Two Pakistani Christians Murdered, Mutilated
The bodies of two Christian Pakistanis were found dumped and mutilated in a road in Peshawar on April 7. Christian leaders believe the acts are “religious terrorism”
The bodies of two Christian Pakistanis were found dumped and mutilated in a road in Peshawar on April 7. Christian leaders believe the acts are “religious terrorism.”
Pastor Shamoun Babar, 37, and his driver, Daniel Emanuel, 36, were kidnapped on April 5 in Peshawar, which is located in the northwest part of the country about 120 miles west of the capital of Islamabad.
“We demand that the individuals involved in such heinous acts of religious terrorism should be brought to justice within no time and should be given exemplary punishments,” said a joint statement which included the Christian Progressive Movement, and Khadman-e-Saleeb (a Catholic NGO), according to Asianews.
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“Christians are equal citizens of the Pakistan but they are living with a sense of fear and insecurity,” said the group statement.
The incident comes after another recently reported attack against Christians near Lahore. On Easter Sunday, four assailants opened fire on congregants of the Apostolic Church, Khahamba killing one and injuring six.
Christians in Peshawar believe the murders of the two men were an act of targeted killing and a hate crime committed by extremists, said the APMA in a press release by Christian Solidarity Worldwide.
Pastor Babar, a well-known preacher and evangelist in Peshawar had established the "Ilam Dost Foundation." According to reports, Babar's body was found with his hands tied with chains and a lock. His nose and ears were cut off and there was evidence that he had been badly tortured. Several bullets had pierced his body.
“The APMA has strongly condemned the killing of pastors and repeated attacks on Christians. The APMA has asked the Government to take concerted and practical steps to stop the growing violence agains Christians and to protect religious freedom, and the human rights of oppressed Christians and minorities in Pakistan, said Chairman Shabaz Bhatti, Chairman of the APMA.
On April 8, a crowd of about 200 Christian blocked a main road for more than two hours, demanding the killers be brought to justice.
Meanwhile, a woman and a man have been arrested in connection with the killings, according to the British Broadcasting Company.
Christians are the largest non-Muslim minority in Pakistan, where all but about five percent of the 150 million people are Muslim.
