By John Newton (Original interview by Maria Lozano) THE leader of Nigeria’s Catholics has spoken out – expressing his concerns for the girls kidnapped in the north of the country last month. Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama of Jos, President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, described his anguish over the plight of the 276 schoolgirls still being held by Boko Haram. They were among more than 300 students seized by members of the terrorist group from a secondary school in Chibok, Borno State on the night of 14th–15th April. Speaking to Aid to the Church in Need during the charity’s…
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There was a mass deportation charter flight to Pakistan from UK on 6th February 2012, it’s unclear if this was the first. Another took place on 19th March 2012 [PVT120] at least one of the airport-transfer buses for this flight was branded “Just Go! Holidays by Coach” and the plane allegedly departed from London Stansted Airport. Then, another took place on 11thApril 2012, and another on 1st May 2012 In the main centres in which many ‘failed’ asylum seekers (inclusive of many people from Pakistan)xi are held before deportation, the following types of targeting measures have been undertaken (the descriptions…
MULTAN:A human rights activist and renowned lawyer of Multan, Rashid Rehman, was killed in a targeted attack in his chamber on Wednesday evening at around 8:30 evening. Rehman and his fellow lawyer were sitting with a client in their private chamber near Kutchery Square when unknown armed gunmen entered their chamber and opened fire on them, injuring Mr Rehman and two others. The injured men were rushed to Nishtar Hospital, Multan,where doctors pronounced Rashid Rehman dead upon arrival. The other two wounded are still receiving treatment and are said to be in critical condition. Rehman was representing Junaid Hafeez who…
MEP Jan Lambert and Wilson Chowdhry Chair of the BPCA MEP Jean Lambert, Chairperson for the European Parliament Delegations to South East Asia, Japan and India and BPCA Chairman Wilson Chowdhry met to discuss the blasphemy Law of Pakistan. During the meeting they also discussed the failed attempts by the court system of Pakistan to hold an appeal hearing for innocent Christian victim Asia Bibi. The BPCA organised the meeting for Saturday 3rd May after Asia’s received a fourth appeal court date, which is fixed for 22nd May 2014. Jean Lambert expressed her great sorrow for the ongoing prejudice faced…
Stan Gain of Woodlands Christian Trust purchased our first ever copy! Our publication “The targeting of Minorities ‘Others’ in Pakistan” has already received 28 orders which is a great testament to the desire for humanitarians to learn more about the diverse communities in Pakistan and the terrible suffering they face. More importantly it justifies the commitment made by the contributing writers from diverse faiths and the wonderful Professor Desmond Fernandes, who ensured this valuable comprehensive report is both fluid and cutting edge. It is not too late to buy your own copy by clicking on the correct link on our…
Father Chris praying at our Redbridge Easter Parade. A truly God inspired meeting with Father Chris of the Ecumenical Catholic Church in the UK at our Redbridge Easter Parade, we have maintained prayers and communication for one another. Father Julian, one of four clergy serving in the Portsmouth area, has been so moved by the suffering of Pakistani Christians, he has today initiated the first of many regular Masses to be offered for the persecuted church in Pakistan. Our regular monthly updates on the torrid situation faced by Christians will help Father Chris and Julian to focus down on the…
This morning we received a text from Advocate Mushtaq Gill based in Lahore. He has informed us that the appeal hearing for Asia Bibi has been set for a fourth time and will now be heard on 27th May 2014. Many of our regular readers will no doubt be skeptical of this date and concerned that once again the presiding judge will fail to attend the hearing. That is why we ask concerned humanitarians of all faith to sign our petition below. The petition calls for the Government to ensure that judges are made to feel safe enough to allow…
Victim Saira recovers at Alama Iqbal Civil Hospital Here is a report of another Christian girl that was raped in Pakistan. The report was received from Advocate Mushtaq Gill and is copied in verbatim: Sialkot: On Easter Day, Saira,a Christian girl (7 yrs), was raped by one Muslim man Mohammad Fakhar Alam alias Phool in village Mahly Ki Tehsil Daska District, Sialkot. The little girl was not hospitalized for three days despite severe bleeding .Two Muslim Landlords Mr. Ahmad Yar Nagra and Mr.Zulifqar Nagra pressurized her family not to file a complaint against the rapist. On 22 April the FIR…
ISLAMABAD: Today April 4, 2014, a session court in Toba Tak Singh announced two further deaths sentence for Christian couple, Shafaqat Emmanuel and his wife Shagufta Kauser. Both were caught up in a blasphemy law case for apparently sending sending blasphemous text massages to a local Imam in Gojra. Gojra is the same city in which seven people were shot dead and over 100 homes and two churches burnt to the ground, during 1st August 2009, in one of Pakistan’ most severe attacks on a Christian community. This attack also lead to the formation of the BPCA. According to World…
Rape of women and young girls is unfortunately increasingly very common in Pakistan, and often Christian women are an especial target. Most go unreported to the police. We have reported on just a few of these cases, and a few months ago five year old Sumbal was snatched and raped off a city street. It is not clear whether the girl was a Christian, although Christian activists have been among those protesting over the case. Only a year ago we reported on a 9 year old Christian girl gang raped by three Muslim boys. Sometimes boys are sodomized too, including…