RELIGIOUS
FREEDOM
Persecution
Watch: Pakistan
By
Charisma News Service
CBN.com
-- A Christian leader says believers fear a slaughter may begin today, according
to Christian Aid Mission (CAM). He said mosques were filled with anti-Christian
rhetoric last Friday, with sermons titled "War Against Islam" and "War Between
Truth and Evil." Muslim extremists reportedly
have scheduled a demonstration today, when clerics are expected to rail against
President Bush and Christianity, identifying Christians with Americans. Pakistani
believers fear the rhetoric may spark an attack on Christians. "Tension and fear
are increasing day by day," a source told CAM. "Please pray that our Heavenly
Father will give us wisdom and courage to face this situation." Meanwhile,
Christians are concerned that persecution will formally be legitimized in the
country's northern region. If enacted by the Provincial Assembly, the Islamic
Shariah Act will allow the Quran and Sunnah -- the examples and sayings of the
prophet Mohammed -- to dictate all future legislation and legal reforms, Christian
Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) said. The new legislation,
which is expected to be implemented with minimal opposition, will require strict
adherence to Muslim practices and will discriminate against the political, civil,
cultural, economic and social rights of all non-Muslim citizens in the North West
Frontier Province. "Pakistan's Christians...are
already in enough danger from extremists, but this legislation, if implemented,
will further jeopardize their already difficult and often dangerous position,"
CSW chief executive said Mervyn Thomas.
Copyright
(c) 2003 Charisma News
Service. Used by permission. For news, features, and inspirational stories
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