In a brave show of solidarity Pakistani Christian asylum seekers of Bangkok gathered outside the French and German Embassies in Thailand, determined to
sow seeds of hope and peace.
In recent weeks the world has been shocked by indiscriminate shootings in the infamous Munich attack,
the slaying of dozens by a crazed lorry driver in Nice during the Bastille Day attack and the unwarranted murder of 85 year old Catholic Priest Father Jacques Hamel.
All of the attacks above have been attributed to Islamic extremism a phenomenon all to familiar to Pakistan’s beleaguered Christians.
On Tuesday 2nd August emboldened by the visit of the Chairman of the British Pakistani Christian Association, Wilson Chowdhry, Pak-Christians from
across Thailand gathered to share a time of prayer and reflection. For many of those gathered it was the first time a large cluster of their community
had gathered on public streets, during their unforgiving tenure as UNHCR registered asylum seekers in Thailand. Meeting in large groups draws
attention and could lead to their arrest and long term incarceration in the brutal Immigration Detention Centres of Thailand. This is because Thailand
is not a signatory to international UN Conventions for Asylum and determine that asylum seekers and visa overstayers.
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Attending the vigil was George Naz,
a man who now suffers the ignominy of re-persecution after being a voice for many victims of persecution in Pakistan. His bold stance against
extremism which included leading televised protests led to him be targeted by clerics and fleeing Pakistan to avoid sentencing under false blasphemy
charges. He has been in Thailand two and a half years and is still awaiting his initial interview that should lead to his ‘Refugee Determination Status’
(RSD) with the UNHCR.
George Naz said:
“We cannot stay silent we must speak out against these atrocities. When we choose to ignore the plight of others we are only serving to embolden extremists and in the long term we all will suffer.”
George prayed for unity amongst mankind and for the scourge of extremism that has encompassed the Islamic world to be purged through love. He called
for succour and peace to be restored in the lives of families who have lost loved ones to extremist violence.
Whilst the vigil was underway local police officers came to investigate what to them seemed like a disturbance. They started to take pictures and aggressively
asked what purpose was behind the gathering. Wilson Chowdhry explained the desire for Christians to seek peace and remember those who had recently
lost their lives. The rapid powerful bating of hearts of asylum seekers had a palpable resonance. Fear of arrest has made the Pak-Christian asylum
seekers – who make up the largest body of asylum seekers in Thailand – anxious in the presence of police.
Nevertheless the stayed where they where trusting God and the Police officers moved by the nature of the vigil agreed for the group to continue their
reflections. The police officers even permitted pictures of themselves standing in solidarity with assembled Christians – though they continued
to take pictures of the group during that process.
Emboldened by the reaction of the police an embassy employee joined the vigil and received the flowers from the BPCA, agreeing to deliver them to the
French Ambassador with a short note of condolence and support.
French Embassy employee receives flowers from BPCA vigil while police officer takes his own pictures.
After completing the hand over of the flowers to the Embassy staff member the vigil group rapidly set off towards the German Embassy, eager to hold
a similar vigil at the German embassy and to escape the stifling presence of local police officers who could potentially turn nasty at any point.
On arrival at the German Embassy things were much easier as an embassy staff member was present in the reception booth. He gave consent for the
vigil but ordered that it be complete within 5 minutes. Rather hurriedly the group lit candles, prayed and held a minutes silence and reflection.
Realizing the group were not dangerous an Embassy employee also joined the vigil and flowers were received by him to be delivered to the German Embassy.
German Embassy Employee, George Naz and Wilson Chowdhry
James Anthony Carlos a BPCA volunteer from Australia, said:
“I was profoundly moved, that despite the hardships encountered by our brothers and sisters in Christ. They were compelled to brave the night and show their solidarity.”
Wilson Chowdhry, Chairman of the British Pakistani Christian Association, said:
“The Pak-Christian asylum seeker community in Thailand suffer greatly in their chosen place of safety, worse still, they are victims of extremism the likes of which people in the west simply cannot fathom. Despite having to cope with their own anguish and pain they had a strong desire to show solidarity with the victims of the heinous violence in Germany and France. Innocent people died in these attacks and we share your pain was a clear message from those attending our vigil.”
“Pakistani Christians are not calling for violence or revenge but for mankind to stop it’s decline into base hatred of one another. In a moving testimony George Naz spoke of how he raised a voice for persecuted minorities in Pakistan – he has had to pay a heavy price. Despite his sacrifice there is no-one to help him- now that he lives so ignominiously. My challenge to the west is for them to consider the plight of Christians in the Islamic world. In particular consider: Where is the sanctuary for Christians?”
BPCA paid for all associated costs for the protest including travel fares for the vigil guests. We help Pakistani Christians survive the harsh realities of their unaccepted asylum status in Thailand. If you would like to donate to our aid work which includes the establishment of underground schools for children, shelter and food for victims, bail fees for arrested visa overstayers and much more then please click (here)
