Release International

Two Christians were shot dead in Sindh province after reprimanding youths who had been insulting Christian women.

Younis Masih and Jameel Masih died and two other Christians were seriously injured when a group of youths opened fire on Christians at Salvation Army Church in Hurr Camp, a Christian colony in Hyderabad, last Monday, Release sources say.

Christians had gathered to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their church. Jameel, who was 22, had only recently married; Younis, 47, was a father of four.

The attack was apparently prompted by earlier events, when Muslim youths gathered in the square near the church and began playing loud music and verbally abusing Christian girls.

Younis, Jameel and several other Christians remonstrated with the youths, asking them to stop – but they refused. According to Release sources, a scuffle between the two groups ensued.
 
Shortly afterwards, a group of youths arrived at the church, armed with guns. They killed Younis and Jameel and seriously wounded two others who had challenged them earlier – Siddique Masih and a 20-year-old named Waseem.

Compass Direct news agency reports that Christians have been dismayed by the police's slow response to the attack. A case was not registered until local Christians set up a road block in Hyderabad – apparently with Younis and Jameel's bodies – in protest at what they perceived as police 'indifference'.

Meanwhile, also in Sindh on the Monday, a Christian family in the Parah Ganj district of Karachi were taken hostage and photographed with a torn copy of the Koran, Islam's holy book, according to Release sources. Christians fear that extremists may be planning to use the photographs to accuse the family of blasphemy and incite religious violence. Police have been informed.

(Sources: CLAAS, Compass Direct, Release sources)

• Ask God to bless and comfort all those affected by the shootings in Hyderabad, and particularly the families of Jameel and Younis.
• Pray God's protection over the Parah Ganj family who fear they may be about to be falsely accused of blasphemy.

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