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Christians living in Pakistan and India were recently attacked by extremists, despite the countries’ official recognition of religious freedom, recent reports indicated.
In Lahore, Pakistan, a drunken mob of Muslims attacked a Christian congregation on Nov. 12 with guns and clubs, according to a report released by Washington-based International Christian Concern on Monday. Although no one was seriously injured from the Church of Nazarene attack, the incident marked the eighth known attack on a Pakistani church in 2006.
One observer said that the Muslims “had every intention to use the firearms…but because the Christians didn’t respond angrily, the situation did not get worse,” reported ICC.
Pakistan is a conservative Islamic nation where Christians make up less than three percent of the population. In the last two years, there have been demonstrations and violence by Pakistani Muslims that had gained international attention.
Earlier this year, protests and violence broke out in Muslim nations worldwide after a Danish newspaper published caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad. Islamic law forbids any depiction of the prophet, even positive ones, to prevent idolatry.
Pakistan held one of the largest demonstrations against the cartoons with rallies numbering over 15,000 people during which some protestors were killed and others injured from clashes against police forces. Thousands of protestors also torched Western businesses such as hotels, banks, restaurants and cell phone stores. Holiday Inn, Pizza Hut, and McDonald's were among the casualties.
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Last November, a massive Muslim mob torched a series of Christian settlements in Sangla Hill in eastern Pakistan’s Punjab province. Three churches, a convent, a Christian School, a girls' hostel and a priest's home were burnt to ashes, as the Muslims charged a Christian named Yusaf Masih of blasphemy for allegedly desecrating the Koran.
According to ICC, the Pakistani government has recently provided greater security for churches in the larger cities compared to the past, but rural churches have no protection and are vulnerable to attacks.
Christians in the neighboring country of India have also experienced continual persecution by Hindu extremists. A Madhya Pradesh State Minorities Commission member recently told ICC that independent Christian workers not linked to an organized church are often “easy preys” for Hindu fundamentalist groups.
Two independent pastors, Hatey Gundiya and Gokul Gundiya, were attacked with bamboo sticks by about ten people from the Hindu extremist group Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on Nov. 30, reported the Christian human rights group. The pastors were waiting to board a bus in Jhabua district in Madhya Pradesh state.
Hatey Gundiya received hands and feet injuries while Gokul Gundiya was injured in the eyes.
Jhabua has, for last several years, had a large presence of Hindu fundamentalists.
