Jihadi outfits in the Muslim-majority nation of Pakistan consider Christian citizens to be agents of Western nations.
Newsroom (03/07/2023 09:00, Gaudium Press) Church leaders in Pakistan have called on authorities to protect places of worship in response to threats made by an extremist Islamic group following the Quran burning incident in Sweden during the Islamic festival of Eid al-Adha.
The banned Sunni militant group Lashkar-e-Jhangvi issued a threat, and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Pakistan has urged the authorities to be vigilant.
The militant group said: “Christianity has challenged the honor of Muslims by desecrating the Quran in Sweden. If a Christian desecrates the Quran in another country, the Jhangvi, who walk the path of martyrdom will make Pakistan a hell for Christianity.”
“Neither the Church nor Christians will now remain safe in Pakistan. Inshallah [if Allah wills] Sunni youths will put their lives on the line and take revenge for the desecration of the Quran by waging suicide attacks on Christians of Pakistan,” it stated.
Naeem Yousaf Gill, an official of the National Commission for Justice and Peace, representing the Catholic Church in Pakistan, condemned the desecration of the Quran in Sweden and emphasized that as a religious minority, they live in peace and brotherhood and have always supported the majority. Gill stated that they cannot imagine violating sensitive laws.
In response to the threat, Father Khalid Rashid Asi, the Faisalabad diocesan director of the Commission for Interfaith Dialogue and Ecumenism, met with police officials and advised priests in the diocese to ensure the security of their parishes, convents, schools, and other facilities.
Father Asi highlighted the importance of respecting holy books and promoting a culture of peace and harmony. He also recalled the 2009 anti-Christian attacks in Punjab province that resulted in the deaths of 10 Catholics after allegations of Quran desecration.
The recent threat in Pakistan followed the Quran burning incident in Sweden, where an Iraqi-born refugee burnt pages of the Muslim holy book outside a mosque in Stockholm. Protests have taken place in Pakistan, with demonstrators calling for the Swedish ambassador to be summoned to lodge a strong protest.
It’s important to note that acts of intentional damage or disrespect to the Quran are considered highly offensive to Muslims. Pakistani Christians have faced terrorist attacks in the past, often associated with the perception that they are agents of pro-Christian nations like the United States and European countries.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from UCAN News