PAKISTAN: CHURCH ATTACKED FOR RELAYING PRAYERS THROUGH LOUDSPEAKER – IN RETALIATION SEVEN MOSQUE LOUDSPEAKERS CALL FOR WAR ON CHRISTIANS – PIX AVAILABLE
Nov 08 2007
Postings >> Pakistan

Militant Muslims have attacked two Christian villages in Pakistan. In the first they objected to prayers being relayed through the loudspeaker of the only church in the village. In response they used the loudspeakers of seven mosques to broadcast a call to war against Christians.

In the second attack mosque loudspeakers were used to call on Muslims to come out of their homes and seize land belonging to Christians.

These stories, with pictures, feature in the latest edition of World Update on the Persecuted Church by Release International. The award-winning webcast is available to download from the website: www.releaseinternational.org

In Govind village, near Lahore, armed militants attacked the New Apostolic Church and beat up believers, including children – because the Muslims objected to the only church using a loudspeaker.

The Muslim call to prayer is routinely relayed throughout the village on the loudspeakers of seven mosques. But this time, according to reports given to Release International, those loudspeakers were used to declare a religious war on the church.

One villager said: ‘[They] declared, “A religious war has been started against the kaffirs [infidels] so all the Muslims come out of their houses”.’

The Muslims then declared a social boycott against the Christians. According to Sharing Life Ministry Pakistan (SLMP), Release International’s partner, doctors have withheld medical treatment, shopkeepers have refused to sell goods, and farmers have prevented Christians from grazing their cattle.

A Christian spokesman said: ‘We just want peace and harmony, and to be accepted as citizens of Pakistan.’

Meanwhile, the residents of a small Christian village in Kasur are in fear of their lives after a mosque loudspeaker called on Muslims to take their land.

Upwards of 70 armed militants invaded the village of Lobhana and demolished three houses before the police could intervene.

The militants said they were trying to reclaim the site of a Muslim graveyard. But the Christians say they have been on the land for decades and it was given over to them by presidential decree.

The authorities arrested seven Muslims. Some have threatened to murder the Christians when they are released. One Christian woman told SLMP: ‘Muslims threatened us that when they will [be] released from the jail, they will annihilate all of our houses and kill us. They are very powerful people. They often show their weapons and open fire in the air.’

The incident further demonstrates just how precarious the land rights of religious minorities are in Pakistan. ‘It has become routine [for] the land mafia to target Christian villages and grab their land,’ says Sohail Johnson of Release International’s partners, Sharing Life Ministry Pakistan.

Release International’s CEO Andy Dipper says: ‘Please pray for peace to return to these villages - and for freedom of worship across Pakistan. Pray also for the Church in Pakistan which is increasingly at risk from militants during their country’s current political turmoil.’

Through its international network of missions Release International 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.

ENDS

NOTES TO THE EDITOR

Photographs to illustrate both stories are available on the Release International website http://www.releaseinternational.org/pages/media.php

The Lobhana  incident took place on October 19. The Govind incident took place on October 10. The names of witness have been omitted for their protection.

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