Christian Aid & Secular Governments Must be Careful with Relief


Joseph Dias

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The CSF is shocked by the mindless assasination of Shahbaz Bhatti, Pakistan’s Minority Affairs Minister in the heart of the capital Islamabad, who joins the ranks of the numerous martyrs who died for their faith. He is also the first Catholic-Christian to hold such a position. We urge Christian NGOs and secular governments to reconsider aid being given in the name of charity or assistance, to states like Pakistan and rather impose sanctions, to compel them to adopt basic human rights, where Christians and minorities are not killed for their faith. The CSF feels that there is grave potential danger in such relief or charity, getting into wrong hands and being used for terrorist activities, against Christians and other minorities. The blood  of the martyrs is the seed of Christianity, which in Shahbaz Bhatti’s case also will not have been spilt in vein. We pray for the persecuted church, the departed and the bereaved members of their familes.

 
Radical Islamic fundamentalism seems to have deep routes in Pakistan and coming close on the heels of Punjab Governor Salman Taseer’s brutal murder, the assasination of Shahbaz Bhatti is clear evidence that minorities and even those from the secular majority will not be tolerated by the militants. Minorities, notably Christians, Sikhs, Hindus, etc. are not protected by the government and the plight of common citizens being persecuted can well be imagined. Shahbaz Bhatti was facing death threats and yet was not under security cover, which shows the scant disregard for religious liberty, when it comes to minority religions in that country.
 

Asia Bibi, awarded death penalty under the much malaligned blasphemy law and whose fate is unknown, needs to be protected. The international community and Pakistan government must take full responsibility for her safety. She must be allowed to leave Pakistan, if need be, as a number of Christian NGOs would willingly sponsor her, should she so desire so. The are umpteen reports from minorities of varied kinds of persecution on a daily basis - either false implication under the blasphemy laws or loss to life, limb and property. Such gross violation of basic human rights must not be tolerated by the international community and sanctions need to be brought on Pakistan, if it does not improve its track record on religious freedom.
 

The Holy See Press Office Director Fr. Federico Lombardi said "The assassination of Shabbaz Bhatti, is another terrible episode of violence. It shows how right the Pope is in his persistent remarks concerning violence against Christians and against religious freedom in general. We recall how he was received by the Holy Father in September last year, and how he bore witness to his own commitment to peaceful coexistence among the religious communities of his country. Our prayers for the victim, our condemnation for this unspeakable act of violence, our closeness to Pakistani Christians who suffer hatred, are accompanied by an appeal that everyone may become aware of the urgent importance of defending both religious freedom and Christians who are subject to violence and persecution", he added.
 

Christians and Hindus make up only about 5% of Pakistan’s 184 million people. Shia Muslims are also a minority, with Sunni Muslims being 75% of the population. An official with the U.S. bishops’ council shared his remorse at Bhatti’s death. Father James Massa, executive director of the bishops’ Secretariat of Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, said that he met with Bhatti about a month ago in Washington. Father Massa called Bhatti a "gentle, wise and determined man" and said he was a "devout Catholic and committed advocate for the human rights of all people in his country." "Shahbaz was striking in being completely lacking in fear or the slightest animosity toward those who were sending him regular death threats," Father Massa added.
 

Conditional UK support?

Meanwhile, a Catholic charity in England decried a government announcement promising more British aid for Pakistan. Neville Kyrke-Smith, director of the U.K. office of Aid to the Church in Need, asked how Britain can plan to increase aid to a country where "religious freedom is not upheld and those who are against the infamous blasphemy laws are not protected and just gunned down?" The U.K. International Development Secretary, Andrew Mitchell, indicated that aid could more than double, exceeding £445 million ($725 million) a year. According to the BBC, Mitchell said the aid reflects compassion as it is designated for some of the world’s poor, and comes with urging for Pakistani economic and government reform. Kyrke-Smith, however, urged focus on human rights. "Pressure should be put on the Pakistan government to ensure religious freedom -- you cannot provide aid without commitment to human rights." He called for Pakistani resolve to protect Christians and other religious minorities, including Shia Muslims.

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