Pakistani Christians Told To Convert Or Face Death

Islamist militants in Pakistan have threatened to kill 10 Christian clerics in Southern Punjab's Khanewal district if they did not "embrace Islam and stop preaching Christianity."

"We are feeling insecure and unsafe today because of these threatening letters from Muslim fanatics," said Provincial lawmaker Naveed Amer Jeeva, coordinator of the All Pakistan Minorities Alliance (APMA).

Ten Christian clerics have received threatening letters from unidentified people warning them to "embrace Islam, stop preaching Christianity and quit your faith otherwise the countdown of your life has begun".

A state of fear prevails in Khanewal district's Shanti Nagar because the authorities have failed to address their security needs, said Pastor Mehtab Masih at a press conference on Friday to highlight the issue.

Threatening letters have been received by Union Council Naib Nazim Fazal Masih, Councillor Kalim Dutt, Pastor Robin, Capt Irshad of the Salvation Army Church, Pastor Boez Enver, Pastor Lemuel Calavary and Joseph Daniel, The Post daily said. Lawmaker Jeeva said Pastor Mukhtar Barkat had received such a threatening letter and was assassinated on January 5, 2004 in Khurrampura Khanewal.

On June 12 Christians in Shantinagar village had also received anonymous letters written in Urdu asking them convert to Islam or leave the area. The letters were sent to 10 religious, political and social leaders of this mainly Christian village.

Shantinagar village, which has about 3,000 Christians and 500 Muslim residents, was formed by the Salvation Army Church before the Partition of the sub-continent in 1947.

In May, Christian residents of a Muslim colony in Charsadda town of North-West Frontier Province (NWFP), received a letter from militants asking them to convert to Islam. Several Christian families fled their homes and others are living in constant fear.

Minority and human rights groups have demanded that the government provide protection and security to Christian families living in NWFP. Though the authorities have assured security to the minority community and arrested a few people in the earlier incidents, they have failed to boost the confidence of the Christians in the ability of the police to safeguard their lives and properties in the face of continuing threats.

There have been cases of people accused of blasphemy being murdered by religious extremists. Human rights activists say the country's blasphemy laws are misused to settle old enmities or personal disputes. A Christian man, Younis Masih, was sentenced to death under the blasphemy laws of Pakistan for allegedly insulting Prophet Mohammad in September 2005 in Lahore.

The All Pakistan Minorities Alliance (APMA) has sought legislative reforms to strike off the blasphemy laws that "discriminate against minorities" in the country. (Source - Agencies)

***** I suppose in many ways we should be glad that Malaysia has not gone down the path that Pakistan apparently seems doomed to painfully slide. At least not yet! And hopefully never will.
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