The Church in Pakistan might not be the largest or wealthiest, but it is one of the most faithful. Christians in Pakistan face substantial levels of persecution and discrimination.

By ACN Staff

Christians make up a small proportion of Pakistan’s population, around 1-2%. Life is often very difficult for these Christians as it is for other religious minorities in Pakistan such as Hindus and Ahmadia Muslims. Take for example the case of Amjad Arif, a Catholic man from Lahore. On 15 March 2015 suicide bombers attacked St. John’s Church and Christ Church in Youhanabad in the Christian quarter of Lahore. At least 20 people died and 80 were injured. Tragically, rioting occurred in the wake of the bombings and two Muslim men were lynched. In response the local police arrested approximately 40 Christian men seemingly at random. Amjad Arif, a father of two boys and one girl, was one of the Christians that was arrested. Amjad drove a rickshaw (three-wheeled vehicle) for a living.  

After being arrested the Christian men were told that they would be let go if they converted to Islam. One of the men did convert and was let go 3 hours after his conversion. Amjad described the harsh conditions in the prison: “When a Christian prisoner fell ill, he was not treated very well. Two of us died in that prison.“ In addition to this the Christian prisoners were beaten and abused by the police. During this whole ordeal the Christians regularly prayed together. It was very difficult for Amjad’s family to get by while Amjad was in prison. They had to sell Amjad’s rickshaw to pay for rent. The family were also supported by Aid to the Church in Need’s partner the Pakistani Catholic Bishops' National Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP). After spending nearly 5 years in prison, the Christian men were released on the 27 January 2020. A televangelist, Pastor Anwar Fazal, paid the families of the two murdered Muslim approximately $150,000 as compensation. In response the police let the Christian prisoners go. Despite being released from prison Amjad has lived in fear of retaliation. 

This was not a one-off incident. The Pakistani police and legal system often mistreat Christians. Probably one of the best-known cases was that of Asia Bibi, a mother of 5. Following a dispute about Asia Bibi drinking from the same cup as Muslim colleagues, she was accused of blasphemy. She was found guilty in court and was sentenced to death. The Governor of Punjab Salman Taseer (a Muslim) and the Religious Minorities Minister Shahbaz Bhatti (a Catholic) both pleaded on behalf of Asia Bibi and criticized the blasphemy laws she was sentenced to death under. Both men were assassinated in 2011 for the support they offered Asia Bibi and other religious minorities in Pakistan. Asia Bibi’s case was appealed and finally she was released in 2018, after the Pakistani Supreme Court overruled the sentence made against her. Asia Bibi had spent 8 years on death row while her case was appealed, during this entire time she never lost faith in God. After being released her life was under threat and she ultimately had to leave Pakistan. This is just one example among many of how religious minorities in Pakistan have been targeted by Pakistan’s blasphemy laws.

There have been other cases were shocking decisions against Christians by Pakistani courts not been overruled. A long running issue in Pakistan is the abduction of Christian and Hindu teenage girls by Muslim men, who then force them into marriages and to sign statements that they have converted to Islam. There are around 500 of these cases in Pakistan.  

Maria Shahbaz, a 14-year-old Catholic from Faisalaba was one of these girls. She was abducted one day by several armed men. She was brought to one of the men’s houses where she was raped. The accomplices recorded the rape and later Maria was told she had to sign some blank documents, or they would release the video. Maria signed the documents, and the men used the signature to forge a written statement that Maria had converted to Islam and was now married to her abductor. Maria’s family appealed this case to the high court in Lahore, but the court ruled that Maria was now lawfully married to her abductor. The family was appealing the ruling but in August this year Maria managed to escape. She has repudiated the claims that she had converted to Islam and maintains that she remained a Catholic throughout her captivity and remains one to this day. Maria and her family are now in hiding with the family fearing retaliation.

The persecution of Christians in Pakistan is a life and death issue. During the previously mentioned attack on St. John’s Church in Lahore, the suicide bomber was prevented from entering the church where Mass was being celebrated. A 20-year-old man, Akash Bashir, was outside the church acting as a volunteer guard. Two other men, Youssuf and Sikander, were on guard with him. Youssuf was shot and killed at the beginning of the attack on the church. A suicide bomber ran towards the church while Sikander started to close the church’s gate. Akash grabbed hold of the suicide bomber, wrapping his arms around the man’s body, preventing the bomber from running through the gate Sikander was in the process of closing. The suicide bomber detonated his bomb, killing himself and Akash. Sikander was injured in the blast. Akash’s actions saved dozens if not over a hundred lives. The damage and mayhem does not bare thinking about if the bomber had of gained access to the packed church.

These examples from Pakistan show us how lucky we in Ireland are that we are not risking our lives when we go to Mass or declare our Catholicism.  The current situation in Pakistan is actually very similar to Ireland under the penal laws. This should give us hope that the persecution under which Pakistani Christians live does not have to be a permanent reality.  The faith shown by the persecuted Pakistani Christians is truly inspirational. It shows the real impact of being open to God’s grace. The sacrifice made by Akash to save others demonstrates the love that is a central part of the Christian message. This love is itself a reflection of the which God holds for all His children.