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India's Christians Call for Reforms as Modi's Promises Lack Action
By ICC's India Correspondent

7/23/2015 
Washington, D.C. 
International Christian Concern

"India, being [a] secular democracy, everyone needs to respect each other's beliefs and practices," a dejected rural pastor stated recently in an interview with International Christian Concern (ICC). Despite this, India's Christians are nervous due to Prime Minister Modi's void promises of protection from persecution and are now calling on him to back his promises with real action.

Since Prime Minister Modi's election, fear and insecurity among India's Christian community have increased due to ongoing assaults on Christians and their places of worship. These assaults continue to happen despite Prime Minister Modi's vows to protect religious freedom in India.

Dr. John Dayal, national spokesperson of the United Christian Forum, said, "The [most desperate] victims are Muslims and Christians, the two religious minorities that have always been the target of the RSS and the BJP. The RSS cadres have in recent months targeted these two communities [with their] infamous 'Ghar Wapsi' program which is actually the conversion of people into Hinduism by force and then promising them government subsidies and jobs."

A Rural Pastor's Perspective

In India's south, the state of Telangana has become one of the toughest places for Christians over the last year. Pastor Aharon, a rural pastor from Mahabubnagar District within Telangana, is one of the victims of the ongoing increase in religious intolerance and persecution that has left many Christians like him in a state of distress and concern.

Pastor Aharon told ICC that every Sunday it is a challenge for him to conduct worship at a village called Masupally. According to Pastor Aharon, before last May there was never a problem. But when Prime Minister Modi won the general election, the trouble began for Pastor Aharon and the Christian community of Masupally.

Youth belonging to local Hindu radical group named Hindu Vahini wait for Pastor Aharon at the entrance of the village every Sunday. Pastor Aharon, who lives in a neighboring village, regularly visited Masupally to lead Sunday worship for approximately ten Christian families. Pastor Aharon told ICC, "The situation is such that I cannot give a guarantee that I will go back to my family when I go to conduct worship in Masupally. On more than one occasion, the members of Hindu Vahini, threatened to kill me if I continue to hold prayers in the village. They surround me and they use abusive language and manhandled me. They have warned me not to come back."

When asked about his thoughts on Prime Minster Modi's promises to protect religious freedom, Pastor Aharon questioned the sincerity of Prime Minister Modi's promises. "India, being [a] secular democracy, everyone needs to respect each other's beliefs and practices, but what is happening in my village is contrary to the fundamental rights our constitution guarantees for every citizen."

India's Christians Call for Real Action

Dr. Dayal, said that, "India should therefore be held accountable to international treaties on human rights and freedom of religion and belief. There should also be a monitoring of the funding of Hindu extremist organizations as is done in the case of Islamic [extremists] and other groups."

Reverend Ronald John, Chairman of Telangana Christian Joint Action Committee, asserted that, "There has been double standard and a bias when it comes to filing cases on the perpetrators dealing with attacks on religious minorities. We demand both union and state government to ensure impartial actions both by administration and police."

Cardinal Telesphore Toppo, Archbishop of Ranchi, highlighted the need for government action to protect Christians and other vulnerable religious minorities in India amid the rise in attacks by Hindu radicals. Cardinal Toppo said in a media interview, "The government has not come out to protect and defend. The Prime Minister has only once spoken in defense of the constitution and he promised to protect the Christians and other minorities. But that was only a promise."

Those suffering from religious extremism and intolerance continue to endure persecution as the assurances of Modi and his government remain words without deeds. The Christian community of India appeals to Prime Minister Modi to take real action to ensure the freedom of faith and equality for all before the law. It is hoped that the cries of these vulnerable Christians will be heard. 

For interviews, contact William Stark, Regional Manager for South Asia: RM-SAsia@persecution.org
 
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You are free to disseminate this news story. We request that you reference International Christian Concern (ICC) and include our web address, www.persecution.org. ICC is a Washington D.C.-based human rights organization that exists to help persecuted Christians worldwide. ICC provides Awareness, Advocacy, and Assistance to the worldwide persecuted Church. For additional information or for an interview, contact ICC at 800-422-5441.

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International Christian Concern
2020 Pennsylvania Ave. NW #241
Washington, D.C. 20006

www.persecution.org  |  E-mail: icc@persecution.org
Media Contact: William Stark, Regional Manager for South Asia RM-SAsia@persecution.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Pakistan's Supreme Court Suspends Christian Mother's Death Sentence
Asia Bibi's Blasphemy Appeal to be Decided on the Merits

7/22/2015 
Washington D.C. 
International Christian Concern

International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that Pakistan's Supreme Court has temporarily suspended the death sentence of Asia Bibi, a Christian mother sentenced to death under Pakistan's controversial blasphemy laws.

The court has granted Bibi's petition for appeal her conviction giving her a chance to be fully acquitted of the blasphemy charges that have seen her on death row since 2010.

The proceedings took place at the registry branch of the Supreme Court in Lahore earlier today where a three-member bench headed by Justice Main Sazib Nazir accepted Bibi's petition for the review of her case. Talking to ICC after the court made its decision, Saif-ul-Malook, Bibi's Supreme Court Advocate, said, "The standard of evidence which is required to prove [this] offence is not available in this case. Therefore, I am optimistic that the honorable court will acquit my client." 

"This is a procedural development and a small win for Asia that the Supreme Court has accepted her petition for review," Peter Jacob, Executive Director of the Center for Social Justice, told ICC. "However, the outcome of this case will now depend on how it is presented to the court."

For many, the blasphemy case against Bibi has become symbolic of how Pakistan's blasphemy laws are widely abused and of how religious minorities are persecuted. The accusation against Bibi originates from a dispute that took place in June 2009 between Bibi and a group of Muslim women with whom she was harvesting berries in Sheikhupura. The Muslim women became angry with Bibi when she, a Christian whom they considered unclean, drank water from the same water bowl as the Muslim women. An argument between Bibi and the Muslim women ensued and later the Muslim women reported to a local cleric that Bibi had blasphemed against Islam by saying, "My Christ died for me, what did Muhammed do for you?"

Bibi has been on death row since her conviction and death sentence were announced by the Session's Court in District Nankana, Pujab, in 2010. Her appeal hearing was held in October 2014 at the Lahore High Court. At that appeal, Justice Anwar-ul-Haq, one member of a two-judge bench, passed a short order confirming Bibi's death sentence.

In response to the court's decision, Molvi Muhammad Salam, the applicant against Bibi, said, "I submitted the application to cancel Asia's petition against her sentence, however I have no objection over [the] court's decision and will accept it on its merits."

"Now [the] government must share the responsibility [so] that the case is not influenced by [forces] outside of the court," Peter Jacob continued. "If [the] government chooses to educate the public on the misuse of the blasphemy laws, then Asia's case is the best opportunity to repair some of the damages that have been caused by abusing this law."

For the Christian community of Pakistan, the court's decision today provides hope for a better future. "This decision is a source of hope for [the] Christian community," Attaurhman Saman, Communications Coordinator at the National Commission for Justice and Peace, told ICC. "Once again, it shows that these laws have been misused by different actors to settle their personal scores. We hope the defense counsel will prove that Bibi is innocent and will highlight the mistreatment of this case by the lower courts."

"I am very much happy for this great news and it is a big relieve for us," Ashiq Masih, Bibi's husband told ICC. "The whole family is thankful to God for listening to our prayers. We hope that justice will be done and Asia will finally be proved innocent."

ICC's Regional Manager for South Asia, William Stark, said, "The court's decision to grant Asia Bibi's appeal is great news for both Asia Bibi and Pakistan's Christian community. Pakistan's blasphemy laws are widely abused by extremists seeking to settle personal scores or incite religious hatred against the country's vulnerable religious minorities. Historically, pressure from Islamic radical groups and general discrimination against Christians has made courts in Pakistan little more than rubber stamps for blasphemy accusations brought against Christians, regardless of the evidence brought to bear in the case. Today's decision by the Supreme Court shows that at least Pakistan's highest court is willing to resist these pressures and decide Bibi's case on the merits. If decided on the merits, ICC believes that the court's only conclusion will be to acquit. That decision will lay a foundation for practical steps towards religious harmony in Pakistan and will be a signal that justice will prevail over extremism and intolerance in Pakistan's courts even when a religious minority is accused of blasphemy. "

For interviews, contact William Stark, Regional Manager for South Asia: RM-SAsia@persecution.org

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You are free to disseminate this news story. We request that you reference International Christian Concern (ICC) and include our web address, www.persecution.org. ICC is a Washington D.C.-based human rights organization that exists to help persecuted Christians worldwide. ICC provides Awareness, Advocacy, and Assistance to the worldwide persecuted Church. For additional information or for an interview, contact ICC at 800-422-5441.

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