The Voice of the Persecuted Church

According to the UN an overwhelming 15-20 million people in Pakistan are in need of food, water and shelter.

Many thousands of Christians are also caught up in the disaster. For some, the only place of refuge is their local mosque, where extremist strongholds are strongest and Christians could become very vulnerable.

It has been identified in Pakistan there is 1500 Christian families being the most vulnerable. Many of these believers have lost everything. And now they are looking to us for help in their moment of dire need.

The situation is critical and urgent. Your prayerful generosity now will ensure assistance, supplies and support reach Christians.

Christians and other minority groups face Aid discrimination, reports Vatican. Christians are facing “Systematic discrimination” says dawn. About 200,000 Christian refugees in the Punjab province and about 600,000 Christians and Hindus in the Sindh province are affected by the phenomenon, Fides said, citing NGO sources… on the ground. The government and local clerics refused to shelter around 500 flood-affected families belonging to the Ahmadiya community in South Punjab’s relief camps.

A Coptic Christian blogger arrested on false charges of insulting Islam, then held for almost two years without charge under the country’s Emergency Law, has been released from prison.

Hani Nazeer, 31, a school social worker, was arrested on 3 October 2008 after posting a link to a Coptic website on his web log, ‘The Preacher of Love’. The Coptic website contained a link to an online copy of a controversial book written in response to Azazil, a novel critical of Christianity.

During his imprisonment Nazeer was beaten, pressured to convert to Islam and exposed to constant deprivation. He spent most of the time housed in a single cell with 30 convicted felons. Nazeer speculated that authorities placed him there to put pressure on him. “One prisoner told me, ‘If you convert, you will be out in two days’,” he explained.

Nazeer was released on 22 July because of recent reforms to Egypt’s Emergency Law. The Law, passed in 1981 following the assassination of President Sadat, was designed to be used to detain terrorists and others who violently opposed the state. In practice, however, it was also used to silence opposition to President Mubarak’s regime and persecute those outside of the religious mainstream – such as Muslims who convert to Christianity, or members of Islamic groups considered to be heretical. In May, Egypt amended the Emergency Law to stipulate that only people suspected of committing terrorist acts or selling illegal narcotics could be arrested.

Azza Taher Matar, a member of the International Relations Unit at the Arabic Center for Human Rights Information, said it is likely that the reforms to the Emergency Law will lead to authorities filing more charges of religious defamation against people in an effort to work around changes to the law.

Please pray:

1. Since his release, Nazeer has been concerned about his safety. Pray for protection for him and his family

2. Praise God for the change to the Emergency Law. Pray for further changes to Egypt’s laws that will bring greater religious freedom

Chairman of Pakistan Christian Concern Canon Yaqub Masih has Condemned the Pastor who plans to Commemorate the September 11 terrorist attacks by burning Copies of the Quran.
This is an Outrageous Act of hate and does not Witness our Christian Faith of love, it should be banned by President Obama’s Administration.
This act of Foolishness does not Represent Christ teaching in any way. Speaking on BBC Asian Network and Sunrise Radio Canon Masih Said what this pastor does not Realised is the affect it is going to have on Christians in Muslim Countries. We are already facing difficulties and this is going to make it Worse. I hope and Pray that he comes to his Senses and Cancels his Plans. If you are affected by this or need to contact me you can ring, Canon Masih on the number below or The administrator Heather Ahmed on heatherahmed104@yahoo.com. Thanks for all your continued support.
Canon Yaqub Masih
07802940421

Shin of DCS & King G. Mall supporting the Floods Appeal in Pakistan

The Diocese of Wakefield in conjunction with the Pakistan Christian Concern is appealing for donations to aid the relief effort in Pakistan as the situation caused by the floods continues to deteriorate.
Yaqub Masih, secretary of the Asian Christians Fellowship, was honoured last year by the diocese and made a lay canon of Wakefield Cathedral. Mr Masih is well known in local Asian congregations and has been raising awareness of the problems arising from the Pakistan Floods. He is also Chair of the organization Pakistan Christian Concern (PCC). PCC exists to uplift the Christian community in Pakistan and to provide up to date information on various issues that the nation is facing today (pakistanchristian Concern).
The Bishop of Wakefield, the Rt Revd Stephen Platten, told local clergy: ‘The situation is dire and Yaqub and I would like to ask for your prayers and to ask you to please continue to highlight the situation in your parishes.’
The situation in Pakistan is deteriorating. The Disasters Emergency Committee have reported that the monsoon floods intensified last Saturday hitting the north-western province of Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa the hardest. Millions have lost homes or livelihoods. Waters have washed away thousands of acres of crops, government buildings, businesses, schools, bridges and railway tracks. With incessant rain, rising water levels now threaten regions further downstream and there are serious concerns regarding the vulnerability of one Pakistan’s largest dams at Warsak near Peshawar. Millions of survivors have been left suffering with little food or shelter. With more heavy rain predicted, it is clear the situation is at tipping point and the speed of our response is vital.
The Diocese of Wakefield is linked with the Diocese of Faisalabad in Pakistan. The Bishop of Wakefield said: ‘as a sign of our link and mutual affection we would like to collect any donations and send them to Pakistan through the organization Pakistan Christian Concern, with which the Bishop of Pontefract has collaborated in the past.’ Mr Masih hopes to highlight to the Pakistani government the generosity of Christian people and so hopes the Diocese’s fund-raising appeal will be an act of solidarity with those who are affected by the floods in Pakistan at present.
Making a Donation
Please send cheques made payable to the ‘Wakefield Diocesan Board of Finance’ marked ‘Pakistan appeal’ to Church House, 1 South Parade, Wakefield, WF1 1LP. The funds will be forwarded to Pakistan Christian Concern for local disbursement in Pakistan.

The Diocese of Bradford and Diocese of Wakefield in association of Pakistan Christian Concern (PCC) held a memorial service in Bradford Cathedral on Sunday. The service was led by Canon Arun John, and Canon Frankie Ward, the sermon was delivered by the Bishop of Bradford David James. Speaking on the recent Incident, to the audience of around 200 people, Canon Yaqub Masih (Chairman of PCC) said ‘that aswell as remembering those who have been martyred for their faith of being Christian we also want to remember those who were at the wrong place at the wrong time the victims of suicide bombing who left their homes and never came back.

I would also like to draw your attention to those who are not dead but living the life of hell these are the victims of the blasphemy law in Pakistan. In last few months around 100 homes have been destroyed, 100s of people have been injured and ten people have been killed including 8 who were burned alive.

Many are put into prisons where they are tortured by the Police, when/if released their lives are made hell by extremists, but despite all of this we remember the words of out Lord Jesus Christ ‘love those who hate you and pray for those who persecute you’ and we pray for Pakistan that God will bring justice, peace and love.



Pakistan’s PM tells Archbishop’s Delegation of new protection for Minorities

DELEGATION MEETS VICTIMS OF RECENT VIOLENCE IN THE PUNJAB

Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, assured a Church of England delegation, led by the Bishop of Bradford, David James, on behalf of the Archbishop of Canterbury, that his government was fully committed to upholding the rights and equal status of all the country’s minorities.  He also highlighted the initiatives taken by the government to protect the rights of minorities in Pakistan, and the measures being taken to stop the misuse of the so-called blasphemy laws in the country which led to the recent fatal violence against Christian communities at Gojra in the Punjab.

The PM expressed his government’s sympathy for the Christians of Gojra and his condemnation of the atrocities. He said that the welfare of minorities is a priority for his government and all possible measures will be taken to protect their rights.

Bishop James comments, “Minorities are represented in the flag of Pakistan and their rights enshrined in the Constitution, so I was gratified to hear of the government’s efforts to embrace them as equal citizens. But much more needs to happen locally and inter-faith dialogue can be of considerable help.”

The Prime Minister was speaking to a delegation invited by President Zardari following his meeting in London during October with the Archbishop of Canterbury, when Dr. Williams raised international concerns about the violence last August in Korian and Gojra when eight Christians died and 150 houses burnt down, and churches were attacked. The PM also described his government’s swift response in supporting the victims of attacks which has included the complete rebuilding of all the homes that were destroyed.

Prior to the meeting the seven-person delegation, which included two Imams from the British-Pakistani community had met with victims and survivors of the Gojra violence. Almas Hameed, who is currently in hiding, described to the delegation the events that saw the deaths of his wife, two children, father and brother in law. On his behalf, Bishop David James expressed his concerns to the Prime Minister, and later to the Governor of Punjab, Salmaan Taseer, about the delays in bringing the perpetrators to justice.

Almas Hameed’s life has been threatened because he is a key prosecution witness. As he sat with his bereaved sister and Muslim friends he talked of his desire for swift judicial resolution to the case, not just for the sake of his family and the Christian community, but also for innocent Muslims currently under suspicion.

The Prime Minister, Minster of the Interior and the Minister for Minorities all reiterated that Pakistan’s constitution guaranteed the rights of minorities as full and equal citizens. They highlighted the initiatives taken by the government to protect the rights of minorities in Pakistan, and the measures being taken to stop the misuse of the so-called blasphemy laws in the country:

• The government had elevated the position of the Minister for Minorities from being a junior minister to being a member of the Cabinet. They appointed a Christian, Shahbaz Bhatti, the Director of the All Pakistan Minorities Alliance, who for over 25 years had been an activist for minority rights, religious liberty and the protection of persecuted people.
• Through the Ministry for Minorities the government were bringing forward legislation to stop the misuse and abuse of Pakistan’s penal code which has been used to bring accusations of blasphemy.
• The government had recently announced a 5% employment quota for minorities in the government and federal agencies. (Minorities make up approx. 3% of the population.)
• The government has now doubled the development fund for minorities.
• Beginning in 2009, August 11 is now commemorated as Minorities Day to highlight the issues relating the minorities and to address their problems.
• Through the Ministry for Minorities, Inter-faith Harmony committees were being introduced into every district of Pakistan at the grassroots level to promote good relations between followers of different faiths.

The delegation also met with: the Minister of the Interior, Rehman Malik; the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Nawabzada Malik Amad Khan; the Ministers for Minorities, Shahbaz Bhatti; the Minister for Human Rights, Sayed Mumtaz Alam Gillani; and the Chairman of the Council of Islamic Ideology, Dr. Khalid Masud. They also met with Christian and Muslim leaders in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Gojra and Lahore.

The mixed Christian-Muslim delegation was able to show a unity of concerns from members of both faiths, with Imam Chishti and Dr Hussein able to speak to the Christian minority of the shared experience of being in a minority within their countries. They were also able to speak as Muslim to Muslim about their own dismay at the anti-Christian violence, and to share their passionate belief that such acts of violence seen in Gojra and elsewhere were abhorrent to Islam and against the teachings of the Qur’an. On the contrary they spoke with loving concern of the Muslim’s duty to uphold the welfare of all people – particularly the ‘people of the book’ (Jews and Christians).

Imam Chishti comments, ‘The instigators of the violence are equally as culpable as the violent mobs that carried out the violence. These people are abusing holy pulpits and preaching a hate-filled version of Islam that needs to be curbed. Pakistan has laws to deal with the perpetrators, but enforcement of the law remains a key issue.’ Dr. Hussain was able to tell students at the University of Punjab that ‘we need to acknowledge the significant contribution that Pakistani Christians have made to their country’.

The delegation also noted the warmth of their reception by Muslim leaders, and the efforts made by the Muslim community to support their displaced Christian neighbours in the immediate wake of the Gojra attacks.

Notes for Editors

1] Members of the Delegation 2] Dates of the visit 3] The so-called ‘Blasphemy Laws’

4] The violence in Gojra and Korian 5] Other meetings and events

1: Members of the delegation:

• Imam Irfan Chishti MBE is a part time Chaplain for the Prison Service, an Imam in Rochdale, and chair of the Rochdale Interfaith Partnership.

• The Rev’d. Tim Dean is Director of the World Media Trust, Executive Secretary of the independent diplomacy group First Step Forum, and a parish priest in Godalming.

• Dr. Musharraf Hussain al-Azhari OBE is Chair of the ‘Christian-Muslim Forum’, Director and Chief Imam of the ‘Karimia Institute’, and a senior trustee of ‘Muslim Hands’.

• The Rt. Rev’d. David James is Bishop of Bradford, chair of the ‘Presence and Engagement Task Group’ which supports the Church’s ministry in multi-faith areas, and chair of the ‘Pakistan Focus Group’.

• The Rev’d. Rana Youab Khan is the International Interfaith Dialogues Assistant for the Anglican Consultative Council and responsible for the management of international dialogues of the Archbishop of Canterbury.

• Canon Yaqub Masih is the Secretary General of the UK Asian Christian Fellowship, chair of Pakistan Christian Concern, and a Lay Canon of Wakefield Cathedral.

• The Rt. Rev’d. Tony Robinson is Bishop of Pontefract in Wakefield Diocese which is formally linked to the Pakistan Diocese of Faisalabad.

2: Dates of the visit

The delegation visited Pakistan from Monday 7^th to Saturday 12^th December. Though hosted by the Pakistan government, they facilitated every request from the delegation as to who they met and where they met.

3: The ‘blasphemy’ laws

There is no law against ‘blasphemy’ as such. There are four provisions in the Pakistan Penal Code (articles 295, 295A, 295B and 295C) which are known as ‘Offenses Relating to Religion’, and which have been popularly referred to as the ‘blasphemy laws’. (The penal code was introduced by the British before the establishment of Pakistan.)

The offences are:

• Injuring or defiling a place of worship, with intent to insult the religion of any class.
• Deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting or its religion or religious beliefs.
• Defiling (etc.) a copy of the Holy Qur’an.
• Use of a derogatory remark (etc.) in respect of the Holy Prophet.

The punishment range from two years in prison, or a fine, or both – through to the death penalty.

4: Gojra & Korian

The violence, first in Korian village and then in the nearby town of Gojra began on July 30^th 2009. Gojra in the Punjab is 50 miles from Faisalabad, with no previous history of tensions between the 495,000 Muslims and the 35,000 Christians. The violence was provoked by a public announcement which claimed that some Christians had desecrated pages of the Qur’an.

5: Other meetings and Events

The delegation also met with Dr. Khaled Masud, Chair of the influential Council of Islamic Ideology which is responsible for vetting legislation. They addressed a meeting of over 100 lawyers of the Lahore High Court Bar Association; spoke to students and staff at both the Centre for Islamic Studies of the University of Punjab, and at a large Madrassa in Bhera.

An online petition to change the blasphemy legislation in Pakistan  has  been presented to the Pakistan High Commissioner. The petition follows a recent statement by the Archbishop of Canterbury, condemning attacks on Christians in Pakistan.

The Rt Revd Michael Jackson, Chair of the Network for Inter Faith Concerns of the Anglican Communion and Dr Musharraf Hussain, Chair of the Christian Muslim Forum have initiated the online petition ‘Safety and respect for Christians in Pakistan’ on behalf of the Anglican Communion.

The petition states “The attacks on Christians, and on occasions also on Muslims, facilitated as they are by the law on blasphemy, are very damaging to the reputation of Pakistan and indeed to the reputation of Muslims which we wish to see restored.”

It has been signed by over 1800 people, both Christian and Muslim, from twenty countries around the world including Pakistan.  Twenty bishops have also added their names in support of the petition.

The petition is available to sign here:

http://pakistansignnow.petitionhost.com/

1) Open letter to the Government and people of Pakistan, signed by The Rt Revd Michael Jackson and Dr Musharraf Hussain

Safety and respect for Christians in Pakistan

In the past weeks a number of Christians in Pakistan have been murdered by violent mobs stirred up by extremists as part of a pattern of violence that has been intensifying in recent years.

These killings have been very widely condemned by Christian and Muslim religious leaders around the world and by the Government of Pakistan as well as by many others.

The attacks have frequently been associated with false accusations of blasphemy or desecration of the Quran which have been used to stir up mob violence. The law on blasphemy has provided a ready excuse for those who are motivated to use it for their own ends

The attacks on Christians, and on occasions also on Muslims, facilitated as they are by the law on blasphemy, are very damaging to the reputation of Pakistan and indeed to the reputation of Muslims which we wish to see restored. Indeed we are convinced that living together peacefully for the good of humanity is the heartfelt desire of people of faith.

We who sign this letter – Christians, Muslims and people of other religions or none – from many countries including Pakistan, call upon the political and religious leadership of Pakistan to unite in condemning these attacks and murders in the strongest terms as an evil and a crime.

We urge the Government of Pakistan to take all necessary measures to restore confidence in the police and judiciary by ensuring that those at risk from violence stirred up by extremists are fully protected.

We also urge Parliamentarians and democratic politicians to act decisively to prevent any misuse of the present law to victimise minorities. Muslims and Christians alike are urging the repeal of this ill-advised law and particularly  its sections 295 B and 295C, and its replacement with legislation agreed by the consensus of all faiths which will prevent incitement to religious hatred and the defaming of the prophets and founders of the different Faiths.

We commit ourselves to continue to work together for justice, peace and reconciliation in our own communities

The Rt Revd Michael Jackson
Chair, Network for Inter Faith Concerns of the Anglican Communion

Dr Musharraf Hussain
Chair, Christian Muslim Forum

2)  Statement from the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, condemning the violence in Pakistan – 20 August 2009.

“The recent atrocities against Christians in Pakistan will sear the imaginations of countless people of all faiths throughout the world.  As the minister of law in the Punjab has already said, such actions are not the work of true Muslims: they are an abuse of real faith and an injury to its reputation as well as an outrage against common humanity, and deserve forthright condemnation.

Christians in Pakistan are a small and vulnerable minority, generally with little political or economic power.  They are disproportionately affected by the draconian laws against blasphemy, which in recent years have frequently been abused in order to settle local and personal grievances.  They need to be assured of their dignity and liberty as citizens of a just and peaceful society.  Their good, their security, is part of the good of the whole Pakistani nation.  Those of us who love Pakistan and its people, whatever their faith, feel that the whole country is injured and diminished by the violence that has occurred.

I appeal to the Government of Pakistan to spare no efforts, not only in seeing that justice is done in the wake of these terrible events, but also in continuing to build a society in which all faiths are honoured and in which the most vulnerable can be assured of the protection of the law and the respect of their fellow-citizens.”

Another shameful incident of brutally torturing, raping and killing a 12 year old Christian girl in Pakistan. Shazia Bashir was brutally killed by her employer Mohammad Naeem at his bungalow number AA-444 Defense, Lahore.

He is a Lawyer at Lahore High Court. According to the news reports the 12 year old Shazia Bashir daughter of Bashir Maish, resident of Islamia Park, Punch Road, Aria Nagar, Samanabad, Lahore was found dead after being raped by the attorney.

Since the incident happened Shazia family has been offered money to not to take the case to the court.

The government announced an inquiry but the doctors said it is not clear what the cause of the death is.