News

Pakistan: Mob attacks Christian church during Christmas service

December 30, 2020

Persecution of Christians in Pakistan: This article states that “Things got worse when the police arrived.” The ongoing denial of religious freedom to Christians and other religious minorities in Pakistan is, as is noted in this article, institutionalized and frequently abetted by Pakistani officials who should be protecting Christians and all citizens. This is an issue of immense importance that continues to receive scant attention from the UN or international human rights organizations. Please pray that the Christian community in Pakistan will be able to endure this martyrdom and experience a resurrection, and that relief will come to this courageous and long-suffering Christian community.

For previous ChristianPersecution.com coverage of the persecution of Christians in Pakistan, see here.

“Mob attacks Pakistani church on Christmas,” by Kevin Zeller, Mission Network News, December 30, 2020:

Pakistan (MNN) — On Christmas Morning in Lahore, Pakistan, a group of 50-60 Muslim men attacked a Christian church during their Christmas service. They aimed to kidnap and assault the women in attendance.

The security guards and other men at the church fought back with bare hands against the staff-wielding intruders, giving the women time to escape. Many Christian men suffered blunt trauma injuries and fractures in the fight.

Things got worse when the police arrived. Authorities helped the defeated Muslims escape, and blamed Christians for fighting back. Nehemiah from FMI says, “They scolded and threatened the Christian community, the Christian church, saying it’s illegal to have their own security. Which is truly an unjustified and illegal action by the police, because it was announced by the government of Pakistan two years ago, that every church must have its own security. They must have their own CCTV cameras, barbed wires, and medical equipment.”…

Christians in Pakistan occupy the lowest of classes. The entire society looks down on them, considering them “untouchable.”

Pakistani Christians also live in constant fear of violence, and these attacks often occur around Christmas and Easter. Nehemiah says, “Christians, they live in colonies in Pakistan. They don’t live just randomly, but they live as a group in colonies for their own protection. And because Muslims don’t allow them to stay with them.”…