Release International

Church leaders in Pakistan say they have forgiven a man who tore up a Bible in a Lahore church and are urging other Christians to follow their lead.

The Christian community in Lahore were reportedly outraged when a man ripped up a copy of the Bible at the church gates last Friday in retaliation for a US pastor's highly publicised burning of the Koran.

But Lahore's Archdiocesan Vicar General Andrew Nisari used his address to the Lahore church's congregation to call for calm. 'Promise me you won't riot,' he said. 'Promise you won't fight. It is another trial for Christianity in Pakistan. Be patient in suffering and follow the passion of Christ.'

A guard at the church told Asia news service UCA News that a man entered the building during a service, pulled a book from a plastic bag, tore its pages then shouted that he had avenged the burning of the Koran. Police have since charged a man with blasphemy for 'outraging religious feeling'.

The retired Archbishop of Lahore, Lawrence Saldanha, urged Christians to leave the state legal system to deal with the suspect – though he did express concerns over what he saw as 'growing anti-Christian sentiment'.

A Florida pastor's decision to burn the Koran after a mock trial three weeks ago sparked outrage among Muslims and Christians alike. UCA News reports that three churches in Pakistan have been attacked since the incident. In neighbouring Afghanistan, seven foreign UN workers were killed by protesters in Mazar-e-Sharif.

NEWS UPDATE:
Release partners in Pakistan are calling for prayer for Asia Bibi, the 45-year-old woman on death row for blasphemy, who is said to be unwell in prison. Sharing Life Ministry Pakistan (SLMP) has confirmed reports that Asia has chicken pox – which some sources have attributed directly to the unsanitary conditions in the jail. Contrary to some earlier new reports, SLMP says she is receiving medical treatment from the prison authorities. Asia, who is from Punjab, was given the death sentence in November after being convicted of blasphemy following a discussion about faith with her work colleagues (Prayer Alert, November 8, 2010). Her appeal is still pending. She is being kept in solitary confinement and has received several death threats.

(Sources: ASSIST News Service, BBC, Sharing Life Ministry Pakistan, UCA News)

• Pray that Pakistan's Christian community will heed calls for restraint and forgiveness after the desecration of a Bible in Lahore. Pray that their response will be a powerful witness to Muslims and other faith communities everywhere.
• Ask God to bless, comfort and heal Asia Bibi, whose illness is yet another blow to her and her family. Pray that her appeal will be heard soon and will be successful.

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