August 13, 2015 – Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.)

Pakistan Christian Shot, Beaten in Khanewal, Punjab

A Pakistan Christian man, Allah Dita, was shot and beaten for seeking to prevent the harassment by extremists of Pakistan girls trying to attend church.

Reports by the Pakistan Christian Post and Legal Evangelical Association Development (LEAD) state that Allah Dita was attacked by two extremist men, who reportedly drove up to his house on motorbikes and forcibly entered his home. One of the extremists allegedly shot him with a pistol and the other man allegedly hit him with a club. Reports state the shooting took place at Village 136/16-L , Mian Chanu, District Khanewal on Saturday, July 11, 2015 at about 06:30 PM. Allah Dita was rescued and taken to the hospital, and was transferred to Hishtar Hospital Multan where he is under treatment in serious condition.

According to the Pakistan Christian Post, the “case FIR No. 233/2015 was registered on July 12, 2015, under Section 324 and 34 PPC at Police Station Saddar Mian Chanu.” The Legal Evangelical Association Development ( LEAD)‘s Sardar Mushtaq Gill is providing legal assistance to the victim in this case.

The reports state one of the attackers remains in jail, while another has been released on bail prior to trial.

R.E.A.L. previously reported on other violence against Pakistan Christians in a village near Khanewal. We support the universal human rights of freedom of religion, dignity, and security for minority Pakistan Christians and those of all faiths in Khanewal and throughout Pakistan and the world.

We praise the courage of minority Pakistan Christians who courageously stand in support of their religious freedoms in the face of such threats and adversity.

Voice Of God - REG Ministries Khurampura Khanewal Pakistan (Source Facebook) — Christians Worshiping in Khanewal – Voice Of God – REG Ministries Khurampura Khanewal Pakistan (Source Facebook)

Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) calls for the rule of law and end to such mob terrorist behavior against Pakistan Christians and other religious minorities in Pakistan. R.E.A.L. supports our Universal Human Rights for all people, including the freedom of religion, equality, security, and dignity, as defined by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR),

Pakistan is a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)ratified as of June 23, 2010, as well as a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Religious oppression of minorities in Pakistan is in direct contradiction to its international agreement of ICCPR Article 18, which includes “1. Everyone shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.”

We urge all – in Pakistan and around the world – to be responsible for equality and liberty.

ISIS Terrorist Mass-Murder of Muslims – Iraq – Over 60 Killed

ISIS terrorists committed a new mass-murder atrocity against Shiite Muslims in Iraq on August 13, 2015, with a bombing in Iraqi predominantly Shiite Muslim neighborhood crowded food market, killing at least over 60, with some reports stating the death toll was over 76, with 212 injured.

According to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, ISIS terrorists “have claimed responsibility for a massive bomb attack that ripped through a crowded Baghdad food market, killing at least 62 people. The truck bomb was detonated shortly after dawn on August 13 in the Jameela market in Baghdad’s predominantly Shi’ite neighborhood of Sadr City. Police said at least 120 people were wounded by the attack. Hospital officials confirmed the casualty toll.”

In a BBC reports, the media group stated: “In a statement posted on Twitter, IS said the truck bomb targeted Shia militiamen from the Mahdi Army and the Popular Mobilisation forces, who have been battling the jihadist group in northern and western Iraq for more than a year. Sadr City has been the target of several bomb attacks this year claimed by IS militants, who consider Shia to be heretics.”

Australia Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reports that: “‘A refrigerator truck packed with explosives blew up inside Jamila market at around 6:00am,’ police officer Muhsin al-Saedi said.”

ISIS Truck Bombing, Iraq - August 13, 2015 — ISIS Truck Bombing, Iraq – August 13, 2015

ISIS Truck Bomb on Muslim Neighborhood in Iraq - August 13, 2015 — ISIS Truck Bomb on Muslim Neighborhood in Iraq – August 13, 2015 (Source: Reuters)

Why “Their” Struggle is “Our” Struggle

When we work to ensure fairness of rights and dignity for groups of people outside of our own personal identity group, there are times when persecuted groups will question our role in working for “their” freedom.

Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) uses the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) as our baseline on shared universal human rights. What this clearly points out is that we do not work for the rights, equality, liberty, dignity, and security of any one group, but for all people. Whatever the group, their struggle is our struggle. An attack on their shared human rights is an attack on our shared human rights.

During times of high tension during persecution, it is easy for those of us in groups that get persecuted to forget. It is easy to believe that someone else will not understand, and that only ones who care and have any right to speak to defend our human rights are members of our group. That is a natural, emotional reaction, which people of compassion will understand. But the only to defeat persecution is to stand together, one way or another, providing solidarity in whatever way we can. Those who believe they are empowered to persecute and oppress one group will not stop there; they will always move on to persecute others.

Solidarity in our shared universal human rights is our greatest means to combat the persecution of our fellow human beings in America and around the world.

We can – because we must. Together.

In the hard times and the easy times. All the time.

That is what it means to be Responsible for Equality And Liberty.