The struggle between Muslims and Christians is starting to boilover again in places like Yemen, Pakistan and Iran where Christians
have been martyred in the last month. Islam teaches, “kill the
infidels” whereas Jesus said, “bless those who persecute you.” Not
exactly a fair fight by the world’s standards.
pastor in Pakistan who is like a spiritual son to me. I just received
an email from him describing a horrific case of martyrdom a few days
ago. I checked the details from a Forbes article and here are the facts:
been burned alive in an attack fueled by religious hatred. Clerics in
local mosques incited the mob attacks when they alleged that pages from
the Quran had been “desecrated” during a wedding celebration a week
ago. When law enforcement agencies failed to take action, it grew and
ultimately led to a large Sunni fundamentalist mob burning hundreds of
homes.
Some of the Christians under attack put up a fight, but were
overwhelmed. The attackers chose a house at random, shot dead the
elder of the house, ransacked it and then set fire to it, burning the
rest of the family members alive who had locked themselves in another
room. Officials have condemned the attack and promised a judicial
inquiry, but it is unlikely that will go anywhere or result in any
prosecutions.
“Seven Christians were burned alive, 28 injured and more
than 50 houses were set on fire by a Muslim mob, angered at an alleged
desecration of the Holy Quran. I called an emergency meeting at the
AFM church on hearing of this and we agreed to immediately despatch a
team to the town to establish the facts and bring what help and
sympathy we could to the people there.
They saw smoke rising from the burning homes and appliances. People
were weeping for their relatives who had been burned alive in the
attack. One eye witness reported that the local mosque Imam had
announced in previous Friday’s prayers that the Christians should be
punished over the alleged desecration of the holy Quran three days
earlier in the village of Koryan.
On Saturday at 9 am, people were gathered at Malakwala Chowk, near the
railway track, very close to the Christian town Gojra. The local Imam
then made an announcement over the loud speakers at the Mosque,
alerting the Christians that they were coming to teach them a lesson
and to prepare themselves. Christians approached the Imam and asked him
to prevent this action and he agreed, assuring them that they were only
conducting a peaceful protest.
Unfortunately, this was not what the mob had in mind. Estimates place
the number at 20,000, but it may not have been so many. They marched
toward Gojra with weapons and chemicals, throwing petrol or chemical
filled bottles into houses and setting them ablaze. They broke into
houses and looted currency and gold. Their clothes, beds, fans,
refrigerators, bicycles, motors cycles and even their pots for eating
and drinking all gone. They now have nothing. Two churches were also
destroyed, their Bible and praise and worship instruments all burned.
Many in the mob traveled from Jhang to take this action as part of the
militant Sunni fundamentalist group Sipah–e-Sahaba. They covered their
faces with veils.
The Police had assured that they were there for the protection of the
Christian community, but they proved powerless in the face of the mob.
Most of the residents had fled but 7 people included Hameed Masih (50),
Parveen (50), Akhlas Masih (40), Asia Bibi (19), Imama Bibi (22) and
Musa (7) were burned alive.”
to provide emergency aid (food and water, bedding, and clothes) to the
families who are now homeless. If you’d like to help a family, click on
this link and the link “Pakistan orphans.” We’ll let you know how the money you donate is spent.
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