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Pakistan Christians demand help
BBC ^ | Wednesday, May 16, 2007

Posted on 05/16/2007 12:48:32 PM PDT by Jedi Master Pikachu

Priest Pram Samuel shows the letter ordering Christians to convert to Islam
The warning has terrorised Christians in Charsadda

Christians in north-west Pakistan are demanding government protection following threats of bomb attacks if they do not become Muslims.

An unsigned letter received 10 days ago said they had to convert by Thursday.

Militants have been carrying out a sustained campaign to prevent "anti-Islamic" activities in North West Frontier Province (NWFP).

Last week they blew up a number of music and video shops in the towns of Charsadda and Tangi.

Living in fear

The Christian community, a tiny minority, received an anonymous letter demanding they convert or face the consequences.

Soldier on duty outside a church in Charsadda

The government says it is giving protection

The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says that while a few families have left, the rest live in fear.

Police say they have stepped up security at churches but Christians complain that not enough has been done to protect them.

"We are in great danger and need protection," said Michael John, the head of Pakistan's Catholic Church and a minority Christian parliamentarian.

The warning to Christians to leave Charsadda was delivered to his home.

'No response'

The town has recently been hit by violence - it was this year the scene of a suicide bomb attack on Interior Minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao, which killed more than 38 people.

About 500 Christian families are living there - most migrated from India before the creation of Pakistan.

"Only the few policemen who patrol there on the motorbike are watching the Christians, but no significant security is provided," said religious minorities spokesman Shabaz Bhati.

"We are very much in fear that due to the lack of security these extremists will find a way to attack our people easily."

Mr Bhati also asked government officials to publicly condemn the threats but says he has got no response.





TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: asia; christian; christianity; nwfp; pakistan; persecution; sasia; southasia
Because it is angering, if you want to help support Christianity on the BBC, here's a link to a BBC Have Your Say where Christianity is being bashed by a bunch of atheists and sundry other liberals.
1 posted on 05/16/2007 12:48:35 PM PDT by Jedi Master Pikachu
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To: Constitutionalist Conservative; Gator113; Zhang Fei; DanielLongo; Tamar1973; Dr. Marten; brf1; ...
Asia pinglist.
2 posted on 05/16/2007 12:50:27 PM PDT by Jedi Master Pikachu ( What is your take on Acts 15:20 (abstaining from blood) about eating meat? Could you freepmail?)
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To: Jedi Master Pikachu

Figures. Posted either before or during a “wave” of posted threads....


3 posted on 05/16/2007 1:03:30 PM PDT by Jedi Master Pikachu ( What is your take on Acts 15:20 (abstaining from blood) about eating meat? Could you freepmail?)
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To: Jedi Master Pikachu

It can’t be true! Islam is a Religion of Peace!!!!


4 posted on 05/16/2007 1:35:55 PM PDT by Barney Gumble (A liberal is someone too broadminded to take his own side in a quarrel - Robert Frost)
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To: Barney Gumble

Where is Dr. Rice? [sound of crickets]


5 posted on 05/16/2007 1:39:23 PM PDT by Diogenesis (Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum)
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To: Jedi Master Pikachu

Sadly these guys days are limited - Pakistan has already gone “native” - Musharraf won’t be able to hold up this time around.


6 posted on 05/18/2007 3:47:31 AM PDT by expatguy (http://laotze.blogspot.com/)
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To: Jedi Master Pikachu

bump.


7 posted on 05/19/2007 9:51:16 AM PDT by Zack Nguyen
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