January 21, 2009
Pakistani Christian sisters Parvisha Masih (18) and Sanam Masih (14) face a long legal battle after escaping from Muslim kidnappers who raped and forced them to convert to Islam. The Masih family anticipates a long and difficult battle for justice, as the legal system typically favours Muslims and rarely rules against alleged conversions to Islam.
Pakistan was formed in 1947 as the Muslim section in the partition of British India. In 1971, as a result of a civil war, East Pakistan left Pakistan to form the state of Bangladesh. For more than half its history, Pakistan has been ruled by the military, deposing elected governments at will. Christians face severe opposition from militant Islamic groups. They are regularly barred from jobs or face troubles from their employers and co-workers. Christian merchants are often harassed. The war in Afghanistan intensified problems, with Pakistani Christians seen as being a part of an attack on Islam.
In 1998, Sharia law was adopted in Pakistan, under which Christians have limited rights. Many Pakistani Christians have been falsely accused under Law 295c of blaspheming Mohammed or the Koran, a crime punishable by death. Even if acquitted, those accused often face threats, violence and even death at the hands of mobs following their acquittal. Proposed amendments intended to stem some of the abuses of the law have had little effect. The North West Frontier Province has passed a bill that has been described by critics as the "Talibanization" of Pakistan. The law sets up a watchdog with the power to reform the society in accordance to "Islamic values," which includes ensuring that such values are observed in public places. The law is strongly opposed by the federal government. Christians are praying that this law will not be implemented, and that they can move toward more religious freedoms.
Imprisonment, torture and death continue to dog the path of Christians in Pakistan. In August 2004, 26 year old Nasir Masih was arrested on false charges of theft and subsequently beaten to death while in police custody. In all of this, Pakistani believers continue to remain faithful, even while risking their safety and property for the sake of Christ.
Pakistani Christian sisters Parvisha Masih (18) and Sanam Masih (14) face a long legal battle after escaping from Muslim kidnappers who raped and forced them to convert to Islam. The Masih family anticipates a long and difficult battle for justice, as the legal system typically favours Muslims and rarely rules against alleged conversions to Islam.
Pakistan was formed in 1947 as the Muslim section in the partition of British India. In 1971, as a result of a civil war, East Pakistan left Pakistan to form the state of Bangladesh. For more than half its history, Pakistan has been ruled by the military, deposing elected governments at will. Christians face severe opposition from militant Islamic groups. They are regularly barred from jobs or face troubles from their employers and co-workers. Christian merchants are often harassed. The war in Afghanistan intensified problems, with Pakistani Christians seen as being a part of an attack on Islam.
In 1998, Sharia law was adopted in Pakistan, under which Christians have limited rights. Many Pakistani Christians have been falsely accused under Law 295c of blaspheming Mohammed or the Koran, a crime punishable by death. Even if acquitted, those accused often face threats, violence and even death at the hands of mobs following their acquittal. Proposed amendments intended to stem some of the abuses of the law have had little effect. The North West Frontier Province has passed a bill that has been described by critics as the "Talibanization" of Pakistan. The law sets up a watchdog with the power to reform the society in accordance to "Islamic values," which includes ensuring that such values are observed in public places. The law is strongly opposed by the federal government. Christians are praying that this law will not be implemented, and that they can move toward more religious freedoms.
Imprisonment, torture and death continue to dog the path of Christians in Pakistan. In August 2004, 26 year old Nasir Masih was arrested on false charges of theft and subsequently beaten to death while in police custody. In all of this, Pakistani believers continue to remain faithful, even while risking their safety and property for the sake of Christ.
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