In a recent meeting with rights investigators, British Home Office Minister Tony McNulty, who has been in charge of security and counter-terrorism, said he would demand that the recently elected Pakistani government respect the rights of Christians in Pakistan, BosNewsLife learned Sunday, October 5.
The Britain-based Center for Legal Aid Assistance and Settlement (CLAAS) said its representatives met McNulty for consultations on September 27.
"The focus of this meeting was to brief Mr McNulty about the growing persecution of Christians in Pakistan and to call for his assistance in bringing the cause of suffering Christians to the attention of the Foreign Office and the government of Pakistan."
RELIGIOUS EXTREMISM
The group said it had mentioned the "religious extremism that feeds intolerance in Pakistan especially through the misuse of the blasphemy laws, the forced conversions of Christians to Islam and the situation of Pakistani Christian asylum seekers in the United Kingdom."
CLAAS said that under the legislation a Hindu man, Jagdesh Kumar, was executed earlier this year. In addition three Christians may face a similar fate after being charged with blasphemy last week, while two others are on the run and on a ‘wanted’ list, CLAAS added.
"Extremist Muslims are taking these laws in their own hands and innocent Christians do not get a chance to prove them selves not guilty," the group told BosNewsLife. They are often also facing pressure from family, said CLAAS.
It mentioned a recent case of Christian Abid Hamid who converted to Christianity. "His family, friends and work colleagues deserted him and announced him "infidel," and even an insane person. Although he was sad and heart-broken about losing his family and their love, he is growing strong in his new found faith trusting and praying that God will change the hearts of his family members and friends," CLAAS said.
CHRISTIAN GIRLS
McNulty was also briefed on the reported new trend in Pakistan of forcing Christian girls and children to convert to Islam. case confirmed Wednesday, September 10. In September a Pakistani court granted custody of a 13-year-old Christian girl to the Muslim man accused of abducting her.
The Lahore High Court awarded custody of Saba Masihto, her alleged kidnapper, on September 9, and ordered him to pay a 100,000 Rupees ($1,309) as a "guarantee" and "surety bond" for her, said religious rights group Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), which closely monitored the trial.
Saba and her nine year-old sister, Anila, were reportedly kidnapped by three Muslim men while they were walking to their uncle’s house in Muzaffargarh district on June 16, this year. They were allegedly forced to convert to Islam, while Saba was compelled to marry one of the men.
The court reportedly ruled however that Anila’s parents should retain custody of her after a CLAAS campaign which was apparently supported by the British government. “Mr McNulty promised CLAAS that he will address the issues raised at this meeting with Foreign Office representatives for Pakistan and with the government of Pakistan. We are delighted that he promised to continue supporting CLAAS in its fight for enabling Pakistani Christians to worship freely and live peacefully in their land," CLAAS said. (With BosNewsLife’s Stefan J. Bos).
