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Pakistan

• Muslim Leaders Inflame Crowds On November 12, three churches, a convent and other Christian-owned buildings were destroyed by a mob of more than 1000 angry Muslims in Sangla Hill (a community 70 km west of Lahore, Pakistan).  The incident began when Yousaf Masih was accused of setting fire to a room full of Islamic books, including several copies of the Quran (for more details, click here).

  Eighty-eight people have since been detained and accused of participating in the riots.  Islamic groups, however, are refusing to file a bail petition, insisting that they be unconditionally released.  As part of their Friday prayers, Muslim leaders spoke to approximately 3000 Muslims at the Markazi Jamia Masjid (mosque).  They urged local Muslims to unite for the honour and integrity of Islam and to eliminate all Christians.  They also insisted on the public hanging of Yousaf Masih and claimed that Christians had set fire to their own buildings.  Several Christians have been threatened and many remained hidden in their homes for their safety.

  Pray earnestly for the protection of God's people in Sangla Hill. Pray that the false accusations and threats of the Muslim leaders will be silenced. Ask the God of Justice to provide truth and equity in the legal proceedings that surround this case. Pray that every believer will stand firm in Christ, regardless of the threats and false accusations.

  For more information on the persecution of Christians in Pakistan,click here.

• Violence Erupts Against Christians Three churches, a convent and other Christian-owned buildings were destroyed by a mob of over 1000 angry Muslims in Sangla Hill, a community 70 km west of Lahore, on November 12.  The incident began when Yousaf Masih was accused of setting fire to a room full of Islamic books, including several copies of the Quran. Yousaf denies the charges. 

  Spurred on by calls from Islamic leaders over mosque loudspeakers to punish the infidels, the Muslim crowd destroyed local Salvation Army, United Presbyterian and Catholic church buildings, a convent, a Christian school, a hostel and several Christian homes.  Rather than providing protection, reports say that police officers joined in the anti-Christian violence.  Hundreds of Christians have fled the community.  There are no reports of anyone being injured or killed.

  (Sources: All Pakistan Minorities Alliance (APMA), The Hindu, World News Australia, Telegraph)

• Rape Suspect Flees Court

  On September 2, a 22-year-old Catholic woman, Ribqa Masih, from the village of Chak 86 was kidnapped, drugged and repeatedly raped over a period of several days. She was told that if she did not convert to Islam, she and her family would be killed. Two men have been implicated in the crime. On October 24, one of the suspects, Muhammad Kashif, was denied bail in a courtroom in Faisalabad. He immediately fled the courthouse. According to an October 28 report by Compass Direct, eyewitnesses said that the six police who were standing guard at building did nothing to stop him. Despite what appears to be police cooperation with the suspects, the Masih family and their lawyer are determined to seek justice for Ribqa.

  (Source: Compass Direct)

• Pakistani Christian Woman Brutalized in Forcible Conversion Attempt

  A Christian woman has accused three men of repeatedly raping her earlier this month and attempting to force her to convert to Islam, according to a September 27 report from Compass Direct. Testifying in court on September 22, Ribqa Masih (22) said that Ghulam Abbas and Mohammad Kashif drugged her on September 2 and took her to Lahore, approximately 100 km from her home.  Upon arrival, she was repeatedly raped throughout the night.  They threatened to kill her and her family if she did not recite the Islamic creed, which would have been considered an official conversion to Islam.  She refused, saying she would rather die than renounce her faith.

  The next morning, she was handed over to another man who was supposed to take her home.  Instead, he raped her several times over the next three days.  Finally on September 6 she was taken to Faisalabad and left at a bus stop.  She hired a rickshaw to take her to her uncle's home where she called her parents.  Only one man, Abbas, has been taken into custody.  He denies the charges.  Ribqa still has difficulty walking because of her injuries.

  According to Masih's lawyer, Khalil Tahir, many girls do not report rapes because of the impact on their family honor.  Such honor is often a matter of life and death in Pakistan. "Nobody wants to marry these girls, even though they are innocent," said Tahir. Masih's priest, Father Paschal Paulus, credits the family for their willingness to stand with Ribqa.  Her six younger siblings have been forced to leave school because of taunts and threats.  The family has also been threatened by their Muslim neighbours if they do not drop the charges.

  Pray for protection for this family.  Pray that they will have courage to stand firm, despite the opposition they face.  Pray for the emotional and physical healing of this young woman.

  For more information on persecution of Christians in Pakistan,click here.

• Blasphemy Charges Result in Fear and Violence

  At least sixteen homes have been damaged in the Waheed Park area of Lahore, Pakistan after a drug addict disrupted an Islamic service and reportedly insulted Mohammed.  The incident began around midnight on the night of September 9 when a Muslim imam was holding a "Qawali" (an Islamic service with mystical singing) in the home of a local Christian. Younis Masih (35) entered the home and reportedly began arguing with the imam. During the argument, he was accused of blaspheming against Mohammed.  The host and the other Christians present demanded that Younis leave.  Some news reports claim that Younis was beaten by the Christian residents and told to apologize, which he refused to do.

  The next day, local Muslims went to Younis' home and beat him.  His wife, Meena, was also injured in the attack.  Younis and Meena went to the police station where he was arrested. Following the arrest of Younis, a mob of young Muslims began vandalizing the homes of Christians in the area as well as damaging a church building with stones.  According to a report from the Centre for Legal Aid and Settlement (CLAAS), the police did nothing to prevent the attacks, choosing to rest at the home of a local councillor rather than intervening.  Despite assurances from Muslim leaders that they only want Younis punished, around fifty Christian families have left the area in fear.

  Pray for the peace and safety of the Christians living in the area who are suffering the consequences of one man's actions.  Pray that the authorities will be prepared to protect the Christians, so that they need not live in fear for their lives.

  For more information on the challenges facing Christians in Pakistan,click here.

• Update: Christian Janitor Released on Bail

  Last week, the Persecution and Prayer Alert reported that the health of Yousaf Masih was deteriorating badly because of the abusive treatment he was experiencing in prison (click here).  Masih was arrested in late June for allegedly burning a copy of the Koran.  According to the All Pakistan Minority Alliance, Masih was released August 6 on Rs 250,000 ($5000 CDN) bail.  When Yousaf heard that he would be released on bail, he fell to his knees and loudly proclaimed "Hallelujah!" This release is the first time a prisoner charged with blasphemy has been released on bail after such a short period of time.  Continue to pray that all charges will be dropped against him.

• UPDATE: Hisbah Law Challenged

  General Pervez Musharraf

  Pakistani President, General Pervez Musharraf has called on the Pakistani Supreme Court to rule on the constitutionality of a proposed Taliban-like law passed in Northwest Frontier Province and scheduled to come into effect August 14.  In a province where the ruling party has already outlawed music in public places and pulled down advertising featuring women, the new "hisbah" (accountability) law would institute a new police authority to ensure that strict Islamic rules are followed (click here for more details).  Analysts believe that the court will rule that that new law is unconstitutional.
• UPDATE: Yousaf Masih's Health Declining

  On July 6, the Persecution and Prayer Alert reported on the arrest of Yousaf Masih on charges that he had burned a copy of the Koran (click here for more details).  According to recent reports from Pakistan, Yousaf's health has been deteriorating badly. According to Assist News, he is reported to have received "ruthless treatment" since his arrest.  The jail superintendent told representatives from the All Pakistan Minorities Alliance that his life is in danger.

• Pakistani Province Institutes Strict Islamic Law

  Khalilur Rehman, Governor of North West Frontier Province

  The legislature of Pakistan's North West Frontier Province (NWFP) has passed a bill that has been described by critics as the "Talibanization" of Pakistan.  The law sets up a watchdog with the power to reform the society in accordance to "Islamic values," which includes ensuring that such values are observed in public places.  The legislation is strongly opposed by the federal government, which has filed an appeal in the Supreme Court's Karachi bench.  The federally appointed governor of NWFP, Khalilur Rehman, has vowed to take every take every constitutional step available to prevent the law from being implemented.

  NWFP borders on Afghanistan and is known for its support for the strict Islamic policies of the Taliban, many of whom were trained in Islamic schools in northwest Pakistan.  Pakistan's Islamic schools have again come under close scrutiny after the London bombings. British Defense Secretary John Reid described Pakistan's madrassas (Islamic schools) as "a major source of international instability and contribute largely toward the growth of terrorist activity."

  A special supplement to the Persecution and Prayer Alert is scheduled to be sent out this week asking the question, "Is the War of Terrorism Really Winnable?" by VOMC's Communications Director, Glenn Penner (click here).  We encourage you to carefully evaluate this question in the light of Glenn's commentary.

  Pray that this law will be overturned and that strict Islamic law will not be instituted in any area of Pakistan.  Pray for wisdom for Christians in Pakistan who must face those endeavoring to institute such laws.

  For more information on Pakistan and the difficulties facing Christians there,click here.

• Christian Janitor in Pakistan Charged with Burning Koran Leads to Riots

  Yousaf Masih is a sweeper who has worked over twenty years for the Pakistani military.  According to VOM sources, Yousaf was cleaning the office in the house of a military officer on June 28 when he came across a bag of papers.  The major told Yousaf to take the papers outside and burn them.  Workers saw the papers and began accusing him of burning pages from the Koran.  Yousaf, who is illiterate, had no idea of what was happening and, fearing for his life in the face of these accusations, fled and ran to his home east of Peshawar in northeastern Pakistan.  That afternoon, police came to his home and arrested Yousaf, accusing him of desecrating the Koran; a crime punishable by death in Pakistan.

  Following the arrests, angry Muslims in the community came to Yousaf's home and beat his three sons.  That evening, mobs began destroying Christian property.  An estimated 200 homes were burned in the area and the contents were looted.  A Hindu temple was also attacked, since the mob apparently thought initially that Yousaf was a Hindu.  Police have since surrounded the area and are attempting to contain further riots.

  Pray that Yousaf will be released from custody.  Pray for safety for Christians in the community who are living in fear of further attacks.  Pray for the Christians in the community who must begin the process of rebuilding.

  For more information on the persecution of Christians in Pakistan,click here.