Christian – Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.)

Human Rights for Oppressed Christians: Love Means Action

Christian human rights matter, as Christians as oppressed around the world, a call to love one another is a call to action for human rights.

Christians worship and pray on Friday, known as “Good Friday” to the Christian community, as they remember the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. As they do so, there is no greater time for Christians to remember this sacrifice of love and take such action to demonstrate their love for one another by actively supporting the oppressed people around the world, including their Christian brothers and sisters.

Across the nation and the world in churches on Easter Sunday, there will be Christian pastors and worshipers who will rejoice in their eternal salvation through Jesus, which is truly the point of the Christian faith.

On this Good Friday, Christians can also remember Jesus’s painful, brutal sacrifice of his life on Earth for humanity, as well as the commandment he gave his followers. In John 13:34-35, Jesus is quoted as with this new commandment “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” This was a command, not a suggestion, and it is an imperative for the billions in the Christian community.

The commandment to love one another must be more than social pleasantry. Christians are right to offer kindness and friendship in their community and fellow human beings are the world. Love is an active verb seeking more than pleasant thoughts, and it calls for action to help those in need. The command to love one another means giving our outstretched hand to our brothers and sisters in humanity around the world, suffering from oppression, poverty, abuse, and despair. As a Christian myself, surely our hearts are big enough that when we love one another, we can reach out to help one another. That is what people who love one another do.

The Christian ethic requires that we reach out and love one another of every identity group, religion, ethnic background around the world, including our defense of rights of our fellow human beings, who we are taught to love.

Certainly this outreach must also include love and support for their fellow Christians who face oppression and violence. With 2.2 billion Christians in the world, the commandment to love one another should produce group the largest human rights activists in the world. Instead, there are small, but determined groups of human rights activists, missionaries, and asylum supporters, whose courage and persistence provide an example for the entire community. Their impact and influence of these activists far outweighs their limited numbers. The Christian community of 2.2 billion can do much more and must coordinate more of their efforts in defending the human rights of oppressed people around the world, including our own Christian brothers and sisters.

As a starting point, let us assume that if we love one another, we believe that our fellow human lives’ matter. The eternal lives of Christians have always been our priority, as it must be in the Christian faith. But our love for one another should also include a commitment to work for the rights and security of our fellow Christians, rather than abandon them around the world to be hunted down, tortured, imprisoned, and killed. Our loved ones deserve that we care for their well-being. All of the lives of our fellow human beings matter; Christian lives matter as well.

Yet in many churches around the world, the oppression of our fellow human beings and of our fellow Christians will be not the topic of sermons in weeks and months to come. Many are uncomfortable discussing such issues, and billions of Christians are uninformed by their religious leaders. Christian churches are for prayer and honoring God, not for politics. But following the command to love one another is not a political issue; it is a moral issue of responsibility to love one another, and to care for each other’s well-being.

The oppression of Christians around the world is every bit of an evil as the historic bondage and slavery that we have challenged for generations for Christians and others around the world. Within the Christian community, we need a new generation of abolitionists, who seek the abolition of oppression of our Christian brothers and sisters. They need to be freed from the slavery of oppression, torture, and murder; they need to be freed from prisons where they are enslaved for their faith. If we love one another, surely the injustice to them must be a cause for our action.

We can do more in defending the human rights of oppressed Christians around the world, who are regularly being tortured, raped, murdered, and imprisoned. We Christians must pray. But we must also reach out our hands, open our hearts, and open our lives to our brothers and sisters who need help. There must be more than us shaking our heads and stating “isn’t that a shame.” If we are commanded to love one another, that command calls for us to do something to help our loved ones in times of need. As we remember the sacrifice for us, surely we can sacrifice for those we are commanded to demonstrate our love.

The Open Doors organization estimates 100 million Christians face persecution, and according to the International Society for Human Rights, up to 80% of acts of persecution are directed at people of the Christian faith. If we seek to act to love one another, we must also work to help our brothers and sisters suffering around the world. It is not pleasant to see this suffering or to recount it. Perhaps some leaders view the problem of our oppressed brothers and sisters too unpleasant to discuss. But the Christian community must come together to understand the magnitude of the oppression of Christians today. This is a global problem, and it requires context of the global issue for the resources of the billions of Christians to work together.

There is no crime, no abuse of human rights, no murder that cannot be committed against Christians around the world – without apparent impunity. The billions of Christians need to become aware of this and develop a voice of love for one another, where we seek the protection of our loved ones. Our love for one another must be a challenge to those who oppress Christians around the world, and to reject the policies of Dechristianization by extremists in nation after nation. The universal human rights of all people include the freedom of religion for Christians.

In Pakistan, we have seen attacks on three churches in the past two weeks, and we have seen the continuing institutional abuses of Christian minorities. On March 15, two Christian churches were attacked during Sunday prayer services in the Youhanabad neighborhood of Lahore, with 15 killed that day and nearly 80 injured. Another three more Christians died from the attack, including a six year old girl, bringing the death toll from that attack alone to 18, and the situation has continued to worsen with arrests of hundreds of Christians. Days later, another Christian church was targeted for an attack in Pakistan. Pakistan Christians have long been a target of attack, abuse, mob murder, violence, and oppression. This has included use of the Pakistan “blasphemy” law to rationalize oppression, imprisonment, and violence against Christians. Mobs have previously destroyed Christian villages in Gojra, burned to death a Christian husband and wife in Kasur district, and have made numerous attacks on Christians. The Pakistan “blasphemy” law is also used to imprison Christians such as Pakistan woman Asia Bibi, based on hatred and grudges from non-Christians against them; Asia Bibi has been given the death sentence for trumped up and false charges of blasphemy and remains in a Pakistani prison.

In Thailand, Pakistan Christian refugees have been seeking asylum, and 300 have recently been arrested and placed in Immigration Detention Centers, while the UNHCR reviews their status in applying for asylum in fleeing from the oppression of Pakistan. We continue to reach out to the Kingdom of Thailand government, the UNHCR, and United States government to provide some mercy for these refugees seeking asylum from oppression due to their faith.

In Kenya, the latest crime against Christian human rights took place on Thursday in the attacks by the terrorist group Al-Shabaab killing 147 and wounding 79 at the Garissa University College. Christians were hunted down and hand-picked for execution by the terrorist group. The terrorist group has previously targeted Christians in a December 2014, killing 36 in the village of Kormey. The Al-Shabaab group has made numerous other attacks in Niger and Kenya – attacking churches, Christian shops, and pastor’s homes.

In India, an elderly nun was recently raped in West Bengal’s Ranaghat at the Convent of Jesus and Mary at Ranaghat, Nadia District. A rash of recent anti-Christian attacks in India has including an attack on a church under construction in the Haryana’s Hisar district. Reuters India has reported that Christians feel “under siege” in India as a result of recent attacks on them.

In Libya in February 2015, 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians were marched on their knees to a bloody beheading filmed by the ISIS terrorist organization, with the beaches of Libya covered with their blood. The ISIS terror group was proud of its grisly accomplishment and shared the video of their terrorist atrocity which it called as “a message signed with blood to the nation of the cross.” Egyptian Copts have protested the outrageous murder of Christians by this terrorist group.

In Syria, ISIS terrorists recently kidnapped over 200 Christians, thousands of Christians have been forced from their homes, and according to the BBC, Syrian Christians have been ordered to convert to Islam, pay jizya (a religious levy), or face death.

In Egypt on March 27, 2015, a Coptic Christian church being built in Al Our village in the Minya governorate being built to honor the 21 Christians beheaded by ISIS in Libya, was attacked by an angry mob with Molotov cocktails, injuring seven people and burning a Christian worshiper’s car.

In Nigeria, reports continually flow in about Christian churches being burned down in town after town. As of October 2014, Nigerian news reported that “185 churches have been razed and 190,545 people displaced.” This was after the global terror organization Boko Haram’s attack on Nigerian towns in Borno and Adamawa states. In November 2014, Fr. Gideon Obasogie, Head of Social Communications of the Diocese of Maiduguri, has provided news media with further updates on the destruction of Diocese of Maiduguri, with the fall of Mubi, with an estimated 2,500 Catholic Christians killed, 100,00 Catholics displaced, and over 50 churches destroyed. Christian churches and lives have been a target for destruction by the Boko Haram terrorist group, as well as terrorist attacks throughout northern Nigerian causing thousands of women and children to flee the country to neighboring nations.

In Communist China, on March 25, 2015, a Chinese Christian preacher Huang Yizi, who opposed an ongoing “anti-church” demolition campaign that saw hundreds of places of worship destroyed, has now been jailed on trumped-up charges of “gathering crowds to disturb social order.” The Communist Chinese Party (CCP) court sentenced him to one year in prison. The totalitarian CCP has long sought to oppress people of faith and conscience as part of oppression of universal human rights. Chinese Christian have regularly had prayer sessions to protect their houses of worship, but we have reported on numerous cases where the CCP authorities bully Chinese Christians and bulldoze their house of worship.

In the United States of America, African-Americans have been a target of abuse in major cities throughout the country. This has included Christian African-Americans in the city of Ferguson, Missouri. Christian leaders have come out of their pulpit to have a voice for human rights, dignity, and justice, but also to call for peace. As one woman pastor sought to keep the peace, she was shot in the stomach by a 60 caliber rubber bullet causing a bloody wound. But she stood back up and continued her commitment for peace and dignity.

As Christians worship during this Holy Week, in terms of rights, lives, and dignity of their fellow Christians and other fellow human beings, there is much that needs to be done. This is hardly a comprehensive list of the current oppression on Christians’ human rights, but the point is that this is a global problem, which needs a global solution.

The commandment for love is not only for quiet prayer, but also a call for acting in love. For our fellow Christians, it is a call to get our leaders to influence and change the views of nations where Christians are routinely oppressed, tortured, imprisoned, and killed. It is a call to work together to find ways to help, provide asylum, and find routes for Christians who flee such oppression to find a safe haven.

Americans had a history in addressing the disgrace of slavery for those fleeing such states where human rights and dignity were denied for African-Americans. They created a network of secret routes and safe houses for enslaved African-Americans to escape slave states and their oppressors. This commitment to their journey to freedom was a commitment to human rights. Just as Americans did in their history of providing safe haven (and continuing to fight for the rights) of African-Americans, so Christians around the world must come to the aid of those Christians seeking asylum from oppressive nations.

While we need long-term efforts to change the conditions where Christians are oppressed, we also need immediate action to help our fellow Christians in crisis. Groups such as the Pakistan Christian Congress, OpenDoors, Jubilee Campaign, ChinaAid, Christian Asylum Seekers, Iman Foundation Trust, Farrukh Saif Foundation, and others seek to work to help Christians in crisis, and they need your support.

To help Christians in crisis, we also need our own “underground railroad” to help oppressed Christians fleeing oppressor nations to find freedom. We need to work with our government agencies, United Nations refugee organizations, NGOs, and other refugee organizations to help oppressed Christians who are forced to flee their oppressors find a refuge in a free nation. Christian human rights organizations need to find ways to work more cohesively together for greater impact in human rights and safety of Christians around the world.

Open Doors reports that each month 322 Christians are killed for their faith, 214 churches and Christian properties are destroyed, and 772 forms of violence are committed against Christians. In Kenya alone, on Thursday, 147 people were killed, mostly Christian – in ONE DAY.

If we follow the commandment to love one another, and we respect the human rights of our fellow human beings, these global patterns of oppression must be unacceptable to the billions of Christians.

Love Means Action. Christian Lives Matter. All Lives Matter.

Pakistan: Christian Woman Threatened to Reject Her Religion and Accused of Blasphemy

Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) has received the following report of a Christian woman in Islamabad, Pakistan being threatened to reject her faith and being accused of “blasphemy,” under the oppressive Pakistan penal code Section 295-C.

The report states that a “33 year old Christian government teacher Ms. Saiqa has been accused of blasphemy 295c. Ms. Saiqa is a very educated primary government teacher in Islamabad, who belongs to very poor family. Ms. Saiqa regularly taught Sunday school and has worked with Christian children ministry.”

R.E.A.L. has received a report that this Islambad Christian woman has been threated to deny her Christian faith, which she refused.

The report stated that “Molvi Razzaq approached [Christian woman] Ms. Saiqa on different occasions and asked her to stop practicing western religion and spreading Christianity. Local molvi Abdul Razzaq invited her to accept Islam and asked her to read KALMA. Ms. Saiqa refused. People of the mosque and Molvi Razaq has been chasing her and watching her activities. Molvi Razzaq sent a few women to her house to pass message and also that she needs to convert to Islam. Molvi Razzaq also sent red Shalwar kameez for as a wedding proposal. Molvi also went in her house with mosque’s elders to give her invitation to get her to marry in Islamic way after she accepted Islam. Ms. Saiqa refused everything in front of Muslim women and Molvi Razzaq. As a result, the local Muslim women told local people that Ms. Saiqa committed blasphemy and cursed on Islam and Muhammad.”

The report continues:
“Molvi Razzaq and few people from the mosque also went school and protested front of school administration that their children getting non Islamic education and school should terminate her employment. Molvi and few people also tried to kidnap her, but Ms. Saiqa left the city and went into hiding. The local mosque’s jammat and Molvi Razzaq filed a FIR to the local police station stating that Ms. Saiqa used dirty language against Islam and Muhammad. Molvi Razzaq also announced a Fatwa on loud speaker and put Fatwa posters in different areas to find her.”

R.E.A.L. is sharing this report with the public, to our friends in the human rights media to get help to Ms. Saiqa, and we challenge the Pakistan government to act to stop this oppression.

We especially challenge Pakistan Embassy spokesman Nadeem Hotiana who is very concerned about the image of Pakistan in the media. If the Pakistan government is concerned about its reputation, the way to make a difference is to act, not talk, to defend the human rights of religious minorities oppressed throughout Pakistan, in defiance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. We call upon the Pakistan government, and we call upon Nadeem Hotiana to personally intervene to stop such oppression of religious minorities.

We call for the defense of this woman, Ms. Saiqa, in Islamabad, and we call for the defense of her human rights, freedom of conscience, safety, and human dignity, in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) accepted by the United Nations over 60 years ago.

December 10: Human Rights Protest Outside DC Pakistan Embassy

On December 10, Human Rights Day, members of human rights groups, Hindu groups, Christian groups, joined together outside the Pakistan Embassy in Washington, DC calling for an end to the abuse of human rights of religious minorities.

pakistan-embassy-protest-01 — Pakistan Embassy – Washington DC; R.E.A.L.’s Imm Prepares for Protest

Human rights campaigners included: Pakistan Human Rights Collective, Hindu American Foundation (HAF), and Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.), among others. The protest took place on the 66th anniversary of the United Nations’ signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) on December 10, 1948.

The protesters called for the release of 12 year old Pakistan Hindu girl Kajal Bheel, whose forced abduction and forced religious conversion has drawn world-wide outrage. The protesters called for Pakistan courts to allow the release of Kajal Bheel from her forced abduction, and urged support for the legal efforts to defend Kajal Bheel by the Global Human Rights Defence organization (GHRD).

GHRD is planning for the next court case to defend her on December 19 in Pakistan, and they are calling for people to support her human rights by signing their petition at:
http://ghrd.org/get-involved/petitions/save-kajal/savekajal/
and on Twitter at #savekajal

Protesters also pointed out the recent of abduction and forced conversaion of other Pakistan Hindu girls, including Neelam Kohli (11 years old), Anjali Menghwar (12 years old), Kiran Kumari (14 years old), Parsa Kolhi, and Wali Kolhi. Protesters displayed signs condemning the practice of such child abduction and forced religious conversion to Islam.

The oppression and attack on Pakistan Hindu religious minorities was also demonstrated by protesters who pointed out that Hindus went from a 24 percent minority in 1948 to about 1.6 percent of the Pakistan population in 1998.

R.E.A.L.’s Jeffrey Imm also pointed out how such human rights abuse of Hindu girls was a violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, including articles 3, 16, and 18. Jeffrey Imm also denounced a pattern of attacks in Pakistan against Hindu temples.

JI-1 — R.E.A.L.’s Jeffrey Imm Calls for End to Pakistan Religious Minority Oppression

The protesters also decried the abuse of Pakistan Christians and other minorities, noting the recent mob attack on a Pakistan Christian couple (burning them to death), and called for an end to oppressive Pakistan blasphemy law used to give a death sentence to Christian Asia Bibi, which was used in the arrest of Christian Zafar Bhatti (who was shot to death), and oppression of other religious minorities. Protesters held signs condemning the Pakistan blasphemy law and calling for its change. Protesters called for the release of such Pakistan political prisoners as Christian Asia Bibi, who have been imprisoned on spurious “blasphemy” charges.

R.E.A.L.’s Jeffrey Imm called for the Pakistan government and the Pakistan people to end their oppression of all religious minorities (Hindu, Christian, Sikh, Ahmadiyaa, and Shiites) and called for Pakistan to show human reason and conscience to extend such basic human rights and human dignity to Pakistan religious minorities and all Pakistan citizens. Imm stated such oppression needed to end in all parts of Pakistan.

The protesters sought to inform the public of these conditions, while challenging the failure of the Pakistan government to protect the human rights of such citizens. Protesters also sought to demonstrate solidarity with other religious minorities in Pakistan who have protested their oppression.

R.E.A.L.’s Jeffrey Imm stated that while this protest was in Washington DC at this event, that protesters will seek to provide solidarity in human rights campaigns in Pakistan. He stated: “the day will come when we and others will have such calls for universal human rights and dignity in Islamabad, and throughout every part of Pakistan, Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, and every territorial area. To those protesting there for human rights now, please know that we stand with you, and know that the day will come when we are standing side by side with you in Pakistan to call for human rights for all.”

Nigeria: 185 Churches Burned by Boko Haram

In Nigeria, the Nigeria news is reporting that “185 churches have been razed and 190,545 people displaced.” This was after the global terror organization Boko Haram’s attack on Nigerian towns in Borno and Adamawa states.

This was announced by the Director of Communications of the Diocese, Fr. Gideon Obasogie, who stated these crimes against our fellow human beings, against houses of worship, and against our universal human rights were perpetrated by Boko Haram. Fr. Gideon Obasogie indicated that these 185 churches were burned (torched) in the Maiduguri Diocese. The territory of the Maiduguri Diocese includes the states of northern Nigeria: Borno, Yobe, and some areas of Adamawa.

Fr. Gideon Obasogie issued a signed press statement tagged “state of captured towns;” and made available to newsmen in Maiduguri, the state capital.

On October 6, 2014, the Nigerian “The Vanguard” newspaper and other news media reported on this. The Vanguard stated: “185 churches in the diocese were torched and 190, 545 people displaced.” It also reported: “According to the statement, the “ransacking and torching” of churches in the captured towns and villages, have already displaced many priests, and are taking refuge in either Yola or Maiduguri metropolises for the last one or two months.”

“He said the capturing of towns along with the torching of about 185 places of worship is, ‘sad, heart arching and potentially dangerous to the territorial integrity and common good of Nigeria.’

Fr. Gideon Obasogie reportedly stated: “It is over 30 days now that our Church communities in Gulak, Shuwa, Michika, Bazza…. were sacked by the callous attacks of the Boko Haram terrorists. While Gwoza and Magadali had been under the tyrannical and despotic control of the terrorists and this is almost the sixtieth day. Our Priests are displaced, while citizens, who were supposed to celebrate their independence as a free Nation, were rather counting their losses and regrets as they had been reduced to the status of Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs. Where is the freedom? Life is really terribly difficult. We are waiting eagerly to go back home, even as it is obvious that we are going to reconstruct our looted and burnt houses and ecclesiastical structures. We have been sacked for months, sleeping in uncompleted buildings, camps and school premises.”

“We have been absorbed into houses of relations and friends in sixties and seventies. Meals time is always difficult and shameful. We have counted weeks rolling into months, must we also count years? We are waiting to go back home! Nigerians are waiting to go back to their ancestral homes!!! Our minds are greatly troubled, do we think about our status, Or about our family members yet to be connected with ever since we fled our homes?”

“Do we worry about our aged parents who were not so strong to run, they always fed us with words of encouragement and wisdom. Do we worry about our sick members, women and infants who had been trapped? Most of whom we heard had been rape and killed. Or worry about the health, education and future of our children? We have got a lot of questions yet to be answered.”

“Talking about resumption, our children have not been fed and well clothed so resumption to schools is practically out of our calculation. In our opinion if thousand of Nigerian children can’t go to school then in the long run boko is really haram.”

“While our people perish inaction, or rather slow action is what we get. Political activities in neighboring communities were on-going as though nothing were a stake.”

Pakistan: Christian Sisters in Hiding After Kidnap and Forced Religious Conversion Attempts

Responsible for Equality and Liberty has received a report of the human rights violations of two women in Lahore, Pakistan. International human rights sources have advised that Christian sisters, “Hina” and “Marina” from Lahore have gone into hiding, after attempts by extremist to kidnap them, to force marriage on them, and to forcefully convert them to deny their Christian religion.

The sources state that Hina and Marina are from Lahore city near the Nishter police station area. The reports state that Hina and Marina have been followed and harassed by extremists, including one individual with a “green turban.” The reports state that extremists have sought to abduct the two sisters, force the sisters into marriage, and to force the sisters to reject their Christian religion and convert them to Islam. The reports state that according to police sources, Mulan’a Abdul Attiq took his son and nephew Hafiz Nasir and Abid Attri to arrange a forced wedding to both Christian sisters. The forced wedding attempts have been rejected by the Christian sisters and their families.

As a result of the sisters rejecting such attempts at forced marriage and forced religious conversion, reports indicate that the Punjab police in Lahore have stated that those two sisters and family have committed blasphemy when Muslim clerics sought to talk about the wedding attempts. The report states that police have filed FIR (under Pakistan law 295-C) against the family.

In accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Responsible for Equality And Liberty continues to support the universal human rights, religious liberty, and freedom for all people, including religious minorities oppressed in Pakistan. We urge the Pakistan authorities to drop any charges against minority Christians being oppressed, harassed, and threatened, including these two Christian sisters, who have reportedly been threatened by attempts at abduction, forced marriage, and forced religious conversion. Responsible for Equality And Liberty also calls for the Pakistan government to end the oppressive blasphemy law used to oppress and harass religious minorities and so many other individuals. Responsible for Equality And Liberty also calls upon on our colleagues in human rights organizations to share this story and call for human rights protection for these sisters.

Pakistan: Human Rights for Pakistan Christians

Statement by Nazir S. Bhatti, President, Pakistan Christian Congress (PCC), and Editor, Pakistan Christian Post (PCP) on Human Rights Day Regarding Human Rights Issues of Pakistan Christians, including urging the government of Pakistan to repeal blasphemy law and demand formation of Judicial Commission to investigate and to arrest killers of Shahbaz Bhatti, Federal Minister for Minorities who was assassinated on March 2, 2011, in Islamabad.

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dr-nazir-bhatti-hr-day — Pakistan Christian Congress' Dr. Nazir Bhatti - Speaking at a previous R.E.A.L. Human Rights Day Event - National Press Club, Washington DC

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I congratulate, Mr. Jeffrey Imm, Chief Coordinator of Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) for organizing this event as commitment to Declaration of Universal Human Rights of United Nation. It is important to pay homage to REAL leadership for commitment and re-commitment of Human Rights Day every year in DC when many champions of Human Rights not even bother to raise voice for persecuted communities on this day.

Availing opportunity of this occasion on Human Rights Day, I must submit that 20 million Pakistani Christians are a forgotten community by the International forums and Human Right organizations. There are incidents of gang-rape, abduction and enforced conversion to Islam of Christian women but silence prevails in capitals of Western governments. The Pastors are gunned down, Churches are attacked, Christian properties are set on fire, worshipers in churches are sprayed with bullets and Christian women and children are burnt alive but culprits walk free from courts if they are arrested. There are arrests of Christians under controversial blasphemy law to settle scores by Muslim majority but Human Right champions have never dared to press upon government of Islamic Republic of Pakistan to repeal such black laws which are contradictory to Universal Human Rights of UN, of which Pakistan is a signatory state.

There are frequent incidents of murder of Christian victims of blasphemy law in custody of law enforcement agencies and by hands of extremist elements but none of culprit is ever arrested and brought to justice. The Christian youth is denied equal opportunities in education and employment to undermine their due rights and even in share of US AID on such programs in Pakistan.

Dear Sirs,
It will be surprising to note that Islamic Republic of Pakistan claims to be a Democratic state but 20 million Pakistani Christians are deprived of their basic right to elect their representation by their vote in Pakistan. We are forced to vote for a Muslim and then that Muslim selects our member in Parliament but Western Democratic countries have never linked their AID to Pakistan for true democracy. Pakistani Christians have long standing demand of representation in National Assembly of Pakistan, Senate of Pakistan; Provincial Assemblies of Pakistan and Local Bodies with proportional to their population which is 13% but never received due consideration.

Dear Sirs,
I must submit that there have been more than 1,500 cases registered under blasphemy law in Pakistan since 1986, in which Christians, Ahmadi, Hindu and individuals of some Muslim sects were arrested. The Christian and Ahmadi victims of blasphemy law were killed by the hands of extremist’s Islamic elements in which none was arrested to ensure justice.

On occasion of Human Right Day, I will urge government of Pakistan to repeal blasphemy law and demand formation of Judicial Commission to investigate and to arrest killers of Shahbaz Bhatti, Federal Minister for Minorities who was assassinated on March 2, 2011, in Islamabad; The Tehreek-e-Taliban Punjab TTP accepted responsibility of killing of Shahbaz Bhatti but Joint Investigation Committee comprising of Islamabad Police and some Christian leaders have failed to make any arrest. I will also demand release of Asia Bibi, a Christian mother of 5, who was sentenced to death on accusation of blasphemy and waiting in jail for his appeal pending in Lahore High Court. Pakistan Christian Congress PCC demands release of more than 100 victims of blasphemy in jails and adequate security for those who have been acquitted from courts and forced to live in hidings.

It is also important to bring in notice of United Nation that Pakistani Christians are facing genocide in Islamic Republic of Pakistan and immediate action is required to safe 20 million Pakistani Christians by awarding Refugee Status for their safety and security of life and property.

I, President of Pakistan Christian congress PCC, Nazir S. Bhatti, on behalf of 20 million Pakistani Christians demand, His Excellency Ban-Ki Moon, Secretary General UN, on Human Right Day of 2011, to form a Commission to investigate genocide of Pakistani Christians under following Universal Conditions for Genocide.

1. Public display of ethnic and religious differences through physical features, language and communal symbols.
2. Absence in multi-religious and/or multi-ethnic societies of strong integrating institutions.
3. Absence of the rule of law and presence of authoritarian traditions of governance.
4. Deep-seated insecurity on the part of ruling elites.
5. Widespread perception of vulnerable religious and ethnic groups as potential agents of politically subversive powers.
6. Prevalence of a racially or religiously discriminatory ideology or worldview that upholds a utopian vision of a homogenous society as the foundation of political unity.
7. Institutionalization of racial or religious discrimination in statute law or social custom.
8. Widespread communication by state and/or non-state actors of hateful propaganda that portrays members of religious or ethnic communities as subject peoples, aliens within society, or as subhuman creatures.
9. Outbreaks of organized violence by mobs or individuals against members of vulnerable religious or ethnic communities.
10. Habitual denial of discrimination by state and non-state actors that engage in oppressive practices, including violence, against vulnerable groups in society.
11. Widespread militarization of society and/or widespread influence of non-state terrorist groups or militias.

We hope that formation of UN Commission on genocide of Pakistani Christians will be revival of Declaration of International Human Rights in Pakistan and around globe.

Nazir S Bhatti
President, Pakistan Christian Congress PCC
www.pakistanchristiancongress.org
Editor, Pakistan Christian Post PCP
www.pakistanchristianpost.com
7348 Belden Street,
Philadelphia, PA, 19111.
Dated: December 8, 201

Pakistan Christians Mourn Brothers Murdered for Blasphemy, Police Use Teargas on Christians

Pakistani Christians are mourning the death of two brothers, Christian pastor Rashid Emmanuel and his brother Sajjad, who were shot to death on court house ground on July 19, 2010 in Faisalabad, Pakistan. The two brothers had left a court hearing on on charges of “blasphemy,” when they were gunned down and their police escort wounded by what COMPASS Direct News reports as “five armed, masked men.” The Pakistan Christian Post reports that on July 20, “the two brothers were buried in the Jamra Road grave yard after their last rites were completed in a catholic Church.”

The Pakistan Christian Post reported that the Pakistan police had concluded that there was no evidence of blasphemy” against the two Christian men, and that the handwriting on the “blasphemous” leaflets that they were charged with did not match the handwriting of the suspects. Dawn reported that the alleged “blasphemous” leaflets “unbelievably, also contained phone numbers” of the brothers. The Pakistan Christian Post reported that “investigation officer Mohammad Hussian produced Rashid Emmanuel and Sajjid Emmanuel before Judge in District Courts where he testified that police have investigated allegations leveled against them but found no proof that they may be charged under blasphemy.” BBC reported that “Atif Jameel, spokesman for the Pakistan Minorities Democratic Foundation, told the BBC: ‘No-one in his right mind would issue a derogatory pamphlet against the Prophet and put his name and address on it. This appears to be a conspiracy against peace and religious harmony in Faisalabad.'” Asia IT News reports the two men had continued to assert their innocence. Dawn reported that “Khurram, believed to be an activist of the little known Tehrik-i-Hurmat-i-Rasool, got the two brothers arrested.”

Pakisan: Christian Pastor Rashid Emmanuel Gunned Down in Faisalabad Court in Broad Daylight on July 19, 2010. (Photo by Jabran Inayat and GVM Television)

The men were then ambushed by masked gunmen who waiting for the two Christian brothers on the court house steps. According to the Pakistan Christian Post, “As there were rumors that Rashid Emmanuel and Sajjid Emmanuel are found innocent and will be released, the extremists Muslims reached in District Courts Faisalabad and were waiting for them to come out of court house. As Rashid Emmanuel and Sajjid Emmanuel were walking towards district courts custody cell with police, the unidentified gunmen opened fire and Rashid Emmanuel felt on ground. Sajjid Emmanuel stepped to save his brother but gunmen shot him down too.” Asia IT News reports that “For several days, Muslim religious leaders in Faisalabad had been fanning the flame of hatred against the two brothers, calling for their death.” COMPASS Direct News also reported that Christian Lawyers’ Foundation (CLF) “President Khalid Gill said the bodies of the two Christians bore cuts and other signs of having been tortured, including marks on their faces, while the brothers were in police custody.”

The Pakistan Christian Post indicated that previously “The Muslims took out a procession on July 10, 2010, when they burnt tires and pelted stones on Catholic Church Warispura Faisalabad. The mob threatened that if these brothers are not executed according to Muslim law, the mob will exact revenge not only on them, but the entire Christian community.” The Pakistan Daily Times similarly reported: “Earlier this month, about 400 demonstrators burnt tires and held protests in the Waris Pura neighborhood of Faisalabad, a slum inhabited by nearly 100,000 Christians, demanding the death penalty for the accused.” Asia IT News reported: “Immediately right after their arrest, Muslims organized a protest demonstration, calling for the two Christian brothers to be put to death.”

After the outrageous broad daylight murder of Pakistani Christians in police custody, protest demonstrations occurred in the Christian community in the brothers’ native area of Daoodnag. Dawn reported that “Monday’s killings led to violent protests by the Christian community in the brothers’ native area of Daoodnagar; a section of the Muslim community reacted by asking the people over mosque loudspeakers to ‘fight the rampaging’ Christians. The situation grew volatile enough to necessitate the imposition of Section 144 for the maintenance of public order.”

According to the Pakistan Christian Post, “The family members protested against murder of Emmanuel Brothers but Muslim Imamas of mosques announced ‘Muslims come out of homes and let us kill all infidel Christians.’ On which Muslims organizations took out rallies and processions to justify killing of Christians. Heavy contingent of police noted the situation and dispersed the protestors.”

Policemen fire teargas shells to disperse the protesters during a demonstration against the killing of two Christian brothers outside the court building in Faisalabad. –Online Photo

In the July 21, 2010 Dawn editorial “Jungle Justice,” Dawn stated that “There have been several instances where police apathy, perhaps in some cases connivance, has led to under-trial prisoners being targeted by vengeful elements on the court premises. Where the charge involves religion, there is a greater need for the police to be vigilant when escorting the accused to or from court, given the kind of fury that allegations of blasphemy unleash…. Such cases are a reminder of how allegations of blasphemy can be used to incite jungle justice and mob violence that often mask the real motives behind the targeting of individuals. The motives can range from the settling of personal scores to property disputes…The result is the creation of an atmosphere of fear and violent mistrust that could lead to the targeting of more members of the Christian community… Arrests under Section 295-C of the PPC for allegations of blasphemy illustrates the dangers inherent in a law that lends itself to misuse. The blasphemy law is rightly criticized for the manner in which it can be abused. We must also note that it helps foster a societal mindset of jungle justice where individuals feel that it is right to take the law into their own hands. The blasphemy law must be repealed.”

UCAN News reports that Pakistani Christians have been urged by Christian leaders to remain restrained and peaceful, and to show respect to other religions, even in the face of continuous attacks. UCAN News reports “Dominican Father Pascal Paulus told parishioners at Holy Rosary Church at Mass on July 18. ‘Respect Islam and try to be tolerant and peaceful,’ the priest said after the church was stoned on July 10 by a crowd of 100 angry Muslims carrying sticks and glass bottles.”

Choose Love, Not Hate. Love Wins.

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Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) sends it sympathies to yet another violent attack on a religious minority group in Pakistan, and urges the Pakistan people to take these atrocities seriously.

To those who believe religious freedom and freedom of worship are at a majority group’s choice, we point out once again how such atrocities against human rights clearly demonstrate the necessity of such fundamental basic UNIVERSAL human rights for everyone. Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states: “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.”

Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) supports our universal human rights of religious freedom, freedom of conscience, and freedom of worship for all people. R.E.A.L. rejects hatred and rejects the activities of those who seek to promote hatred and violence towards identity groups and specific religions.

Choose Love, Not Hate. Love Wins.

Pakistan Christian Post reports: “73 years old Pakistani Christian arrested under blasphemy after dialogue on religion”

“Faisalabad: June 25, 2010. (PCP) A 73 year old Christian named Rehmat Masih son of Barkat Masih resident of village Jandwali Chak # 165/RB, Teshil Jhumra, District Faisalabad has been charged under blasphemy law vide FIR # 321 dated 19th June 2010, under section 295-C of Pakistan Penal Code with Police Station Jhumra, for making derogatory remarks about Prophet Muhammad and his wife Hazrat Khadija. He was arrested from his residence on the same day and presently he is behind the bars in District Jail Faisalabad. He will be reappeared before Magistrate Muhammad Sajawal on 4th July 2010 for complete challan. It is learned that the charge is clearly based on false allegations due to some land dispute between the accuser Sajid Hameed and the Christian community. This case of land dispute is still pending before civil courts. The overall law and order situation in the said area is clam and no unpleasant incident is happened till now, but Christian residents are fearful due to attacks by Muslim mob on Christian settlements as taken place in the history of Pakistan after such blasphemy incidents. ”

Background and Detail of the Incident:

“According to local sources, Dr. Palus (one of the relative of Rehmat Masih) told to NCJP’s coordinator Shahid Anwar that dates back in April 2010, Rehmat Masih had some serious discussion over religion with some Muslims of his village. Both the parties exchanged remarks in favour of each other’s faith. At that time, no untoward incident took place but after the silence of two months, this matter was brought into light again in June by some Muslims of the village namely Sajid Hameed (Accuser), Shahbaz Khalid, Afzaal Bashir. On 10th June, they spread rumors in the locality that Rehmat Masih has committed blasphemy by passing remarks against the Prophet Muhammad. After hearing the news of blasphemy, a Muslim delegation came to Dr. Palus and complaint against Rehmat Masih for his sacrilegious act. Dr. Palus told them to calm down and to reconcile the matter peacefully. ”

“On 19th June, the police of Chak Jhumra arrested Rehmat Masih (accused) from his residence on the complaint of Sajid Hameed for disgracing Prophet Muhammad. On 20th June, police presented him before Magistrate Muhammad Sajawal and sent him to the lockup on judicial remand. ”

“On 23rd June 2010, Shahid Anwar (Coordinator-National Commission of Justice and Peace) visited Rehmat Masih (accused) in District Jail, and collected some facts regarding the incident. During the interview in jail, Rehmat Masih stated that while he was on his duty two months ago, some Muslims namely Muhammad Amir, Akbar Ali and Ashgar Ali came to him and started asking questions about Christianity. Muhammad Amir asked Rehmat Masih about Hazrat Mariam (mother Mary, mother of Jesus), but in reply, Rehmat Masih asked Muhammad Amir about Hazrat Khadija (wife of Prophet Mohammad). They exchanged arguments with each other and then moved to their homes peacefully. ”

“Dr. Palus also added that complainant Sajid Hameed has falsely implicated Rehmat Masih in this case, because he has some interpersonal and land dispute with Christian community. It is also learned that Shahbaz Khalid and Afzaal Bashir who are named in the FIR as witness, has political differences with Rehmat Masih, therefore they are trying to involve Rehmat Masih in the fabricated case in order to take political revenge.”