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Pakistani Christian Victims of Blasphemy-related Violence Describe Their Ordeal; Refuse USAID Aid Packets as Pakistan’s Minorities Minister Vows to End Christian Persecution
--- 10/14/2009
    
ANS, CSW report: The Christian victims of blasphemy-related violence who had their houses burned at the hands of thugs in July, 2009, are condemned to live in a graveyard in Korian, a village in the Pakistani province of Punjab, and are in the constant state of fear and uncertainty. These fires rendered 150 Christian families homeless, with at least seven being burned alive by a gang of Muslims on August 1, 2009.
A Christian woman named Naziran Bibi told ANS she and her family had to “run” for their lives after Muslim mobs attacked their village and set Christians’ houses on fire after ransacking them in July.
“We must have run up to 35 kilometers (about 21 miles), Naziran told ANS. “We left everything behind. Some parents could not manage to take their children with them amid a frantic run for safety of their lives. They found their children after several days.”
Younas Masih, a Christian man living with his family in a tent in a graveyard in Korian, told ANS, “Our children are still scared from Muslims. We do not have any means to keep the pot boiling.”
This Christian man belongs to one of several families who lost the little means of living they had before their houses were set on fire under pretext of blasphemy by the hardliners.
A Christian lady, who declined to give her name, said her family had not seen such a difficult time in all of her life. She said, “We do not even have pots and pans to cook our food in. The fire engulfed everything that was present in our house.”
Asked if her children went to school she said there wasn’t any school nearby. “There are schools in other areas but we fear sending them (our children) there, fearing that we might meet another July-like fate, “ she said.
An eleven-year-old Christian girl recalled that “enormous fear” gripped her when she saw the attack being launched on the homes of the Christians.
Describing how he managed to save his life from invading thugs, Patras Masih, a Christian man living in a tent with his family in Korian graveyard, said he took refuge in a sugarcane field along with his children aged 10, 12, 14, 18 and a twenty-two year old niece.
Lamenting how life is treating him and other Christians in Korian, Anwar Masih, 64, said that Christians were “condemned to live in a graveyard” though people are brought into and buried in grave yards after their death.
He expressed dissatisfaction over the granting of bail to Muslims who were named in the police First Information Report under the Anti-Terrorism Act.
Meanwhile, Carmela Conroy, Principal Officer of the U.S. Consulate in Lahore personally distributed aid packets to a few victims during a ceremony held at a Catholic Church in Gojra on October 5th. During her 35 minute visit she was also able to talk to the family of one of the deceased Christians, Hameed, who lost his life in the violence in August.
There were additional USAID aid packets for each of the effected families left with the Catholic Church for distribution. Each pack consisted of six blankets, four quilts, four mattresses, four mats, two plastic buckets, two water cans, two nets, a carton of utensils and three kilograms of washing soap.
A few of the Christian victims in Gojra have thrown away their aid packets, alleging that the government’s interpreter was not conveying the Christian family’s point of view to the US consulate’s principal officer.
A Christian spokesman for the residents of Gojra told Professor Anjum James Paul, “We are highly thankful to the US government and people who are with us to share their grief with the persecuted Christians. We are accepting all sorts of help and we do not deny accepting aid from our brethren in the United States.”
He went on to say, “We need justice besides help from our well wishers.”
Mr. Shahbaz Bhatti, Pakistan’s Minorities Minister, vowed on October 10th, 2009, to do everything he can to stop Christians and other minorities from being persecuted for their faith. He told this to hundreds of Christians in London and shared that the Pakistan government was ready to review the notorious blasphemy law that is routinely misused by Islamic extremists to attack and imprison Christians.
Mr. Bhatti said the blasphemy laws had created intolerance, disharmony and a “sense of insecurity” among the minorities.
Even with the provision of these aid packets, there are still many additional things that are needed by these Christians as winter edges in. In the event of rain, they are likely to contract water-borne diseases. It will take a month or so before their torched houses can be completely re-constructed and is only being done so through whatever money the government of Pakistan has given them to rebuild. They have no money of their own.
SWI was in these villages with these brothers and sisters just days after the attack; we saw the destruction and the trauma first hand. We smelled the smoke and in one location actually saw smoldering embers. Following this assessment, we sent in another team of 13 to work specifically in these villages. Because of security reasons, we had to withdraw the team before our outreach even began. We have purchased items that are being distributed to these victims but would like to ask you to pray about helping with the financial needs for this. If you are so led, you can donate by visiting our secure DONATION PAGE and designating “Pakistan Ministry”, or by calling our office at 1-877-TEAM-SWI.
And as always, we ask you to constantly remember our persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ; their struggles are great and unending. Their freedoms are few. Pray without ceasing, oh Church; pray without ceasing!
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