A MIXED CHRISTMAS FOR CHRISTIANS IN LAHORE

22nd December 2003

As Christmas draws near, Lahore’s Christian community is experiencing both the good and the bad: further intimidation from extremist Muslims but positive messages from national and local government.

CHRISTMAS DAY TERRORISTS RETURN HOME TO THREATEN THEIR CHRISTIAN VICTIMS

On 2 October 2003, after nine months in jail, two Muslims who had allegedly attacked a Christian church were released on bail. They immediately went back to the village where the attack had taken place and there they were feted as heroes by the local Muslim community which celebrated their return by firing guns in the air and giving out sweets. Reports say the crowd shouted slogans threatening the Christians. Since then some Christians in the village have come under pressure to withdraw the case against the two Muslim suspects, or face the threat that they will no longer be able to live in the village. The attack took place on Christmas Day last year (2002) when the village church in Chianwali, some 40 miles from Lahore, had grenades thrown into it during a children’s Christmas programme, resulting in three young girls being killed and thirteen Christians suffering injuries. Christians throughout Pakistan are again forced to take security precautions and fear further attacks could take place this Christmas.

NEW BLASPHEMY ALLEGATION

In another negative development, Anwar Masih, a Christian from Shadhra Town near Lahore, is reported to have been arrested on 28 November 2003 following a complaint by a Christian convert to Islam that he had defiled the name of Muhammad. It is claimed that Muslims in the vicinity also attacked Anwar’s house, damaged the property and assaulted his mother. It seems that the convert to Islam, Naseer Ahmad, had a long standing grudge against Anwar and his family and the false accusation was made in order to settle old scores. Under Pakistan’s notorious “blasphemy law” defiling the name of Muhammad is a crime punishable by the death penalty or imprisonment for life.

CHRISTMAS PEACE MARCH

On the positive side, a Christian Peace March for Jesus, marking the beginning of the Christmas season, was permitted to go ahead on 12 December 2003 in Lahore. Hundreds of Christians marched through the streets singing hymns, carrying banners and placards, and praying for peace in the world and for religious harmony in Pakistan. Local Muslim dignitaries attended the special church ceremony marking the occasion.

PRESIDENT VISITS CHRISTIAN COLLEGE

In another positive gesture, President Musharraf on 6 December 2003 visited Forman Christian College, Lahore, which had been under government control since the 1970s drive to nationalise all private schools. The government had announced its return to Christian control in March 2002, and the President, a graduate of the college, on this occasion formally returned the college’s management to the Presbyterian Church and restored its authority to grant degrees. Musharraf acknowledged that the nationalisation of private schools had been a “bad public policy”, and he paid tribute to the contribution the Christian college had made to Pakistan’s educational system and to the quality of life in Pakistan. This is part of an encouraging recent development of provincial governments gradually denationalising former Christian schools.

PRAY

* Pray for improved attitudes toward Christians among the majority Muslim population.

* Pray for the Christians of Chianwali that they might be protected from further threats and attacks.

* Pray for President Musharraf, that he may be protected from assassination attempts and that his policies of reform and good inter-communal relations will succeed.

BARNABAS FUND E-MAIL NEWS SERVICE Barnabas Fund’s e-mail news service provides the media and our supporters with urgent news briefs concerning suffering Christians around the world.

If you would like to receive news briefs from the Barnabas Fund please contact us with your name, postal and e-mail addresses.

Further details, quotes and photos on this and other stories are available for news editors on request.

Barnabas Fund works to support Christian communities mainly, but not exclusively, in the Islamic world where they are facing poverty and persecution.

Barnabas Fund, The Old Rectory, River Street, PEWSEY, Wiltshire, SN9 5DB, UK. Tel: +44(0)1672 564938, Fax: +44(0)1672 565030, E-mail: Web: http://www.barnabasfund.org