect of the attack and impunity for perpetrators is the onset of insecurity and despondency amongst victims.
When
we reached there today (Sunday 30th September 2012), we discovered a protest has been called by the
religious party “Jimat-e-Islami” (rigid Islamic political party and involved in
activities against Christians). When this takes place on Tuesday we are expecting another attack on this community and have made Police aware.
Government officials including Ikram Gill
(Minister for National Harmony) has visited this community but no practical measure has been put in place to restore their lives to normality.
On Sunday
early morning at 0600 our group funded by the British Pakistani Christian Association (BPCA), started its journey towards Mardan. When we reached at the 75
years old Sarhadhi Lutheran Church, we were shocked to see the level of destruction. It seemed like the Gojra
incident had been repeated again.
We were surrounded by burnt furniture, clothes, and religious
books. There were a few men, women and children gathered under
the open sky attempting to perform their religious service, but they were all visibly frightened and perturbed visitors they had not seen before.
We explained who we were and fortunately Bishop Peter Majeed shared time with us and explained the whole
story behind the incident.
According to
Bishop Peter Majeed, the said Lutheran church was built in 1937 by Bishop James
Christian, who built this church in memory of his son, who journeyed her to preach among pathans but was killed by radical Muslims.
Mardan
district consists of one million people and Christians are only 30,000, who
are in the main manual worker mostly, he told us.
He further
added;
"The date 21st September 2012 is unforgettable for the
Christians of Mardan, it was the day when angry Muslims attacked our tiny
Christian community in our Church compound. Whilst the attack ensued, the security guard
provided by Government officials ran away, leaving us to face the anger of the mob."
He described the attack;
"More than
three thousand Muslims attacked the Church, they were fully equipped with kerosene oil that they had brought with them - this was pre-meditated and not a riot that descended into violence!! They then started shooting at buildings and people. They stoned our church,
desecrated our alter, tore copies of the Bible and prayer books and later put
everything in to a large fire. Rioters set the church and school on fire and looted every valuable item. Once the mob started the attack, we believed they would not spare our lives, we were forced to run outside and away from the town via a back door."
.Jimmy
Mathew, the church secretary said;
"After the attack, police registered a First Investigation
Report (FIR), but protection for our community is scarce. Children are frightened they can’t sleep properly since it happened. All the Christian
community living here feel insecure and uncertain about their future. We
were taken by surprise as we did nothing to warrant the attack, this rage meted against us is unjust. They can come
to loot us after the name of their prophet was insulted by others - why us?"
He demanded
the rebuilding of the church and school as soon as possible and called for better security for their community. He requested the apex court to take sumo-to action against the
culprits.
Saadia
Manwer, a Sunday
school teacher seems worried about the alarming situation. She said;
"10 days have passed and no harmony development is visible. We have provided healthcare, education and substantial support to the local community, regardless of peoples religious affiliation since independence - this is a slap in the face. Now we find we are under threat of attacks all the time. How can we prevent them [Muslims] of doing this."
She called for increased interfaith dialogue at grass roots level.
Elizabeth
James a social worker
from Abboatabad, she came to show her solidarity with Christians of the Mardan. She said;
"The time has come to draw margin lines between these clashes. They
[Muslims] always react in the name of Islam, while we tolerate? For how long will they keep playing with our sentiments. Forcedconversions, blasphemy laws and
looting valuable goods for the sake of their prophets name is too much now,
it should be ended - people should be punished!"
We also met
Faiz ullah Jan who was among the protesters, he told us;
"There was a call from all
religious parties that the the mob was on the way shouting against America,
suddenly they attacked our church and turned it into ashes. what they did
was not good or humanitarian!" he declared.
We also met
Javaid Khan a local journalist, who had some footage of the incident, he said;
"On
that day, the mob also burnt the Telenor office, (Norway company providing
cellular services here) and another school here. I have the footage and my
camera was also damaged during the coverage. I can produce it if the government is serious about taking action against those people who were involved in
it."
Shamim Masih concluded;
"Shanti nagar,
Sangla Hill, Gojra and now Mardan Church have been burnt down, these are all unforgettable
stories, there is a need to make stronger legislation against such attacks and to get police authorities to responder quicker and more urgently to enact the rule of law to protect innocent minorities. For how long, will minorities keep on suffering!"
He added;
Wilson Chowdhry Chairperson for the BPCA said;
"It is deplorable that two Bishops can be at odds over the authority over this church. While Parishioners believe Bishop Peter Majeed has authority Pakistani Christian Channels based in the UK claim authority belongs to the Bishop of Peshawer an Anglican Bishop - without thought to actually investigate. Whoever is responsible for the Church Bishop Peter is very hands on with this community and his efforts to revive the church at which he lives seem genuine. Irrespective of this our BPCA funds collected for this church will be distributed directly to those families in need, to support restoration and to pay for the security this community deserves after such an awful attack. We call on people with a heart for giving to support this community who have lost much through no fault of their own."
See pictures of destruction below our appeal!
The BPCA has launched a fund to assist with security for this community and aid for the occupants of the homes looted and burnt in this attack, if you would like to contribute please use the details below:
"Mardan Church Fund" (Please use the fund name as a reference) you can pay several ways;
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
Some of the residual religious books burnt in the fires initiated by rioters.
Burnt religious books highlighted the thoughtless actions of mindless hooligans.
Awful scenes of destruction were a vivid illustration of the animosity towards Christians.
Shamim interviewing Bishop Peter during a tour of the damaged property.
Shamim Masih interviewing a sunday school teacher
Shamim with the children living in the compound who escaped during the attack.
Azhar Jatoi questioning a school teacher who lived in the compound
Shamim with Bishop Peter Majeed during the visit
A surviving church bell still announces church services for local parishioners - although now held in a tent.
Bishop Peter described the awful incident.
Local people feel very despondent - there is immense repair required to restore their buildings.
Buildings were smashed by riotous revellers!
Partially burnt clothes left after a home was looted.
Shamim Masih holds a Burnt bible this caused him much grief.
Group Photo; Azhar Jatoi, Shamim Masih and Bishop Peter Majeed
Rimsha Masih's Case adjiourned till October 17th 2012
Rimsha Masih released on bail is flown to safety by helicopter.
ISLAMABAD, October 1, (Shamim Masih who attended court hearing):
Rimsha, a 14-year-old Christian girl in Islamabad Pakistan accused of blasphemy, may be spared the death penalty as her lawyer Abdul Majeed Rana has submitted an acquittal application in the Islamabad High Court today.
According to Abdul Majeed Rana, (Rimsha’s lawyer) The Chief Justice in Islamabad High court adjourned the case till 17th October and ordered the lower court to stop proceedings until then.
Moving the girl's case to the juvenile court last Monday 24 September, a special court judge in Islamabad, ordered to proceed the case according to juvenile court, following a medical report that confirmed she was only 14 and not an adult when accused of burning an Islamic religious textbook.
The girl, a resident of a slum in Islamabad, was arrested on August 16 2012 after neighbours accused her of burning the Islamic text. In the latest proceedings the court has indicated that Rimsha may escape the death sentence as the country's juvenile laws do not permit capital punishment.
Prosecution lawyer Rao Abdur Raheem, said;
"The judge ordered police to draw up a revised charge for a hearing on Oct. 1"
He added;
"It appears Rimsha may not even be tried as police investigators have said they have no evidence she actually committed a blasphemy."
Earlier, Pakistani authorities arrested a cleric after accusing him of falsifying evidence against the girl.
Today the cleric's lawyer also submitted a bail application for Qari Muhammad Khalid Chisti. However news has emerged today that the original witnesses who accused Cleric Chisti, have withdrawn their testimonies. Now it seems this Imam will escape justice. Read more here:
http://britishpakistanichristian.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/all-3-witnesses-who-testified-against.html
http://britishpakistanichristian.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/all-3-witnesses-who-testified-against.html
Shamim Masih said;
"It is good news that Rimsha will not face a death sentence. However it is a shame that she has to face a trail at all and has not been acquitted. The withdrawal of testimonies against Imam Chisti will spur hatred against Christians and we call for global prayer and remonstrations for international intervention from humanitarians everywhere."
Families from Rimsha Masih's home town are continuing to be threatened, are jobless and still require assistance. Please continue to call and pray for compensation and a restoration of peace for these families.
The BPCA would appreciate any further donations towards the daily needs of these families, who are in need of a lot more support. If you believe someone you know would be willing to contribute please send this request to them.
Families from Rimsha Masih's home town are continuing to be threatened, are jobless and still require assistance. Please continue to call and pray for compensation and a restoration of peace for these families.
The BPCA would appreciate any further donations towards the daily needs of these families, who are in need of a lot more support. If you believe someone you know would be willing to contribute please send this request to them.
If you would like to contribute to this "Rimsha Masih Fund" (Please use the fund name as a reference) you can pay in several ways;
Firstly by using the PayPal facility on the top right hand corner of our blog. Just click the yellow oval with the words donate and follow instructions.
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 All three witnesses who testified against Imam Chisti for tampering with evidence have withdrawn their statement! Police coercion has been alleged and Rimsha is back in the hot seat again!
Maulvi Chisti originally accused of tampering with evidence.
In a devastating turn of events in the case of Rimsha Masih, all three witnesses that testified against Imam Khalid Jadoon Chisti for allegedly tearing shreds of the Koran and inserting them into the juveniles bag have backtracked on their initial statements and have withdrawn them from court.
Thre witnesses have all stated today (1st October 2012) that they were coerced into testifying by writing and under oath, in an attempt to derail the prosecution against Rimsha Masih and to condemn Imam Chisti.
Meanwhile, the Judge in presiding over today's hearing in Islamabad High Court has now extended the stay on Rimsha Masih's trial until the 17th October. Originally her defence lawyers were seeking an acquittal today. Learn more here: http://britishpakistanichristian.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/rimsha-masihs-case.html
This revelation is causing huge uproar amongst an easily led population of Pakistan, and extremists already incensed by the anti-Islam Movie that has already caused huge violent riots in Pakistan, look set to target Christians for a series of violent attacks.
The anti-Islam movie has caused public fury in Pakistan which has resulted in venomous aggression towards Christians, seen a as an easy target for revenge. A church was razed to the ground and 27 homes looted and levelled in an attack on a Christian community in Mardan, nuns who helped initiate and joined the first protest against the anti-Islam movie in a show of solidarity - where shot at and their driver injured, A pastor has been beaten and told that all Christians will suffer a similar fate for the movie. This new unsavoury news looks set to stir up local pogroms against the innocent Christian families of Pakistan.
That all three witnesses have turned back on their original statements is a symbol of the supine nature of these men. They initially stood bravely to condemn the actions of a rogue Imam and have now created a hornets nest of hatred towards the very Christians, they initially chose to protect. Images of the three witness show no visible marks of coercion i.e. no bruises or cuts, and the fact that they initially chose to accuse the Imam should see them prosecuted under section 199 of the Pakistan Penal Code for falsifying evidence. Yet we at the BPCA are sure neither of these noticeable facts will be acted upon - making it easy for the withdrawal to take place without consequence or regard to justice.
Wilson Chowdhry chairperson for the BPCA said;
"News of this withdrawal will embitter Muslims against Christians who though completely innocent, will be targetted by extremists. In previous instances Police have failed to react to localized riots and skirmishes that have led to major attacks on defenceless communities. Pakistani Authorities need to ensure that security services are in constant communication with key Christian figures, so that rapid deployment of resources can prevent incident escalation."
He added;
"This is an anxiety-ridden time to be a Christian in the Islamic world, no more so than in Pakistan and I call on humanitarians of all faiths and diversities to pray for peace and to call for stronger protection for these victims via the Pakistani authorities."
(Source)
This news will impact significantly on the families that have returned to Rimsha's village, despite requests for relocation due to the daily intimidation and attacks they are facing. They desperately need help for food and other provisions as they have in the main been removed from their employment in a cynical attempt to disenfranchise this community. Read more here:
http://britishpakistanichristian.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/our-second-food-distribution-to-rimshas.html
Families from Rimsha Masih's home town are continually threatened, are jobless and still require assistance. Please continue to call and pray for compensation and a restoration of peace for these families.
The BPCA would appreciate any further donations towards the daily needs of these families, who are in need of a lot more support. If you believe someone you know would be willing to contribute please send this request to them.
If you would like to contribute to this "Rimsha Masih Fund" (Please use the fund name as a reference) you can pay in several ways;
Firstly by using the PayPal facility on the top right hand corner of our blog. Just click the yellow oval with the words donate and follow instructions.
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 Wednesday, 26 September 2012
More gunfire on the Streets of Karachi
A church minister in Karachi has asked for prayer for him and his family and for peace in his city. There has been heavy gunfire outside his house last night. It has left his 2 year old child scared, unable to sleep, and has got a fever as a result, while the pastors father slipped and fell as a result of hurrying to the door as the guns fired.
Peshawar Bishop Majeed pleads for help to rebuild burnt church
Bishop Majeed holding burnt remnants of the Bible
Islamabad Pakistan, (Shamim Masih):
Rampaging Muslims attacked an Anglican church in Mardan near Peshawar following noon prayers last Friday, during riots against the anti-Mohammed film that has stirred protests throughout Pakistan.
Bishop Peter Mujeed said thousands of people on 21st September broke into a church compound, burnt the church, school books, Bibles and other religious books and artifacts. The mob destroyed 27 homes in the church compound including the houses of two priests and the school head teacher, he added.
Displaced families are living with their friends and relatives now and need your help to restore them, according to Bishop Peter Majeed.
The extremists tried to set the pastor's son (Zeeshan) afire. Items of value to the militants--computers, office equipment, and chairs were stolen and the buildings were set ablaze.
Bishop Majeed said that innocent Pakistani Christians had nothing to do with the production or promotion of the anti-Mohammed film. Most know little about it, yet they are paying the price simply for being Christian in a nation dominated by Islamic extremists -a country where government officials and moderate Muslims fear to talk to protect minority’s rights on their behalf.
The Diocese of Peshawar, where the attack took place, provides education and health services to the local community – Muslim and Christian alike – and provided substantial support to victims of floods and a major earthquake in recent years, regardless of their religious affiliation.
'Where is the media outrage? When a Quran is burned or a film considered blasphemous appears on You Tube, Muslims respond with global riots and protests. But When Christian holy books are destroyed, or a church is burned, there is silence. Where is the Chief Justice of Pakistan?
With respect to the Chief Justice, the bishop mentioned the case of Rinkal Kumari, the Hindu girl kidnapped and forced to marry, and who was brought to the top Pakistani Court. The Chief justice gave reassurances that justice would be done, but in the end the girl was handed over to her so-called husband, said the politician MLA Rameesh Lal.
Bishop Peter Mujeed asks Christians around the world to pray for God’s protection for Pakistani believers. He also requests help to rebuild their church building as early as possible.
Wilson Chowdhry said;
"This heinous act has been undertaken with little response from leaders in the West. Many justifiably rushed to indicate their outrage at the hurt that the film titled "Innocence of Muslim's has caused, few have condemned this attack on a church community. This lack of concern will only serve to continue the reckless impunity with which extremists operate in Pakistan."
In response to this request for help, the BPCA would appreciate any donations towards supporting the Families affected by the looting. The Government has offered £3,000,000 rupees for the restoration and we hope that will come to fruition. If you believe someone you know would be willing to contribute please send this request to them.
If you would like to contribute to this "Mardan church fund" (Please use the fund name as a reference) you can pay in several ways;
Firstly by using the PayPal facility on the top right hand corner of our blog. Just click the yellow oval with the words donate and follow instructions.
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
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