PAKISTAN CHRISTIANS WARNED: CONVERT TO ISLAM OR DIE. SHANTI NAGAR, DEVASTATED TEN YEARS AGO, UNDER THREAT FROM MILITANTS AGAIN - Copy of death threat attached
Jun 28 2007
Postings >> Pakistan

Christians living in the village of Shanti Nagar in Pakistan have received hand-written threats warning them to convert to Islam or die.

Ten years ago a 30,000-strong mob of militant Muslims destroyed 13 churches and 800 houses belonging to Christians. The death threats raise fears they could strike again.  

3,000 Christian families remain in the Christian enclave which is encircled by Muslim villages in the district of Khanewal in Southern Punjab. 

Partners of Christian mission to the persecuted Church Release International say the chief reason for threats is rivalry over land. Christian lawyers say Muslim neighbours resent the Christians for having their own agricultural land. 

The death threats have been targeted at Christian pastors and leaders in the village. They are handwritten in Urdu (example attached).

One letter warns: 

We invite you to accept Islam and you also bring your family into the circle Islam.
Otherwise you’ll face dire consequences. You and your family will be killed.
Don’t consider it as just a threat...
Accept Islam otherwise, we will make you an example for the world…
Accept Islam otherwise, Death!

A spokesman for Release International’s partner, CLAAS, says: ‘Christian in Pakistan is already living under the threat of death by Muslim militants. Now they have adopted a new way to harass innocent Christian villagers that has filled the Christians with the terror of death.’

24 Churches serve the Christians in Shanti Nagar. By targeting Christian leaders, CLAAS believes the militants aim to discourage those at the core of the community.

‘They have chosen the people who are the source of encouragement for Christian community,’ writes Joseph Francis, the national director of CLAAS (Centre for Legal Aid Assistance and Settlement). ‘Their purpose is to weaken their leaders.’

‘Please pray for Christians in Pakistan – especially the Christians of Shanti Nagar,’ says Andy Dipper, the CEO of Release International. ‘And pray that the government of Pakistan will defend the freedom – and the lives – of Christians, who make up less than three per cent of their population.’

Release International supports CLAAS in providing legal aid for Christians facing discrimination. With this support they are able to visit Christian prisoners who are in jail as a result of prejudice in their legal system. 

Release also supports the families of prisoners by providing education for their children, and provides business capital to help families support themselves while their relative - often the major bread-winner - is in jail.

Through its partners Release also provides training and education for Christian women who are struggling to support themselves and their families as a result of their marginalised status in society; and Release helps produce and distribute Christian literature.

ENDS

Notes to the Editor

The death threats were posted on June 12 2007. News of the threats was provided by CLAAS (Centre for Legal Aid Assistance and Settlement) on June 28. Contact details: claas@brain.net.pk

Shanti Nagar was attacked on February 6 1997.

Contacts

For further information, please contact Andrew Boyd on 01730 301905 or 07986 712 813, or contact Release International on 01689 823491 or by email at info@releaseinternational.org

Through our international network of missions RI serves persecuted Christians in 30 countries, supporting pastors and Christian prisoners and their families, supplying Christian literature and Bibles, and working for justice. RI is a member of the UK organisations Global Connections, the Evangelical Alliance and the Micah Network.