Christian Persecution Update:

AFRICA/EGYPT - Clashes in the neighbourhood of Cairo's garbage collectors: missionary who works there gives testimony to Fides

Cairo (Agenzia Fides) - “We hope that these remain isolated incidents, because we are seeing what I have been saying for some time, namely that all the sins of Egyptian society will come to the surface,”says Fr Luciano Verdoscia to Fides, a Comboni missionary, who has worked for years in Cairo in contact with the children who live in Mansheya, in the district where the garbage collectors live (called “Zabbaleen”), located at the foot of the Moqattam hills. In this area, reported the Egyptian Minister of Health, on the night between 8 and 9 March, ten people died in clashes between Muslims and Copts who were protesting against the destruction of the Church in Atfih, in Helwan (see Fides 7/3/2011).
Fr Verdoscia gives this description of the area of violence: “the district is divided into at least seven different areas. One is those is for the Zabbaleen (garbage collectors) where the Christians are concentrated. All other areas are inhabited by Muslims. A good part of the population come from the south of Egypt, where there are feuds that were then transported here. However, there are also many Christians who have a 'warlike' spirit. I have been working there for some time and am shocked by the verbal abuse by the local residents. When people have no cultural background and live in difficult conditions, these are things that happen in all Countries.” 
Referring to the violent acts which have occurred, Fr Luciano says: “What happened is indicative of the current situation in the Country, which on one hand is arises out of ignorance, and on the other by a mistaken interpretation of religion. Even many Muslim scholars agree on this point, that there are some incorrect interpretations of Koranic verses allowing discrimination against women and Christians. Even the prohibition for women to protest yesterday, 8 March in Tahrir Square, is a negative sign, which show the presence in the Arab world of discriminatory attitudes towards certain groups in society, such as Christians and women. I hope that the people's revolution moves ahead to address these issues. Otherwise, we can not exclude the fact that the Country slides towards civil war, or at least violent clashes between factions. 
“Fortunately there are also encouraging signs,” says Fr Verdoscia, “such as the very timely and positive position taken by the imam of al-Azhar, Ahmed el-Tayeb, who condemned the destruction of the Church in Atfih, and by the army chief, who promised the reconstruction of the place of worship.”
Fr Luciano concludes: “even in the complexity of the situation, as Christians, faced with the discrimination suffered by our communities, we need to make ourselves heard, in a peaceful manner, saying loudly and clearly that we do not want discrimination, because the truth must be proclaimed.” (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 9/3/2011)

AFRICA/LIBYA - “I trust that something will give way to a peaceful solution,” the Apostolic Vicar of Tripoli tells Fides

Tripoli (Agenzia Fides) - “There is complete calm in Tripoli. The city appears tranquil and silent. There are no cars on the streets,” Bishop Giovanni Innocenzo Martinelli, Apostolic Vicar of Tripoli, in Libya, tells Fides. “I don't know what to think,” continues Bishop Martinelli. “I want to think that underlying these hours of silence a peaceful outcome to the crisis is being negotiated. I trust that something will give way to this. I believe that moral and other pressures at certain levels may shift the situation.” He pointed to the appeal launched by Pope Benedict XVI at the Angelus on Sunday 6 March for the people being attacked in Libya. Bishop Martinelli affirms: “the appeal for prayer for Libya by Pope Benedict XVI gave us great comfort. It was an important message for us to understand that we are not on our own.” (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 9/3/2011)

 

ASIA/PAKISTAN - Zardari meets with family of Shahbaz Bhatti: his brother Paul close to becoming Minister for Minorities

 

Shahbaz Bhatti

 

Islamabad (Agenzia Fides) – Paul Bhatti, the oldest brother of Shabhaz, the Minister for Minorities who was killed on 2 March, seems close to taking his brother's position as the new Federal Minister for Religious Minorities in Pakistan. The appointment, note sources of Fides, could be ratified in coming days. Paul Bhatti, the surgeon who lived in Italy for six years, arrived in Pakistan for the funeral of his brother, and has just been elected the new Director of the “All Pakistan Minorities Alliance” (APMA), the network founded by Shahbaz Bhatti in 2002 to defend religious minorities. Delegates from the APMA met for an emergency meeting the day after the Minister's death and elected Paul, certain that he “is the right person to continue Shahbaz' mission,” they advised Fides.
Yesterday, the family of Bhatti, (his mother, four brothers and a sister) were received by the President of Pakistan Ali Zardari, who declared: “Bhatti's sacrifice for the Country, for religious minorities, to promote interreligious harmony and tolerance will not be in vain and will be remembered for long to come.”
The President noted that, at the request of the Pakistan People’s Party – the ruling party, to which Zardari belongs, as does the Premier Gilani – Paul Bhatti, new Director of the APMA and held in esteem by the PPP, has been appointed “Special consultant” for Religious Minorities to the Government. This appointment, say our sources, means that Paul is close to being officially appointed as Minister. 
In recent days Zardari expressed his personal wish to appoint a family member of Shahbaz Bhatti to the seat he left vacant. Other names of Christian candidates have also been circulating, such as Javed Michael, Khalid Gill (also from the APMA) and Jacob Daniel, all politicians close to the PPP (see Fides 7/3/2011). Paul Bhatti, fled from Pakistan in 2002 and was welcomed in Italy. He lived and studied in Treviso, becoming a doctor, specialising in emergency surgery. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 9/3/2011)

 

ASIA/PAKISTAN - Protest by Pakistanis in Rome: Catholics grateful to the Pope, disassociate from protest

Rome (Agenzia Fides) – Groups of Christian Pakistanis in Italy have announced a protest in Rome tomorrow, 10 March, from 3.00 – 5.00 pm, in front of the Embassy of Pakistan to Italy. Some politicians and unionists have confirmed their attendance at the initiative – which intends to stigmatise the Government for not protecting Minister Bhatti and the scarce protection for minorities. However, priests, men and women religious, Catholic laity, and Catholic associations will not attend.
As reported to Fides, the Catholic faithful, in fact, wish to formally disassociate themselves with this type of initiative which may have the consequence of escalating into conflict with the Pakistani Government and may have negative repercussions for the local Catholic community in Pakistan. 
The Pakistani Catholic community in Italy, after recently having organised a Memorial Mass for Minister Bhatti, celebrated by Card. Jean-Louis Tauran (see Fides 7/3/2011), has expressed its desire to meet with the Holy Father to thank him for his words spoken in defence of the Christians who suffer in Pakistan and for his commitment to religious freedom. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 9/3/2011)

 

ASIA/PAKISTAN - Asia Bibi speaks about Minister Bhatti: we need to protect religious minorities

Lahore (Agenzia Fides) – Asia Bibi, from her isolation cell in jail in Sheikhupura, Punjab, expresses her “pain and concern for the death of Minister Shahbaz Bhatti”. Her lawyer, seeing her yesterday, reported this to Fides. Asia is saddened by the death of a person who “like Governor Taseer, defended her publicly, and paid with his life”. The lawyer, contacted through the Masihi Foundation, who is providing Asia's legal support, tells Fides: “Asia says that part of her hope died with Bhatti, but there are other things that give her hope: the support of all Christians in Pakistan and around the world; the visit of her children, made possible recently after bureaucratic problems.” 
Asia is still afraid, given that she could be the next target of radical Islamic groups: inside the jail in Sheikhupura posters have appeared with images of Taseer and Bhatti with a large question mark and the phrase meant to intimidate: “Who will be next?”.
Asia's lawyers tell Fides that, given current tensions, it would be preferable to stall things before starting the appeal process. And they reassert, together with all Christian lawyers of Punjab, the urgency to defend religious minorities in Pakistan and to protect the “rule of law”.
Yesterday, the Christian Lawyers Association in Pakistan (CLAP) organised a public demonstration in Lahore, marching from the Palace of the High Court to the Palace of the Parliament in Punjab. Asma Jahangir, the female President of the Bar Association at the Supreme Court participated in the march.
The President of CLAP, Akbar Munawar Durrani said that Bhatti's murder is a tragic testimony of the terrorism and extremism that is raging throughout the country and called for: the abolition of all discriminatory laws; the ban on publications that feed hatred against religious minorities; the legal prosecution of radical Islamic leaders who have publicly called people to kill members of religious minorities, because they are in favour of revising the blasphemy law.
“It's obvious that the root of such persecution is the blasphemy law: we will continue to seek its repeal,” said the Centre for Legal Aid, Assistance and Settlement (CLAAS), based in London, which defends many innocent victims accused of blasphemy in Pakistan. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 8/3/2011)

 

ASIA/PAKISTAN - Lent for Christians in Pakistan: prayer and a “Caravan for Shahbaz”

Islamabad (Agenzia Fides) – Mass and prayer vigils were celebrated in more than 500 churches in Pakistan yesterday, concluding three days of mourning to remember Catholic Minister Shahbaz Bhatti, killed on 2 March in Islamabad. There were also peaceful marches on the streets. In Southern Punjab more than 4,000 marched. A special commemoration will be held in Karachi on 18 March with political and religious leaders. And civil society in Pakistan is organising a “Caravan for Shahbaz”, which will stop in each of Pakistan's major cities to create awareness for minorities' rights.
“Unfortunately today we no longer feel as secure living in this country. If they killed a Minister, what could happen to us?” Fr Mario Rodriguez, National Director of the PMS in Pakistan comments to Fides. “After the death of Bhatti, our work is to continue praying, to have faith and hope, and to continue making the local people aware of the situation – always in a peaceful manner. We will carry this out during Lent, with Easter in sight, with courage and faith, out of respect for Bhatti's memory.
Fr Mario points out that, together with the killers, “lawyers, journalists, politicians and radical Islamic religious leaders are also responsible for his death, because they glorified the extremists and the assassins, and contributed to propagating a climate of hatred and intolerance in Pakistani society.” (PA) (Agenzia Fides 7/3/2011)

 

ASIA/INDIA - Once again, a cross erected by Christians is pulled down; for the faithful it amounts to “selective demolition”

Bombay (Agenzia Fides) – The Christian faithful in the district of “Byculla-Mazagaon”, in Bombay, had just erected a cross when it was demolished by bulldozers a few days ago, at the request of the civil authorities of the municipality. As reported by local sources of Fides, the faithful today, certain of their rights, organised a prayer meeting, led by Father Anthony Charangha, and relocated to the cross, announcing the same for another three crosses taken down. The meeting was also attended by A. Mathai, vice-president of the Commission for Religious Minorities in the State of Maharashtra, actively involved in the appeal filed by the Christians to the civil authorities. Mathai said that “given the existence of positive evidence, they certainly have the right to re-erect the crosses.” 
Yesterday, Sunday, 6 March, a procession led by Cardinal Oswald Gracias, Archbishop of Bombay, united thousands of faithful Catholics and those of other denominations in the streets at the “Cross of Maidan”, to protest the demolition that took place for at least three crosses in the municipality of Byculla-Mazagaon. The Cardinal said that the Prime Minister of the State contacted him, assuring him of a meeting to resolve the issue. 
“The Governors of several states of India are destroying religious structures, citing a Supreme Court verdict, but only carrying out a selective demolition of Christian symbols,” complains Joseph Dias to Fides, an activist from the Christian-Catholic Secular Forum, organiser of the protest march. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 7/3/2011)

ASIA/INDIA - New wave of anti-Christian violence in Orissa: the nightmare returns for faithful

Bhubaneshwar (Agenzia Fides) – A new wave of anti-Christian violence has once again plunged the local faithful into terror, local Fides' sources report, alarmed that tribal Christians in the district of Malkangiri, Orissa, have suffered repeated attacks since December. In the last month, attacks have intensified. More than ten episodes have been registered, during which several of the faithful were injured, among them pregnant women and children. According to Pastor Vijay Purusu, from the Evangelical Church, “Bethel Church”, Christians have been attacked and beaten in night raids. At least four families, terrified, have fled their homes. 
Orissa (central-eastern India), and in particular the district of Khandamal, was the scene of a massive series of attacks and aggressions against Christians in 2007-2008, when over 6,600 Christian homes were destroyed and more than 56 thousand people were left homeless. Now, members of the local Christian community tell Fides, it is feared that these new episodes, the work of the same militant fundamentalist Hindu movement “Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh” (RSS), responsible for the violent attacks three years ago and still unpunished, can sow panic again, driving out Christians, to the indifference of local authorities. 
The Christians, in recent weeks, reported the violence to local police who have made no official response nor taken any action. The faithful also created local “peace committees”, to defuse the tensions which, according to local sources, are especially needed for the future conversions of some tribal villagers to Christianity, frowned upon by those Hindus. “The attacks are motivated by the fact that the Hindus continue to despise and envy the good work done by Christians in the social, health and welfare sectors,” explain our sources. 
Meanwhile, Orissa remains at the centre of the political scene: The All India Christian Council (AICC) sent a Memorandum to the Indian Union Minister for the Interior, Fr Chidambaram and the Prime Minister of the State of Orissa, Naveen Patnaik, calling for the founding of a “National Investigation Agency”, to establish the responsibility of the Hindu extremist network “Sangh Parivar” in anti-Christian violence which erupted in Orissa in 2008. John Dayal, AICC leader, said that “there is no doubt that the Sangh Parivar elements are involved in the violence.”
Another serious incident, reported by Fides, relates to the state of Rajasthan, in north-western India. A Christian Pastor in Jaipur, from the Adivasi tribe, was forced to walk naked for over 5 km on the city's main road, mocked by some young Hindu extremists on motorcycles who abused, stripped and beat him. The incident, not reported by the local media, occurred on 1 February. However, more than a month after it was reported to police, none of the perpetrators has been arrested. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 9/3/2011)

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