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Pakistan militants threaten to destabilize nation

Pakistan risks destabilization if the insurgency continues in Punjab. However, because the government uses militants for electoral support, they would risk losing that support if they try to prevent these attacks on other, less-powerful minority groups, reports MNN.

It seems this dilemma has allowed the local militancy to run with impunity. As a result, insurgency is revealing itself through a "religious cleansing."

Carl Moeller with Open Doors cites a Compass Direct report: "Over 200 Christian families were forcibly evicted from their homes. The reality is propagated by extremists who are using the blasphemy laws to force the Christian community almost to the brink of extinction."

The head of a Muslim village in Khanewal district, Punjab Province, expelled these families after Christian residents objected too strenuously to sexual assaults by Muslims on Christian girls and women, said a locally elected Christian official, Emmanuel Masih.

Voice of the Martyrs Canada says a Christian woman's value is so low, they become easy targets for rape.

Police were no help. CDN reported the Christians remained silent on that account because filing a complaint against the Muslims would only result in false charges against them under Pakistan's "blasphemy" laws.

The blasphemy laws are very subjective, including anything from "injuring religious feelings" to a section on defiling the Quran, and one on blaspheming the prophet Muhammad. Fanatical Muslims frequently misuse the laws to settle personal scores against Christians.

Though marginalized, Moeller says Christians are key to stability. "The Christian community could well help promote stability and reconciliation in this context if these extremists were exposed for their real motives."

The persecution is having an unintended effect. Moeller says, "Evangelism is taking place. There are those that are coming to faith in Jesus Christ even as a result of observing as the Christians are persecuted, that they continue to hold onto their faith."

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TAGS: Pakistan Open Doors blasphemy laws destabilization Pakistan militants persecution

[06/11/2010]

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