DC: Americans Remember, Condemn Attack on Gojra Christians
On August 2, 2010, in Washington DC, Muslim Americans spoke out on the 1 year anniversary of the August 1, 2009 attack on Pakistani Christians in the city of Gojra, Pakistan. The August 1, 2009 mob attack in Gojra resulted in the death of Christian men, women, and children (some burned alive), the burning of churches, and the burning of Christian homes.
August 1, 2009: UCAN reports on Pakistan mob attack: "A Christian house set ablaze"
A year after the attacks, on August 2, 2010, the Pakistan Christian Congress (PCC)’s Dr. Nazir Bhatti organized a panel discussion in Washington DC to remember the attacks and the continuing attacks against religious minorities.
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Dr. Nazir Bhatti spoke and condemned the August 1, 2009 mob attack in Gojra, as well as the continuing attacks on Christians across Pakistan. Dr. Bhatti stated that there were 20 million Christians in Pakistan, who continue to be institutionally and socially oppressed, and that are the frequent target of violence such as the broad daylight murder of two Christian brothers in July on a Pakistan courthouse steps.
Pakistan Christian Congress' Dr. Nazir Bhatti Speaks on August 1, 2009 Gojra Attack on Christians
Dr. Bhatti Video (Part 1), Dr. Bhatti Video (Part 2), Dr. Bhatti (MP3 Audio file)
Dr. Bhatti also announced that in Pakistan, minority Christians will recognize what would have been “Minority Day” (now canceled) as “Black Day” in Pakistan for minorities. Dr. Bhatti states that this will be recognized outside of the United Nations in New York City on August 12, 2010. Dr. Bhatti states that Pakistanis and Pakistani Americans were demanding the repeal of the “blasphemy laws” used frequently to rationalize oppression of religious minorities and others in Pakistan.
Dr. Bhatti recounted an incident when he was in Pakistan in the 1990s when one day he was having tea and chatting amiably with fellow Pakistanis, but after the 1990s Gulf War was announced against Saddam Hussein, the same people who spoke amiably with were protesting outside of Americans’ homes.
Dr. Bhatti also called for Christians to condemn the planned efforts by an American pastor who is calling for the burning of Qur’ans in America.
In his prepared remarks, Dr. Bhatti stated:
“The killing of innocent Christians, gang rapes and sexual harassment of Christian women on workplaces, Kidnapping and enforced conversion of Christian women to Islam, attacks on Churches, Desecration of Holy Bible, assassination of Pastors and destruction of Christian homes is matter of daily routine in Islamic Republic of Pakistan. When some cases are being reported in media, some arrests are made by authorities but culprits walk free because honor, respect and rights of Christians are treated as second class citizen in Muslim dominated society in Pakistan. Such incident have risen to 200% in this democratic government of Pakistan Peoples Party PPP and most of these heinous crime against Christians have been committed in Punjab province of Pakistan where Christians are second biggest population and government is run by Pakistan Muslim League PML(N). ”
“The 4th Amendment in constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan and nationalization of Missionary Schools, Colleges and Hospital by Pakistan Peoples Party PPP government in 1970s gave us first two martyrs James Masih and Nawaz Masih, when police opened fire on peaceful protest processions against nationalization in Rawalpindi. Up to this date we are still crying on bloods of our martyrs during every PPP regimes when we receive more corps of martyrs. The Pakistan Muslim League PML, during premiership of Mian Nawaz Sharif legislated Section 295-C PPC and imposed Sharia Law on us in 1990s and from that time we are witnessing implication of our men and women in blasphemy cases and attacks on our life and property in Pakistan.”
“Support oppressed Christians of Pakistan and join your voice with us to press upon government of Pakistan to repeal blasphemy law in Pakistan, restoration of equal basic democratic rights and election of our representatives by our votes instead of selection.”
“When US attacked Iraq in 1990s, a Muslim mob set on fire Bahawalpur Church and killed 9 worshipers which was first ever attack on Christian worship place in history of Pakistan after independence: The incident of attacks on Churches, killing of Pastors and worshipers and arrests under blasphemy law doubled after attack on Afghanistan and Iraq but US administration ignored our appeals to press upon government of Pakistan to ensure justice with Pakistani Christians and to adopt necessary measures for our safety and security.”
“Pakistan Christian Congress PCC appeals to US administration after recent revelations of ISI substandard role in war against terrorism to raise voice for rights of oppressed Christian, Sindhi, Balochi, Seraiki and Hazara nations unless rouge Pakistani government will keep on enjoying on US taxpayers aid and use same funds on killing minority communities and feeding Islamic militant organization.”
“Pakistan Christian Congress PCC strongly condemn killing of Pastor Rashid Emmanuel and Sajjid Emmanuel and demands arrests of killers.”
“Pakistan Christian Congress PCC urges to withdraw false cases against Gojra Christians and to punish culprits who burnt alive 7 Christian children, women and man. PCC also demands publication of report of Tribunal constituted under Lahore High Court Justice to punish those elements involved in attack on Christians.”
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Pakistani-American Sam Mall also spoke on behalf of Reach Out International USA, a Christian interfaith outreach ministry, and was grateful for the “great concern” by speakers for the cause of Pakistani Christians.
Pakistani-American Sam Mall of Reach Out International USA
(Video link to Sam Mall remarks)
Mr. Mall stated that when he was in Pakistan growing up, there was not such hostility between Muslims and Christians, that “there was no problem at all.” Mr. Mall called for “bridges of understanding and reconciliation” on all sides, starting with a “face-to-face encounter.”
Mr. Mall spoke of the importance not to allow credibility to extremists on any side, as “this is a very delicate, this is a kind of a tricky thing, but we definitely believe that this delicately balance effort…. ” was very important. “There is always an element that can throw that little spark and blow up the whole effort.”
Mr. Mall stated that he also represented the Muslim Christian Interfaith Federation International group as its Executive Director.
Mr. Mall stated that Reach Out International “will hold a few seminars in Faisalabad, Pakistan, during the month of November 2010, bringing together the local Muslim, clerics, educationists, law enforcement, civil administration, legal experts, political, youth, and community activists, and a similar selection of representatives of Christians and Ahmadiyya Muslim community. The underlying focus would be: why the need for violence, when these people have lived together in the same local communities as peaceful neighbors, for hundreds and thousands of years. When tempers subside, looking in hindsight, we ask ourselves the big question: what did we achieve by burning and killing our neighbors? And after all is said and done, life still continues to move on as before.”
“It is a significant step forward towards ‘reconciliation,’ and some of our Muslim, Christian, and Interfaith organizations, such as the Adams Center in Virginia, USA, churches and bishops in Pakistan, and the Muslim Christian Federation International in Pakistan have already pledged their voice, financial support, and blessings.”
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Andrew Eiva spoke on behalf of the Freedom for Sudan Committee, and remarked about the growth of hate from open genocide against religious minorities. Andrew Eiva also remarked, however, with optimism on Muslims who are actively supporting the religious freedom of Christians and other religious minorities. Andrew Eiva also stated that he has heard “anecdotal report of Pakistan officers in junior ranks who are becoming repulsed both with the anti-Semitism and extremism of the high ranking Pakistani officers, and who are trying to make some of their aid projects work.”
(Andrew Eiva Video Part 1, Andrew Eiva Video Part 2, MP3 Audio File)
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Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.)’s Jeffrey Imm also spoke on behalf of the pluralism for all faiths in Pakistan, announcing an online petition for Pluralism in Pakistan.
Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.)'s Jeffrey Imm Speaks on the Need for Pluralism, Human Rights, and the Attack on Gojra
(Jeffrey Imm Video, MP3 Audio File)
“We support tolerance, freedom, and respect for all religions in Pakistan, including freedom of worship for all Pakistanis without oppression, harassment, attacks, or violence. We stand united for pluralism and united for the universal human rights allowing such freedom of religion, freedom of worship, and freedom of conscience for all people in Pakistan.”
“We call upon the Pakistan government and the people of Pakistan to respect such diversity of religious views and protect such freedoms that are the inherent universal human rights of all people. We stand united in pluralism, with respect and love for our fellow human beings.”
We urge all those who support such pluralism and human rights, dignity in Pakistan to sign our online petition at:
http://www.petitiononline.com/pakhope/
or
Jeffrey Imm stated that a policy of hate, a policy of intolerance… has no borders will not end at Pakistan… we believe that the answer in Pakistan applies around the world and in this country… is our freedom of religion, freedom of worship, and freedom of conscience.” He spoke to Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a universal solution to the horror of the attacks in Gojra, attacks on Christians and under faiths in Pakistan. He stated that “we know the problem is not limited to just one religion, but is based on hate itself and on intolerance itself.”
In his prepared remarks, Imm stated that:
Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) remembers the tragic attack on Gojra, Pakistan, on August 1, 2009, where a reported mob of 20,000 murdered Christian men, women, and children, burned Christian homes, and burned Christian churches – all in the name of religious intolerance and a spurious charge of “blasphemy.”
We join the Pakistan Christian Congress and members of other faiths in Washington DC on August 2, 2010 to remember this horrific attack, and the ongoing pattern of religious intolerance, hate, and violence that continues against religious minorities throughout Pakistan.
Religious intolerance is not the problem for any one faith or identity group.
On July 21, 2010, two Pakistan Christian brothers were gunned down in the street in broad daylight on courthouse steps after being falsely charged with “blasphemy.” Christians not killed are being imprisoned for “blasphemy,” including a Christian in March 2010, who received a life sentence for such a charge. Mobs continue to attack Christian families, such as the May 2010 attack in Essa Nagri Karach, and have Christian church services disrupted. Some Christians have been put to death for refusing to convert to “Islam.” In Karachi, a Christian nurse was raped in July then thrown from a fourth floor of a medical building where she worked; the Pakistan Christian Post reports that there are hundreds of unreported rapes of Christian nurses. Anti-Christian banners are seen in Lahore. In March 2010, a Christian housemaid was burned alive.
On July 31, 2010, seven of a Hindu family were killed in Jaffarabad, Balochistan in an attack there, and Pakistan Hindus are routinely oppressed for their faith, not just by the Pakistan Taliban, but also by government officials, including government plans to destroy an 87 year old Hindu temple in Rawalpindi. On July 9, 2010, the Pakistan Hindu Post reported that 60 members of a Hindu family had to take shelter in a Karachi cattle pen, after a Hindu boy drank from a drinking fountain in a mosque. In June 2010, a Hindu trader was shot dead in Quetta, Pakistan Hindus have had forced kidnappings and conversion to “Islam.”
Sikhs have been beheaded and targeted by the Pakistan Taliban, and have also been harassed and victimized for their faith.
Minority Muslims are also not safe from such religious intolerance. On May 28, 2010, attacks on Ahmadiyya Community Muslim mosques during prayers left 98 dead. The terrorist attacks were against Ahmadiyya Community Muslim during worship services in Garhi Shahu and Model Town mosques. On July 1, 2010, a terrorist attack against a Sufi Muslim shrine in Lahore, left 43 dead. Shiite Muslims have been targeted by bombings and attack, including a bombing in Karachi, and truck drivers murdered for every providing supplies to Shiite Muslims.
Religious supremacist hate does not only reach to minority religious members, but also to majority religious individuals as well. In Punjab alone from January to June 2010, there have been 102 “honor killings” reported.
Whatever your faith or none at all, religious supremacist hate and intolerance is a threat to us all. That threat seeks to deny freedom of religion, freedom of worship, and freedom of conscience, and our other universal human rights to all people, and rationalized such intolerance, hate, and violence based on religious views.
Peace in Pakistan and around the world begins respect for one another as human beings and respect for our universal human rights. This is why we call upon support for our universal human rights. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 18 states that:
“Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.”
R.E.A.L. does not seek to suggest that such problems are limited to Pakistan alone. Such intolerance, hate, and, violence is unfortunately a universal problem. This is why we need a consistent, universal answer. We urge Pakistan’s government and the people of Pakistan, as well as people around the world to support the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
In conclusion, Jeffrey Imm urged all to Choose Love, Not Hate – Love Wins.
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Muslim American Mujeeb Ijaz, Assistant National Director of Public Affairs for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, spoke to the attack on Gojra as un-Islamic, and quoted a historical reference on an Islamic charter of privileges that calls for Muslims not harm Christians.
Muslim-American Mujeeb Ijaz, Assistant National Director of Public Affairs for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community
– Video of Mujeeb Ijaz on Charter, MP3 audio file of Mujeeb Ijaz statement
“In 628 AD, a delegation of the monks of St Catherine had visited Holy Prophet Mohammad and requested a guarantee for the security and peace for the Christians. In response, the Prophet gave them a Charter (a written undertaking) which is preserved to this day some 1400 years later. The monastery of St Catherine is situated at the foot of Mount Sinai of today’s Egypt and is the oldest Christian monastery in the world.”
“The Charter granted by the Holy Prophet to the Christians is presented below:”
“‘This message is from Muhammad, son of Abdullah, which has the status of an undertaking for those who have far and near accepted the religion of Christianity that we are with them. In fact, my sub-ordinates, my associates, my companions and my followers will defend them because the Christians are our citizens, and I swear by Allah that I dislike everything which makes them unhappy.’
‘Let there be no compulsion on them. Neither their judges should be removed from their posts nor should their monks be removed from their places of worship. Let no one destroy their places of worship, let no one harm them and let no one take anything from their places of worship to their own homes. Anyone who does so will violate the covenant of Allah. In fact they (the Christians) are My allies and I make this promise unto them: no one will force them to migrate or fight a battle. The Muslims will fight to protect them. If any Christian woman wants to marry, the marriage cannot be solemnized without her will and consent. Such a woman will not be prevented from going to the church for prayers. The respect of the churches is mandatory. Neither there will be any hindrance in the repairs of the churches nor will their sanctity be destroyed. No member of the ummah (Muslim community) will violate this agreement till the day of resurrection (qayaamat).’ ”
“The last sentence of this Charter is very important. It has lent the Charter an eternal and universal significance. The Prophet (pbuh) has impressed upon the fact that the Christians living far and near are His allies which clearly suggests that this Charter is not confined to St Catherine. This also means that the Holy Prophet (pbuh) has ruled out any possibility of these privileges getting annulled in future.”
Mujeeb Ijaz concluded that: “This is unequivocal, an unequivocal statement by the prophet of Islam that completely rejects the acts of violence in Gojra. On behalf of all Muslims, I present this to you. It was made in the year 628 and is a foundation of our religion.”
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Muslim American Senge Hasan Sering, Director, Gilgit Baltistan National Congress, also spoke of this same charter calling for Muslims not to harm Christians. (MP3 of Senge Sering’s comments) Excerpts of Mr. Sering’s statements are quoted below; his full statement is online.
Muslim American Senge Hasan Sering, Director, Gilgit Baltistan National Congress
“The foundations of advanced nations rest on social equality, ethnic diversity, religious harmony and mutual respect. Such nations show pride in their thousands of years old civilizations, the variety of languages and scripts, cultural traits and social values, and make utmost efforts to promote and preserve them. Distinction between modern and backward nations lies in these protections and provision of equal human rights for all inhabitants especially to the minorities.”
“The persecution which the Hindus, Christians, Sikhs and Ahmedis face in Pakistan is also carried out in Pakistani occupied Gilgit-Baltistan, which is part of the Princely State of Jammu & Kashmir. Despite the fact that more than 80% of the inhabitants follow Shia and Sufi faiths; the authorities ban their religions in the educational institutions.”
“The reality is that Christians of today’s Pakistan face institutional denial of human rights which are contrary to the covenants signed by Prophet Muhammad in 628 C.E. The Prophet declared protection to Christians by saying, ‘I hold out against anything that displeases the Christians.’ Prophet Muhammad had immense respect for the Christians of Ethiopia who provided refuge to the Muslims. Without that gesture, the Arab marauders have had eliminated Islam in its infancy. He therefore called the Christians his allies. He said, ‘Muslims were to fight for the rights of Christians. If a female Christian was to marry a Muslim, it was only to happen with her permission. She is not to be prevented from visiting her Church. No one among Muslims is to disobey the covenant till the last day.’ But in Pakistan, thousands of Christian females including the minors are raped, abducted and then forcefully married to the Muslims. They face torture and death if they refuse to convert as Muslims.”
“The persecution of Christians can reduce only after Pakistani rulers abandon exploiting two-nation theory. But as Taliban increase their influence in Punjab, where majority of the Christians live, their insecurities will also increase. The Taliban receive financial and military support from Pakistani agencies. It is about time that American government stops all kinds of financial support to Pakistan until they overhaul the constitution, provide complete protection and rights to the minorities and eliminate Taliban and Jihadi terrorists from their land.”
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Muslim American Ahmar Mustikhan, founder, American Friends of Balochistan, spoke to the oppression of Pakistanis and Pakistani Muslims in the area of Balochistan, and stood in solidarity with Pakistan Christians in remembering and condemning the attack on Gojra, and the continuing attacks on Pakistani Christians. (MP3 audio file of comments).
Muslim-American Ahmar Mustikhan, founder, American Friends of Balochistan
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Among the many other speakers at the event, there were some who disturbingly sought to blame the words in the Qur’an and Islam for attacks on Pakistan religious minorities. Muslim American Masoud Malik, General Secretary of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community spoke out to challenge and reject such disturbing comments.
(MP3 audio file of Masoud Malik’s comments)
Muslim American Masoud Malik, General Secretary of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community
Masoud Malik condemned extremism of any kind, regardless of the religious rationalization that some may use for such extremism. Masoud Malik stated that “we are ashamed of any of these incidents that happen against any religion, against any innocent Christians or anybody else. The Holy Qur’an says that even if one soul is killed, even if one innocent person is killed, that person who did has killed the whole humanity… the people who are doing this, they may be doing this in the name of Islam, but they are not following the true religion of Islam… Islam is a religion of peace and that is what it advocates, so anybody who does anything against that is ruining his own self, not the the religion of Islam.”
Regarding comments blaming Islam for violence, Masoud Malik stated that “It is very easy for some people to say… Islam has said something like that, and that can be and and be said about any other religion… Islam stands for everyone’s rights.”
Regarding the plight of Ahmadiyya Muslims in Pakistan, Masoud Malik pointed out that those who seek to oppress and discriminate against Ahmadiyya Muslims, believe that they are not Muslims. In Pakistan, he stated that your voting rights are based on whether you or a Muslim or a non-Muslim, so since Ahmadiyya Muslims will not renounce their faith as Muslims, they are denied even the right to vote.
Masoud Malik stated that “these things have happened due to extremism, due to extremism in Pakistan.” Mentioning references from other speakers to past days when people of different faiths lived in greater harmony in Pakistan, Masoud Malik stated “these extremists, these Mullahs, these extremists have brought this down to Pakistan… Extremism is bad no matter what, whether it is [justified by] Islam, or Christianity, or anybody else. I won’t have to say, the persons who brought the biggest killing of humanity in the world, that doesn’t mean the religion is bad… Religion is peace. It’s the individuals who bring these extremists and which try to provide this extremism, no matter where they come from.”
Masoud Malik concluded “I stand in solidarity with the Christians who have been burned alive, or who have been burned otherwise, God forbid. Those people [responsible] are the worst in human history.”
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Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) stands in solidarity with our Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, and other brothers and sisters in humanity in supporting their universal human rights of freedom of religion, freedom of faith, and freedom of conscience. We reject intolerance and we reject hate.
Pakistan Christian Congress' Dr. Nazir Bhatti and Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.)'s Jeffrey Imm
Christian American Jeffrey Imm with Muslim Americans Senge Hasan Sering and Mujeeb Ijaz (left to right)
We urge all to respect one another, show dignity to one another, and we are united in pluralism with people of all faiths and identity groups in shared human dignity.
We urge all to…
Choose Love, Not Hate – Love Wins.