Peter Mullen
The everlasting talking-shop between Christians and “moderate Muslims” is still open for business – while the slaughter of Christians increases, particularly in Pakistan. The people of the Karachi district known as Essa Nagri – its name means “City of Jesus” – are regularly under attack. Recently four Christians were shot dead and eight seriously injured. Christian leaders there have sent me an account of their terrible suffering saying: “The police have not arrested any of the perpetrators and they have neglected to put into effect promised security arrangements.”
Essa Nagri’s Seventh Day Adventist Church was attacked in May 2012 when armed men barged into the area seeking an illegal electricity connection just before the evening service was about to start. “They desecrate churches on purpose knowing that it will hurt us most,” said Aftab Bhatti, who was shot in the leg. When a delegation from the persecuted community went to protest against desecration of the church, they were treated to a shower of bullets fired by their Muslim neighbours.
On 29 August 2012, Faisal Masih, also of Essa Nagri, was murdered when he refused to pay the Jizya – the extortionate tax imposed by Sharia on all nonMuslims. Others who refuse to pay the tax, while managing somehow to avoid being shot dead, have their lives made into a living hell by the extortionists. These are not isolated acts of terror but the relentless persecution of Christians in that and many other parts of Pakistan. The authorities promise protection and the assurance that the murderers will be brought to justice, but this never happens.
On 12 September 2012 Yousaf Masih was gunned down by an ethnic Pashtun terrorist group when they attacked Essa Nagri at five o’clock in the morning. They violated three houses including the pastor’s home and office. On 15 September mourners about to begin Yousaf’s funeral themselves came under attack. Muslim militants descended on the town and opened fire on innocent Christians, killing two and injuring three others. As they attacked they shouted “Loot and kill the Christian [obscenity omitted].” They fired straight into houses and shops. Nasir Masih and Rafi Masih were killed by gunshots from Muslim militants while Saleem Masih, Aslam Masih and Erik Masih were seriously injured.
Towards nightfall, the terrified Christian community drew down their shutters and tried as best they might to defend themselves. The priests and pastors again pleaded with the authorities for protection, but nothing was done to help them. So they built makeshift fences in an attempt to separate themselves from their persecutors. One of the pastors reported: “The police tore down one of the walls to make a gateway for the Muslims to go to their mosques. And the church was again looted next day,”
A Pentecostal church was also looted and then destroyed the same day. In a nearby town, a 13year-old girl was taunted for being a Christian by five Muslim youths who then raped her. The rapists were not charged. Churches are burned down every week. And it is not only in Pakistan that life for Christians has become intolerable. A man is on trial
We are dominated by a
secular elite that hates Islam every bit as much as it
hates Christianity