Christians “subjects of hate” inside Pakistan: Vatican
March 3rd, 2011 - 12:10 pm ICT by ANI
Islamabad, Mar 3(ANI): The Vatican has condemned the assassination of Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Minorities Affairs, Shahbaz Bhatti, and called the Pakistani Christians “subjects of hate” inside the country.
Bhatti was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Islamabad on Wednesday for championing the case of Aasia Bibi, a Pakistani Christian woman who was sentenced to death last November for allegedly committing blasphemy against Prophet Muhammad.
“The assassination of the Pakistani minister for minorities, Shahbaz Bhatti, is a new and terribly serious act of violence. It demonstrates that the pope is correct in insisting on the issue of violence against Christians and against religious freedom in general,” the Catholic News Service quoted Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi, as saying in a statement.Bhatti, the first Catholic to serve in that position, had received several threats against his life after criticizing the country’s anti-blasphemy laws, which have been used to persecute Christians and other religious minorities. “Along with prayers for the victim, with the condemnation of the unspeakable act of violence and with assurances of closeness to Pakistani Christians subject to hate, we urge that everyone will now realize the dramatic urgency of the need to defend religious freedom and Christians targeted by violence and persecution,” Father Lombardi said.The responsibility of the attack has been taken by Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, a militant outfit that is believed to be behind a string of terrorist attacks in the country.After an emergency meeting led by Lahore Archbishop Lawrence Saldanha, the president of Pakistani Catholic Bishops’ Conference, the country’s Christian leaders urged the government to “go beyond the rhetoric of ‘minorities enjoying all the rights in the country’ and take practical steps to curb extremism in Pakistan.”"If the country becomes a killing field of the democrat and liberal individuals who exercise their freedom of conscience and expression, it would embolden the criminals trying to take charge of the country,” the church leaders cautioned.Beginning from March 3 (today), Christian churches across the country will remain closed for three days to honour Bhatti. (ANI)
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