Help The Persecuted Christians
The Overlooked Hardships of Christians in Pakistan
When we talk about humanitarian issues, we often think of places like Africa, the Middle East, and some parts of Southeast Asia. But Pakistan is a country that doesn’t get as much notice as its neighbors, India and Afghanistan. Pakistan doesn’t have extreme groups in control like Afghanistan or strict anti-conversion rules like in India. It combines the oppressive aspects of extreme Islam with the facade of national laws to persecute its weakest communities.
Misuse of Blasphemy Laws
The Islamic Republic of Pakistan rigidly adheres to its own beliefs, implementing and misusing blasphemy laws. These laws isolate the Christian community, promoting violence against them. Christians and other religious minorities in Pakistan confront forced conversions, marriages, baseless blasphemy charges, and discrimination. Christian places of worship ‘Churches’ are frequent targets for devastating terrorist attacks. The looming threat of more assaults, especially during significant Christian celebrations, instills fear among many Pakistani Christians.
Declaring Christians as Enemies of Islam
Active extremist Islamic groups pose a threat in Pakistan. The 2013 All Saints Church bombing highlights the government’s inability to curb terrorist activities. Jundullah, associated with the Taliban, claimed responsibility for this heinous act targeting the All Saints school children, declaring Christians as enemies of Islam and vowing continuous attacks until no Christians remain in Pakistan. Their aim is to force believers to abandon their faith in Islam. The act of targeting children indicates their readiness to sacrifice the innocent to achieve their objectives. Despite this, the church in Pakistan endures. Following the catastrophe, ETCC witnessed the church’s reconstruction and the provisions for the affected students. A decade on, the church’s spirit is unbroken in Peshawar.
Persecuted Churchs in Pakistan
The ETCC team, after visiting the persecuted church in Pakistan, returns even more motivated to support their threatened brethren. Their steadfastness amidst wrongful blasphemy accusations, societal ostracism, radical assaults, and appalling living conditions is inspiring. Their unwavering faith is built on a conviction that their sufferings are temporary and they will rejoice in Christ, glorifying his holy name.
