Skip to comments.

Posted on 10/28/2001 10:06:11 PM PST by MadIvan

THE slaughter of Christians by Muslims in Pakistan yesterday continued a bloody tradition where the country's religious minorities have repeatedly borne the brunt of sectarian violence.

Most of Pakistan's Hindus were killed or driven out at the time of partition in 1947, leaving a few hundred thousand Christians as the largest non-Muslim group.

Remnants of communities started by Christian missionaries under British colonial rule, the Christians have learnt to stick together, living in so-called "colonies" for protection and keeping their religion secret.

Things that might identify them as Christians, such as a crucifix necklace or an obviously anglicised first name, have to be hidden, especially at times of instability. During periods of heightened insecurity their communities are among the first to be attacked by militant Muslims. They have been bracing themselves once more since the September 11 terrorist attacks.

Yesterday's killings are the latest in a chain of religious violence between Christians and Muslims stretching from Nigeria to the Philippines. The Koran may urge Muslims to honour Christians as a "People of the Book" but relations between the two faiths are at a low ebb as the conflict in Afghanistan stirs historical animosities.

In the wild frontier region of Baluchistan, the 20,000 Christian minority has acted like a punchbag throughout periods of turmoil. Even before the attack in Bahawalpur, a Quetta lawyer, who gave his name as "Shamoun Patrick" for fear of using his real name, said he had moved his family into a safe house inside the city after threats from Muslims.

"Where my family live in the small village of Nawa Killi, the local mosque announced attacks on Christians last week," Mr Patrick said. "This is a serious threat and so we have all left." At least 10 Christians have already been assaulted and dozens of Christian homes robbed in Quetta.

However, attacks on minorities are not new. They have been a feature of every major round of turmoil in Pakistan's history and the years of British colonial rule stretching back into the 19th century.

Christians are a traditional target in Quetta and Mr Patrick said the "colony" in his village was now more than half empty because of the fear of reprisals. He rarely leaves home without his well-thumbed copy of the New Testament and, in private, he can be found consulting the scriptures for inspiration.

Another Christian, who keeps a small crucifix around his neck deliberately hidden beneath his clothes, said he was now living with his entire family in a one-room flat in the city centre.

"By hook or by crook, we will get through this," Anthony Joseph said. "But the British government should be aware of this and allow the Christians of Pakistan visas so they can at least go to Britain to earn money they cannot earn here."

One Christian woman who did not want her name published said the community, created by early British missionaries, faced persecution in every walk of life. "The government does not make jobs available to us," she said. "We cannot open shops and the system in Pakistan is against Christians. We have to stick together."

Muslim militants have already burnt down buildings run by UN charities in Quetta, presumably because they suspected them of being connected to Washington. Elsewhere in the world, long-standing conflicts have taken on religious undertones. Indonesia, the most populous Muslim state, has been the scene of bloody fighting between Christians and Muslims.

Resentment between the two groups on the Molucca islands, fuelled by years of government-sponsored Muslim immigration, boiled over in 1999. Muslim groups sent reinforcements to the Christian-dominated islands. The ensuing battles left 5,000 dead.

Nearby in the Philippines, Muslim rebels in the south of the country have been fighting a separatist war since 1968. The government launched an assault on the most radical of the guerrilla groups, the Abu Sayyaf group associated with Osama bin Laden. In Nigeria tensions between Christians and Muslims have boiled over periodically into bloody riots.

In Sudan, Christian and animist southerners are engaged in a guerrilla war against the Muslim government in the north.

Islam means "submission", not peace. As in your submission as an infidel.

Regards, Ivan

But if we fail, then the whole world, including the United States, including all that we have known and cared for, will sink into the abyss of a new Dark Age made more sinister, and perhaps more protracted, by the lights of perverted science. Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that, if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, "This was their finest hour."

Today is Trinity Sunday. Centuries ago words were written to be a call and a spur to the faithful servants of Truth and Justice: "Arm yourselves, and be ye men of valour, and be in readiness for the conflict; for it is better for us to perish in battle than to look upon the outrage of our nation and our altar. As the Will of God is in Heaven, even so let it be." - Winston Churchill, 1940

This then, my lords and gentlemen, is the message which we send forth today to all states and nations, bound or free, to all the men in all the lands who care for freedom's cause. To our Allies and well-wishers in Europe, to our American friends and helpers drawing ever closer in their might across the ocean, this is the message-lift up your hearts, all will come right. Out of depths of sorrow and sacrifice will be born again the glory of mankind. - Winston Churchill, 1941

"What kind of a people do they think we are? Is it possible that they do not realize that we shall never cease to persevere against them until they have been taught a lesson which they and the world will never forget?" - Winston Churchill, 1941


LET US GO FORWARD TOGETHER - CLICK ABOVE!

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.