05673
Dec. 14, 2005

Pakistan churches plan day of prayer
to protest draconian blasphemy law 

by Anto Akkara
Ecumenical News International 

NEW DELHI — Churches in Pakistan will observe a “day of fast and prayer” on Dec. 20 to protest a blasphemy law that often leads to violence against Christians in the Muslim-majority nation. 

        “As long as the blasphemy law remains in force, we will continue to suffer,” said Victor Azariah, general secretary of the National Council of Churches of Pakistan (NCCP), which represents four major Protestant denominations. 

        The protest is planned for the 40th day after a mob attack on Christians in the village of Sangla Hill, where a Christian was accused of blasphemy. The Muslim crowd, which witnesses said numbered about 100, arrived in buses and proceeded to torch Catholic, Presbyterian and Salvation Army places of worship and a Roman Catholic convent, school and orphanage. 

        Christians account for about 3 million of Pakistan’s population of 162 million. They have repeatedly protested the blasphemy law, which says that anyone who insults Islam or the prophet Mohammed is subject to life imprisonment or execution.

        Several Christians have been sentenced to death, although the verdicts were later overturned in higher courts. However, in at least a half-dozen cases, Christians charged with blasphemy have been killed before coming to trial or after being acquitted.

        Peter Jacob, executive secretary of the Justice and Peace Commission of the Roman Catholic Church in Pakistan, told Ecumenical News International that, although the government has started rebuilding institutions destroyed by the mob, “Sangla is still simmering.”  

        More than 3,000 Muslims gathered in Sangla early this month to demand the unconditional release of 88 Muslims arrested for involvement in the attacks on Christian targets. Muslim clerics have called for a public hanging of the Christian accused of blasphemy.