Continuing Persecution of Pakistani Christians

The Arrest of Ashfaq Masih
World Watch Monitor is reporting that religious minorities are falling victim to militant attacks across the Pakistan-Afghanistan border region.  On Aug. 08, gunmen opened fire on the Christian colony in the town of Mastung, killing a Pakistani Catholic and wounding several others.  Sadly, the Pakistani government is not only failing to take action against these attacks, but in truth, fueling the persecution with their ongoing blasphemy laws.  On July 04 of this year, 34-year-old bicycle repair shop owner Ashfaq Masih was sentenced to death for blasphemy after one of his customers, Muhammad Irfan, accused him of disrespecting the Prophet Muhammad.  In truth, Muhammad was demanding that Ashfaq not charge him for repairing his bicycle, & Ashfaq, refused.

This year, the United Nations officially observed Aug. 22 as the "International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religious Belief."  Sadly, this practice has become the norm in Pakistan.  A report published in Nov. of 21 the U.K.'s All Party Parliamentary Group on Freedom of Religion & Belief revealed over 1000 minority women in Pakistan have been abducted & forcibly converted to Islam.  Christians, Hindus, and Ahmadis are the most targeted groups for this ongoing atrocity.  


In most nations, the abduction and rape and abduction of women, particular girls who are minors, is a heinous crime.  However, the catch in Pakistan is that the abductor has already made arrangements to marry his victim, and the marriage involves a conversion of faith from Christianity or Hinduism to Islam.  Whenever a case like this ends up in court, it is very difficult to prove the marriage is unlawful as Sharia Law dominates Pakistan, which means that her abductor has the stronger legal standing in the court.  In addition, the abductors are experts and forging the victims registration to falsely show that their victim is at least 16.  Simply put, those who have the greater power within Pakistan's Islamic society already know how to manipulate an already biased and prejudicial system ever more in their favor.  

Ever since it's founding in 1947, Pakistan suffered from a mixture of societal & state-sanctioned persecution, and it only seems to be growing worse with every passing year.  Though efforts are being made to ensure that all of its citizens are afforded equal protection under the law, such a thing will never be obtained unless Pakistan's blasphemy laws are revoked.  Sadly, such an action would no doubt provoke a severe backlash from Pakistan's Islamist fundamentalists, which makes such an action unlikely to happen in the near future, if ever.  


Sources:

Ispahani, Farahnaz & Elaine Alam.  "Forced Conversions Continue to Plague Girls in Pakistan's Minority Communities."  Coptic Solidarity.  Sept. 01, 2022.  Accessed from https://www.copticsolidarity.org/2022/09/01/forced-conversions-continue-to-plague-girls-in-pakistans-minority-communities/?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=faab2203-b61e-41a0-944c-389ebe31f1eb

World Watch Monitor.  "Pakistan: Christians Continue to Face Blasphemy Convictions & Violent Attacks."  Coptic Solidarity.  Aug. 23, 2022.  Accessed from https://www.copticsolidarity.org/2022/08/23/pakistan-christians-continue-to-face-blasphemy-convictions-and-violent-attacks/?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=e108b46a-45eb-4f84-a27e-b49c0a34f46b

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