If Islam were really peaceful and tolerant, shouldn’t Islamic states be paradises for non-Muslims?
“Christian Homes in Pakistan Hit with Gunshot, Fuel Bombs,” Morning Star News, February 15, 2024:
LAHORE, Pakistan (Christian Daily International–Morning Star News) – Muslims fired gunshots and threw fuel bombs at the homes of Christians in a village in Pakistan at 2 a.m. on Monday (Feb. 12) for supporting an opposing political party in last week’s elections, sources said.
No one was hurt in the attacks in Chak 6/11-L village in Sahiwal District, Punjab Province, by area Muslims also upset about Christians constructing a church building, residents said.
More than 20 armed men led by Imran Yousaf, also known as Mana, attacked three houses of related Christians, said Arshad Masih.
“They threw petrol bombs at our homes and fired gunshots on the gates, damaging property worth hundreds of thousands of Pakistani rupees,” Masih, who has filed charges, told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. “Fortunately, no one was killed or injured in the attack.”
While an area clergyman said the assailants were upset at the Christians’ support of a candidate of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in the Feb. 8 national elections, Masih said the suspects also nurtured a grudge over the church building.
“Ever since my family built the church two years ago, these men have been trying to pick fights with us,” Masih said. “They call us ‘Chuhras’ [a pejorative term used for Christians] and are always finding ways to pressure us into closing the church.”
He was sleeping in the house of his brother, the Rev. Hashmat Masih, pastor of the church, when the assailants threw fuel bombs into it, with several valuables damaged by fire, he said.
“The assailants also fired bullets at the house, some of which pierced the metal gate but did not cause any injury to us,” Arshad Masih said. “The assailants then went to the house of my paternal cousin, Tahir Masih, who is an elder of the church. They threw petrol bombs inside his house which burned his loader rickshaw – his source of livelihood – and other belongings.”
After attacking Tahir Masih’s house, the Muslims opened fire on the house of Arshad Masih’s brother, Shaukat Masih, on the same street.
“Luckily, no one in the family was injured as they had hidden themselves inside the house,” Arshad Masih said.
The timely arrival of police forced the assailants to flee, keeping them from harming the Christians, he said, adding that officers have yet to make any arrests.
Bishop Abraham Daniel of Sahiwal Baptist Church said more than 100 Christian families live in the village.
“Tension already existed between the Christians and Muslims over the construction of the church,” Daniel told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. “This incident occurred due to the Christians’ support for the candidate of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). The assailants are affiliated with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), whose candidate won the election from that constituency.”
Daniel said that he helped the attacked families register the case against the assailants, who have sought to appease them with an informal “reconciliation” agreement.
“However, we have made it clear that reconciliation will only take place if they give written guarantees that no Christian will henceforth be targeted by them,” he said….
David says
Pakistan, that oasis of peace and interfaith tolerance in the Muslim world. It reminds me of that giant hippy commune that once existed in Al-Andalus. I’m sure the BBC and CNN will be as shocked as we are and give it the coverage it deserves, if they can ever grow a conscience and spines. God bless and protect our Christian brothers and sisters in Pakistan!
SC says
Return the compliment on mosques during prayers with 500lb’ers and napalm. Let them feel victimhood. Just remember there is no collateral damage when fighting islam.
STJOHNOFGRAFTON says
Islam makes ignorant Muslims slaves to misery because their god Allah says “you die for me”. These Pakistani Christians are persecuted because they know that their God, Jesus Christ says “I died for you”.
OLD GUY says
Oh the love and peace of islam. Oh wait that only is for the followers of islam according to who is in charge. For everyone else who is not islamic or who errors in their islamic life style Violence and Death are the answer. For women and young boys rape maybe the first part of the violence. Of course this is all approved of by Moe and Allah according to the non-burnable Quran instruction manual.
Attacking non-islamic people is a protected rule of the world peace organizations so as to be in compliance with Money flowing in and Islamophobia protection for the Islamic migrant invaders.
Money may not be able to buy LOVE but it sure as hell can buy tolerance of HATE and VIOLENCE..