ENDEAVOUR FORUM AD2000 ARTICLES - BABETTE FRANCIS
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Lights dim for Christians in Pakistan Babette Francis Just before Easter the UN Human Rights Council, belying its stated purpose of protecting human rights, passed a resolution banning criticism of religion, specifically criticism of Islam. The resolution, sponsored by Pakistan on behalf of the 57-member Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), though couched in 'human rights' language with references to "diversity" and "stereotyping", is a thinly-disguised attempt to legitimize anti-blasphemy laws that theocratic Muslim regimes use to squelch dissent and persecute religious minorities. Western nations and secular NGOs opposed the resolution, stressing that the concept of "defamation of religion" has no basis in domestic or international law and "would alter the very meaning of human rights, which protect individuals from harm, but not beliefs from critical inquiry." One of those targeted by the OIC resolution is Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali who was born and raised in Pakistan and was the Anglican Bishop of Raiwind. Fifteen years ago he was appointed Bishop of Rochester in the UK and sits in the House of Lords. He has repeatedly warned about the dangers of Islamic Sharia law, but his warnings fell on deaf ears because Archbishop Rowan Williams, Primate of the Anglican Church, has called for limited application of Sharia in Britain. Archbishop Williams has a history of ambiguous, if not muddled, pronouncements, but one wonders what he knows of the implications of Sharia for women, Christians, Jews, "infidels" and apostates who convert from Islam to another faith. " ......One of the most significant failures of President Musharraf's time in office was the Council of Madrassas' [religious schools] refusal to co-operate with the government's programme of curriculum reform. This cannot be allowed to continue. An integrated education strategy is as important as a security one: generations of the poor cannot be allowed to become fodder for Al-Qaeda and the Taliban. A revision of textbooks is also needed to root out teachings of hate against Christianity, Judaism, India and the West. "And while some of the harsh Islamic laws that affect women and religious minorities have been modified, others are still on the statute book. The notorious 'Blasphemy Law' prescribes a mandatory death penalty for insulting the Prophet of Islam. It has been used to terrorise religious minorities and to curb even modest freedoms of expression and of belief. Those who declare themselves friends of Pakistan must help to get this law repealed. Many decent and devout Pakistani Muslims are already ashamed of it......" Unfortunately, the current Government of Pakistan has not only failed to curb the Madrassas but has also ceded large areas of Pakistan in the Swat valley and the North West Frontier Province to be ruled by local Islamist parties applying Sharia law. This imposition of Sharia is having a devastating effect on the morale of Christians in Pakistan and on moderate elements in Pakistan who support minority rights. I quote from a 12th April article in the Pakistan Christian Post - I haven't changed the grammar because the article as written has a particular poignancy: "Easter observed under tight security in Pakistan: "Easter eve of 2009 in Pakistan was witnessed entirely different than previous years when Churches nor Christian colonies were bathing in electric flood lights or decorated. The midnight services of Easter in Peshawar and Nowshera were thinly attended "The Dhok Ilahi Bux, a major residential area of Rawalpindi Christians from century was deep in dark and homes were not decorated by electric lights. The Christian colonies in Islamabad were also deserted and street were not filled like previous years. The Catholic and Church of Pakistan Cathedrals in Lahore were turned to be forts by presence of law enforcement deployment on fear of terrorists attack. Same scenes were witnessed in Multan, RahimYar Khan and Bahawalpur cities of western Punjab where Christians prayed under fear. "The Karachi and Hyderabad cities of Sindh province attracted large number of gathering in Churches during midnight services of Easter but not sounded like before. The Quetta city Churches only received few dozen worshipers due to strike in Balochistan province on killing of Baloch nationalist leaders. "The national newspapers published from Karachi, Hyderabad, Quetta, Lahore, Multan, "There were not any processions of Christ the King during month of Lent in Pakistan which were being organized from decades. The Easter of 2009, passed by in silence and fear without family visits and dancing in streets of Christian colonies through out Pakistan." Pray for Christians in Pakistan where Easter lights were dim, reflecting the "dhimmi" status inflicted on non-Muslims under Sharia. Babette Francis was born in India and spent time in Muslim-majority provinces before the partition of the sub-continent into India and Pakistan. His Grace, Lawrence Saldanha, the Catholic Archbishop of Lahore, is a distant cousin.
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Member Organisation, World Council for Life and Family NGO in Special Consultative Status with ECOSOC of the UN
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