When comes to religion issues and rights, Pakistan seems obsolete and unforgiving. There are numerous reports of attacks, threats and convictions of Christians, many of which take place due to insignificant reasons, or even just because of religious diversity.
With the Muslim population counting 178,100,000, Pakistan is the second most populous Muslim-majority country. Christians and Hindus are estimated at around 1.6% of the population each, with Islam representing the 97% – most of them Sunni. There are also the Ahmadi religious minority, who -against their wish- were declared non-Muslims and count for about 2.3%. Apart from the Christian population, Hindus and Ahmadis also face hostility and persecution.
Although actions of aggression take place all over the country, - in outermost provinces and in capital and large cities making it difficult to be recorded - a significant number of them comes to light, revealing the authoritarian side of Islam in Pakistan and the hostility that Christians (and not only) face. The latest incident took place in Karachi, the largest city and financial center of Pakistan, where a Muslim mob attacked the Christian district Essa Nagri, shooting and killing a man; right after, Christians gathered to protest against this attack, however, police used tear gas and opened fire against the Christian protest, instead of arresting the Muslim mob. From the police shootings, a local priest, Pastor Cornelius was injured and was taken to hospital in a critical condition.
Another recent incident is the case of Rimsha Masih, an 11-year-old girl that suffers from Down’s Syndrome. Rimsha was accused of desecrating Quran by setting some pages of it on fire. In the court, girl’s lawyers said that these accusations -like many that were made against Christians- were false, in order to enforce the Christian community leave the area. Rimsha is kept in prison, facing the sentence of Quran desecration – in Pakistan is punishable by death. By many, the United Nations are expected to intervene to this case.
“Pakistan in the worst place for Christians in the world” says Dr. Nazir Bhatti, President of the Pakistan Christian Congress.
On the other side, absoluteness would be a mistake , regarding the offensive character of Islam towards Christians in Pakistan. A number of officials and representatives of the Muslim community, along with common people, stand by the side of Christians when they cope with these situations, and acknowledging the brutalities that take place, point out the need to prevent the “law of the jungle” from going on. Pakistani Islamic leaders and Muslim councils are eager to support, Rimsha Masih, demanding her release.
It is a fact that aggression seems endless. Christian women are constantly raped and abused, often even killed. Entire neighborhoods are threatened and terrorized in order to convert to Islam or force them to leave. And of course, repeated attacks, sometimes lethal, make Christians feel the religious hate, unable to protect themselves, their families and their belongings – unable to live with no fear.
It is practically impossible to report all the known incidents against Christians in Pakistan, not even just the recent ones. And it seems impossible for these people, along with the rest of the religious minorities, to live with the feeling of security and equality within the Pakistani society. A solution must be found, and a considerable one could be given by the cooperation of the Pakistani Muslim leaders who respect religious and human rights, with the United Nations, to help Pakistani society and State make a few steps towards the freedom of religion.
Initially posted by Giorgos Dimitriadis on The Pryer, UK.
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