The Silent Struggle: Persecution of Christians in Pakistan’s Shadows
In Pakistan, millions of Christians, despite their strong faith, long history, and large numbers, have sadly experienced multiple forms of discrimination. Christians have been subject to intolerance, social prejudice, and violence. Despite the challenges that Christianity community has remained strong in their faith.
Pakistan gained their independence from British rule on August 14, 1947. When Pakistan became independent, it went from being a part of India to becoming its own nation. The article, “The Hidden Story of Partition and its Legacies,” by Dr. Crispin Bates, states that colonial India was divided into two separate states, a majority Muslim state, Pakistan, and a majority Hindu state, India. Even though most of the population in Pakistan was Muslim, Christians also played a significant role in the early days of the country, decades before Pakistan was their own state. According to the historical article, “Political Rights of Christian Minority in Pakistan before 1973,” by Tooba Ahmad, Ghulam Mustafa, and Rahila Asfa, long before the British rule, followers of different religions lived in peace in both India and Pakistan. The article said, “Christians, Hindu, Sikhs, and Muslims were neighbors and friends and had a strong bond.” Long before British rule and Pakistan’s independence, Christians resided in Pakistan and were respected by members of other faiths. The article also states that Christians played a significant part in the creation of Pakistan. The article said, “They ( The Christian community ) supported the idea of Pakistan and Quaid-e-Azam, during the creation of a new state for the minorities, where the can live liberated and happy.” Christians supported the fight for independence the article also mentions notable Christian activists who endorsed the idea of Pakistan and the free movement. According to the article these Christian activists included writers like, Mr. Pothan Joseph, Editor of the Hindustan Times and B.G Harmony Editor of the Daily Dawn. Christians in Pakistan fought hard for freedom from British rule and for a land where people of all faiths could live together peacefully and practice their religions freely.
Pakistan was established as a nation that embraced all religions, but Islam became the majority religion and other faiths like Christianity faced many challenges. After gaining independence from Britain, Pakistan initially perceived Christians as outsiders and a potential threat to their newfound freedom. The article, “Narrating Christians in Pakistan Through Times of War and Conflict,” by Anushay Malik, talks about how Pakistani Christians were viewed as being similar to the British oppressors. Malik said, “In Pakistan, Christians and Christianity were linked by many with western civilizations and therefore, with colonialism and imperialism. Because of their connection with colonial powers and foreign missionaries, Christianity, and by default Christians were often portrayed as outsiders.” Even though Christians had a significant presence in Pakistan, they weren’t considered true Pakistanis. Christian Pakistanis also faced unjust accusations of being traitors to their own country. According to Malik, during the 1960s Pakistan officials accused the Christian community of working for the Indian government. Malik said, “Christians, came to be viewed with suspicion by the government specifically as spies working for India” These strong accusations led to multiple arrests of Christian Pakistani citizens. Malik recounts stories of Pakistan Christians who were unrightfully arrested during the 1960s. Malik said, “Police reports of 1965 mention that a Christian missionary was arrested ‘on suspension of being an Indian agent’ because he had been loitering at the railway platform in suspicious circumstances.” Another report that Malik mentions occurred the same day involving more Christian missionaries. He said, “The following days report posited on that six Christian missionaries were arrested in the Punjabi town of Narowal ‘On Suspension of being Indian agents.’ Two of those arrested were locals.” Pakistani Christians were unfairly targeted with stereotypes that resulted in unjust arrests.
Pakistani Christians have also faced forceful attempts by the government to convert them to Islam. The article, “Life in Brackets: Minority Christians and Hegemonic Violence in Pakistan,” by Amalendu Misra, talks about during the 1980s there were initiatives to convert Christians to Islam. Mirsa said, “A wave of Islamation programme unveiled a self styled, “Guardians of Islam” movement that took the responsibility to forcibly convert the country’s minorities including the Christians.” These programs actively pushed for Isalm as the predominant religion of Pakistan and employed forceful tactics to convert Christians to Islam. Misra stated that when Christians tried to resist their attempts at conversion they were met with violence. Misra said, “Whenever there was resistance from minorities, they were swiftly put down by blatant Sunni majoritarian violence often at the approval of the regime.” Christians faced pressure to abandon their beliefs, and any resistance was met with violent responses.
Unfortunately, the Christian faith in Pakistan has continued to face attacks even in the 21st century. On November, 10, 2014, a Christian couple was burned to death due to a false accusation of burning pages from the Quran. According to the Daily Mail UK, 24-year-old Shama Bibi, and her husband 27-year-old Sajjad Maseeh, were locked inside a brick making factory by an angry mob of 1,200. They were first beaten by the angry mop and had their legs broken so they could not flee. The Daily Mail reported that the, mop, “Held the couple over the brick furnace until their clothes caught fire and then they threw them inside the furnace.” According to the Daily Mail the couple was immediately killed in this horrifying act, and all that was left of them were their charred bones and shoes. The Daily Mail also claims that the attack was provoked because of a suspension of blasphemy, acts of disrespect towards Islam. However, there is no evidence that the couple ever committed blasphemy. Unfortunately, this heinous act was not an isolated incident, such attacks towards Pakistani Christians continue to rise in the 21st century. The CNN news article, “Eight Churches Set Ablaze in Pakistan’s Punjab Providence After Acts of Blasphemy,” by Sophia Saifi, goes into detail about Christian churches and homes vandalized in 2023. The article said that on Wednesday August 16, 2023, “A crowd vandalized eight churches and several homes following accusations of blasphemy against Islam in Pakistan’s most populated town of Punjab.” According to the article a police report had stated that two Christian men were charged by local police in the town of Jaranwala, on the grounds of, “Desecrating the Holy Quran and abusing the Prophet Mohammed.” Any accusations involving disrespect of the Islamic faith, is met with deadly and violent consequences, despite a lack of evidence. According to the article town of Faisalabad, where a church was burned town, has felt the community feeling sensitive and vulnerable and they called for the deployment of armed forces to support enforcing law and order. These recent attacks show that Christians in Pakistani continue to suffer from discrimination and violence. The Christian community is often accused of disrespecting Islam faith without solid prove, which has deadly consequences.
Christians in Pakistan have been treated like outsiders and have continued to suffer violent attacks. Despite the horrifying acts committed towards them the Christian community continues to stand strong in Pakistan.
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