Pakistan: Protection Demanded for Christians Expelled from Nursing College
Jun 26 2007
Postings >> Pakistan

Religious rights groups in Pakistan are demanding government protection for six Christians thrown out of a nursing college after accusations of blasphemy.

As 7x7 reported on June 12, four students, the school principal and a tutor were suspended from the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad after a verse of the Koran on a noticeboard was crossed out with a pen.

The All Pakistan Minorities Alliance said Muslim students at PIMS had threatened to 'kidnap and kill' the four students from the School of Nursing, Nabeela Zafar, Adena Dalton, Semab Hadayat and Kanwal Bekhtawar.

A fortnight after the alleged desecration, 'hundreds' of Muslim students staged an angry protest outside the college on June 1, demanding justice. They were joined by about 40 baton-wielding women students from Jamia Hafsa, an Islamic seminary linked with Islamabad's controversial Lal Masjid (Red Mosque). They tried to storm the building to reach the noticeboard at the centre of the furore, but were barred by police.

Then on June 3, more than a thousand female students from Jamia Hafsa demonstrated outside the Red Mosque against the alleged desecration at the nursing college. As 7x7 reported on June 12, hardline Muslims at the Red Mosque are openly defying the government and demanding that it imposes Islamic law more strictly.

'The religious extremists are furthering their agenda by abusing the blasphemy laws while the government constantly refuses to discuss the issue in any proper forum,' said the National Justice and Peace Commission in a published statement.

• Ask God to strengthen and protect the six Christians suspended at the nursing college in Islamabad.
• Pray that the Pakistani government will take a tough stand against rebellious extremists wanting to impose Sharia through aggressive means.