27 October 2009
Pakistan church calls for an end to religious violence
The leader of the Methodist Church in Britain has welcomed moves
by Church leaders in Pakistan which call on the Pakistani
government to end religious violence in the country.
This year, violent attacks against Christians have left many dead
and made hundreds of families homeless, as many more fear for their
safety. Church leaders in Pakistan have formed a Christian Action
Forum to address the problem and are lobbying their Government to
act to end the violence.
The Revd Dr Martyn Atkins, General Secretary of the Methodist
Church in Britain, said, "I welcome this announcement and want to
add my voice to theirs in calling for serious and credible efforts
from the Government to stem the violence against religious
minorities. I also want to extend my sympathy to the families of
those who have lost loved ones in the recent violent
attacks."
Martyn affirmed the right of all people to live in safety and
worship freely, encouraging Christians to pray for the Church and
people of Pakistan, especially on Sunday which is the 39th
anniversary of the founding of the United Church of Pakistan.
Steve Pearce, Partnership Coordinator for Asia, is currently in
Pakistan and yesterday attended a press conference given by the
Moderator of the Church of Pakistan, Bishop Samuel Azariah, and the
Roman Catholic Archbishop of Lahore, His Grace Lawrence John
Saldanha. At the conference, Church leaders called for the repeal
of laws which encourage crime and discrimination, especially the
controversial blasphemy laws, which have been used to justify
violence against Christians.
Steve said, "There is considerable tension in the country following
indiscriminate suicide bombings and the assassination of a
provincial government minister. All schools must now have armed
guards, establishments where girls are educated are particularly
worried and many church meetings are being cancelled. It is late in
the evening now, and I can hear gunfire in nearby streets."
Speaking after the press conference, Bishop Azariah commented, "The
most important thing about the new Forum is that Christian leaders
are now struggling together for the establishment of democratic
values in Pakistan and fighting against the discriminatory laws
being used against the religious minorities."
Martyn also invited Methodists in Britain to lobby their
representatives at the national and European parliaments to
question the Pakistan government about the protection of the rights
of minorities in the country. He welcomed the contribution of
Pakistani Christians to the life of the Methodist Church in Britain
and encouraged local congregations across Britain to offer pastoral
support to them during this difficult time.