Pakistani Christians Told to Convert or Die
CBNNews.com
May 17, 2007
CBNNews.com - Christians in one Pakistani town have one choice: convert to Islam or die.
Around 500 Christians in the town of Charsadda, located in the North West Frontier bordering Afghanistan, received written threats earlier this month from pro-Taliban militants. The notes told them to close their churches and convert by Thursday or suffer with bombs according to the Associated Press.
Several members of the Christian community, which make up a small minority of the largely Muslim country, have fled the town while those that remain are living in fear, leaders said.
Some complained that police were not taking the threats seriously and have appealed to the government for protection.
"Police say someone is joking with us by writing these letters," Chaudhry Salim, a Charsadda Christian leader, said during a news conference in Islamabad. "They have deployed only two policemen at our churches. this is the kind of security we are getting now."
One prominent Christian leader and head of the All Pakistan Minorities Alliance - Shahbaz Bhatti- said the provincial government, which is controlled by a coalition of pro-Taliban religious parties, would bear blame for attacks after the deadline.
Bhatti also encouraged Muslim religious scholars to speak out against the threats and said the federal government should take "concrete steps to provide protection" to Christians.
A spokesman for the provincial government asked Christians not to panic, saying authorities were doing all they could to ensure their protection.
"Christians are our brothers and sisters, and we will not allow any one to harm them," he told The Associated Press.
Christians, Hindus, Sikhs and other religious minorities make up less than three percent of Pakistan's 160 million residents.
Most non-Muslims live peacefully alongside the majority who believe in Quran. However, these groups have been targeted in attacks blamed on extremists since Pakistan allied itself with the United States after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
Islamic extremists trying to impose Taliban-style social edicts in northwestern Pakistan are increasing in boldensss, with some of their activities including the bombing of shops selling Western films, threatening barbers for trimming beards and warning hotels to remove televisions from guest rooms.
Minorities and secular opposition parties claim the government is not doing nearly enough to counter what they term the "Talibanization" of many parts of the country and that the problem is growing.
Source: Associated Press
CBN IS HERE FOR YOU!
Are you seeking answers in life? Are you hurting?
Are you facing a difficult situation?
A caring friend will be there to pray with you in your time of need.
