False accusations of blasphemy abound in Pakistan

 International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that a 30-year-old Christian nurse in Pakistan was falsely accused of committing blasphemy against Islam. According to local sources, the Christian was accused by a Muslim coworker after a personal dispute over receiving cash tips from hospital patients.

On January 28, Tabitha Nazir Gill was falsely accused of committing blasphemy while working at Sobhraj Maternity Hospital in Karachi, a hospital where she has been a nurse for the past nine years. She was later taken into police custody.

According to a local ICC source, the head nurse at Sobhraj Maternity Hospital issued orders that medical staff may not receive tips or deal with money from patients. Gill reportedly reminded a Muslim coworker of these orders when she saw the coworker collect money from a patient.

In response, the Muslim coworker falsely accused Gill of committing blasphemy and incited violence against her colleague. Videos of hospital staff beating Gill surfaced on social media and Gill was reportedly tied up with ropes, tortured, and locked in a room before being taken into police custody.

However, police released Gill, handing her over to her family, after a short investigation did not find any evidence that Gill had committed blasphemy. Gill and her family have since moved to an unknown location fearing vigilante violence.

“Police have provided protection to the victim and tried to resolve the issue,” ICC’s source reports. “However, a mob of hundreds of Muslims gathered at the local police station to force the police to register a FIR against Gill. This FIR was lodged today.”

First Information Report 74/21 was filed by police regarding the blasphemy accusation against Gill. The accusation remains under police investigation.

In Pakistan, false accusations of blasphemy are widespread and often motivated by personal vendettas or religious hatred. Accusations are highly inflammatory and have the potential to spark mob lynchings, vigilante murders, and mass protests.

Since Pakistan added Section 295-B and 295-C to the country’s blasphemy laws in 1987, the number of blasphemy accusations have skyrocketed. Between 1987 and 2017, 1,534 individuals in Pakistan have been accused of blasphemy. Out of that 1,534, 829 accusations (54%), were made against religious minorities. With Christians only making up 1.6% of Pakistan’s total population, the 238 accusations (15.5%) made against Christians is highly disproportionate.

ICC’s Regional Manager, William Stark, said, “We here at International Christian Concern condemn the false blasphemy allegation that has been leveled against Tabitha Nazir Gill. In Pakistan, blasphemy allegations forever ruin the lives of the accused, even if proved to be false. We call on Pakistani authorities to thoroughly and fairly investigate this false allegation and bring the false accuser to justice. Pakistan’s blasphemy laws must no longer be allowed to settle personal scores or incite religious hatred. Too often these laws have been a tool in the hands of extremists seeking to stir up religiously motivated violence against minorities.”

For interviews, please contact Alison Garcia: press@persecution.org. 

About ICC
International Christian Concern is a non-partisan, 501(c)(3) charitable organization focused on human rights, religious freedom and assisting the persecuted Christian Church around the world. 

Media Contact
Alison Garcia, Communications Fellow
E-mail: press@persecution.org 
Phone: (301)-859-3842

Avoid al-Shabaab by not taking the bus in Kenya

 International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that yesterday, January 12, 2020, gunmen believed to be part of the Somali-based al-Shabaab terrorist group flagged down a passenger bus at Tarbaj, Wajir State. During the attack the gunmen separated men from women, interrogating them to identify non-local travelers.

Reporting on the incident, the conductor of the bus plying Mandera Nairobi route said, “We were approaching a place called Darkut when six fully armed men stopped the bus. They fired in the air and ordered all our passengers from Mandera to alight. They separated men and women and started asking if there were people who were not Somalis. They also wanted to know if we carried any civil servants. Fortunately, they were not able to identify any.”

Al-Shabaab has long posed a security threat in the Northeastern region along Kenya's border with Somalia, regularly targeting Christians. In recent years, the militants have killed hundreds of non-local passengers by separating them from Muslims and shooting them dead. Yesterday, when they failed to identify any Christians, they ransacked the bus and stole foodstuffs and other items belonging to the travelers. They also robbed the conductor.

“They demanded the money that the passengers had paid for fare, and I handed it over, all of it, 40,000Ksh. That’s when they left.” He said.

Speaking during a security meeting on January 11, Captain Ali Roba, the Governor of Mandera, admitted that insecurity has reached unprecedented levels over the last three months because “al-Shabaab [has] taken control of half of the Northeastern region and occupied strategic locations due to their undeterred movement across the border and within the area.” He also stated that members of the al-Shabaab are “collecting livestock by force from helpless pastoralists in the name of Zakat.”

We are thankful that nonlocal Christians and civil servants were not identified in this recent bus attack in Northeastern Kenya. However, a solution must soon be identified to stop the menace of al-Shabaab.

ICC’s Regional Manager for Africa, Nathan Johnson, states, “The porous border between Kenya and Somalia continues to be a problem for Kenyan Christians. Al-Shabaab uses porous areas to move into Kenyan territory, target Christians, then retreat back to the safety of Somalian soil. Their brutal and evil tactics of targeting and executing passengers on buses merely for being Christians is one of the clearest forms of persecution taking place anywhere in the world today.”

For interviews, please contact Olivia Miller, Communications Coordinator: press@persecution.org. 

About ICC
International Christian Concern is a non-partisan, 501(c)(3) charitable organization focused on human rights, religious freedom and assisting the persecuted Christian Church around the world. 

Media Contact
Olivia Miller, Communications Coordinator
E-mail: press@persecution.org 
Phone: (301)-859-3842

International Christian Concern
2020 Pennsylvania Ave. NW #941, Washington, D.C. 20006
www.persecution.org | E-mail: icc@persecution.org

No justice for Diril family in Turkey

 International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that the Turkish authorities have stalled the investigation into the disappearance of elderly Assyrian-Chaldean Christians Hurmüz and Şimuni Diril. They were kidnapped from the Turkish village of Mehr, located near the Iraqi border, one-year prior on January 11, 2020. The abductors are believed to have been affiliated with the PKK, a Kurdish militant group designated by the US State Department as a terrorist organization.

The absence of the Diril couple was discovered by their son. The Turkish authorities unsuccessfully conducted a search and rescue operation, but winter weather conditions were challenging. However, the search never resumed as the weather cleared. Two months later on March 20, 2020, the dismembered body of Şimuni was discovered in a nearby river. The whereabouts of Hurmüz remain unknown.

According to a family representative, the authorities never opened a new search into the whereabouts of Hurmüz. Paperwork regarding the autopsy investigation of Şimuni’s death remains incomplete with large pieces of information missing. The procedural system associated with the autopsy process has not moved forward. As a result, the family is left with no answers to the reason for the couples’ kidnapping and subsequent loss of life. The family representative is thus asking the following:

- The opening of an investigation into any procedural failures involving the autopsy report and an investigation into possible negligence of the authorities.

- A release of all documents to the family relevant to Şimuni’s death. Completion of the forensic report and the report of the evidence gathered in the criminal investigation.

- A serious investigation about the fate of Hurmüz.

- That the authorities show a commitment to finding the guilty parties.

The couple was abducted from the village of Mehr, a historically Assyrian Christian village that has been repeatedly caught in the crosshairs of various conflicts. The village was previously evacuated in 1989 and 1994 because of the conflict between the PKK and Turkish army. Ten years ago, the Diril couple had returned to the village despite the dangers in an attempt to rebuild. Their son, Father Remzi (Adday) Diril, is an Assyrian-Chaldean Catholic priest based in Istanbul, known internationally for his pastoral care of 7,000 Iraqi Christian refugees displaced in Turkey.

Juliana Taimoorazy, founder and president of the Iraqi Christian Relief Council, says, “There has been much trauma inflicted on the children of Hurmuz and Simoni. We are requesting the Turkish authorities to treat this case with urgency and care and provide the grieving Diril family with much-deserved answers.” 

Claire Evans, ICC’s Regional Manager for the Middle East, said, “Today is a solemn day for the Diril family as they mark the anniversary since their parents’ disappearance. The past year has been incredibly difficult as they attempt to understand what happened and why. We urge the Turkish authorities to fully investigate this case as well as to consistently and openly communicate to the family each step where they are in the process.”    

For interviews, please contact Olivia Miller, Communications Coordinator: press@persecution.org. 

About ICC
International Christian Concern is a non-partisan, 501(c)(3) charitable organization focused on human rights, religious freedom and assisting the persecuted Christian Church around the world. 

Media Contact
Olivia Miller, Communications Coordinator
E-mail: press@persecution.org 
Phone: (301)-859-3842

International Christian Concern
2020 Pennsylvania Ave. NW #941, Washington, D.C. 20006
www.persecution.org | E-mail: icc@persecution.org

Hindus also practice sharia law

 International Christian Concern (ICC) learned that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government of Madhya Pradesh has approved an ordinance entitled The Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Ordinance 2020. The ordinance replaces the Madhya Pradesh’s Religious Freedom Act of 1968 and is considered by lawmakers to be the most stringent anti-conversion law in India.

On January 9, the anti-conversion ordinance was promulgated by the Governor of Madhya Pradesh, Anandiben Patel. The ordinance was approved by the Madhya Pradesh State Cabinet on December 26, 2020, with the intention to curb forcible or fraudulent religious conversions.

With the Madhya Pradesh Legislature not in session, the constitution gives the governor power to promulgate the ordinance, which will have the same effect as law. The ordinance will, however, only be valid for six months and will need to be confirmed by the Madhya Pradesh State Legislature when it reconvenes.

According to the ordinance, individuals seeking to change their religion will need to apply to the district administration 60 days in advance. Religious leaders facilitating religious conversions would also need to inform the district administration 60 days in advance. If the previsions of the ordinance are not followed individuals could face a sentence of three to five years in jail and a financial penalty of 50,000 rupees.

The ordinance also criminalizes forceful religious conversions with a jail term of one to five years’ imprisonment and a fine of 25,000 rupees. Section 3 of the ordinance increases these punishments to two to 10 years’ imprisonment and a fine of 50,000 rupees for individuals forcefully converting minors, women, or individuals belonging to a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe.

Radical Hindu nationalists use the specter of mass religious conversions to Christianity and Islam as justification to pass similar laws limiting religious freedom. According to these nationalists, Indian Christians and Muslims are accused of converting poor Hindus to Christianity and Islam in mass by fraudulent means.

In regards to Christianity, India’s own population data does not support this conspiracy. In 1951, the first census after independence, Christians made up 2.3% of India’s population. According to the 2011 census, the most recent census data available, Christians still make up 2.3% of the population.

In states where similar anti-conversion laws are currently enacted, including Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, they are widely abused. Radical nationalists falsely accuse Christians of forcefully converting individuals to Christianity to justify harassment and assault. Local police often overlook violence perpetrated against Christians due to false accusations of forced conversion.

To date, no individual has been convicted of forced conversions in India. This is in spite of the fact that some of the anti-conversion laws have been on the books since 1967.

William Stark, ICC’s Regional Manager, said, “We here at International Christian Concern are deeply disappointed to see Madhya Pradesh approve this anti-conversion ordinance. Especially concerning is the pride with which lawmakers in Madhya Pradesh claim this new ordinance is the most stringent anti-conversion law in India. Similar laws are widely abused by radical Hindu nationalists due to their legal ambiguity. Ultimately, anti-conversion laws provide legal cover for nationalists to attack India’s Christians and Muslims with impunity. One simply needs to claim someone was engaged in forceful conversions to justify an assault. With attacks on Indian Christians and other minorities continuing to escalate, the approval of another anti-conversion ordinance will only incite more religiously motivated violence.”

For interviews, please contact Olivia Miller, Communications Coordinator: press@persecution.org. 

About ICC
International Christian Concern is a non-partisan, 501(c)(3) charitable organization focused on human rights, religious freedom and assisting the persecuted Christian Church around the world. 

Media Contact
Olivia Miller, Communications Coordinator
E-mail: press@persecution.org 
Phone: (301)-859-3842

International Christian Concern
2020 Pennsylvania Ave. NW #941, Washington, D.C. 20006
www.persecution.org | E-mail: icc@persecution.org

Hindus snapping in India

 International Christian Concern (ICC) learned that police officials in India’s Karnataka state banned a community of Christians from gathering for worship services indefinitely. The officials justified this unconstitutional action by claiming that none of the approximately 50 Christians were Christian by birth and must have been coercively or fraudulently converted to Christianity.

On January 4, 2021, 15 Christian families in Bannimardatti village, located in the Hassan District, were summoned to a meeting with the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) along with other police officials. At the meeting, the DSP asked the Christians to show evidence that they were Christian and accused them of collecting government benefits as both Christians and Hindus.

The DSP then banned the Christians from gathering for worship in Bannimardatti village. The official justified this order by claiming none of the Christians in Bannimardatti village were Christian at birth and falsely claimed they were coercively or fraudulently converted to Christianity.

“This is the final attempt of Hindu radicals using the state police to clamp down on Christian activities,” a local Christian told ICC on the condition of anonymity. “They have tried everything including social boycotts and physical beatings. However, local Christians remained faithful in the midst of continued harassment.”

The DSP’s order is in direct conflict of the religious freedom rights held by India’s citizens under Article 25 of the constitution. According to Article 25, Indian citizens are given the freedom to profess, practice, and propagate the religion of their choice.

“There is no freedom whatsoever to gather for worship and practice the faith of our choice,” a local pastor told ICC. “The divide between communities is growing and the anti-conversion law that the state government of Karnataka is trying to enact will worsen the situation for religious minorities.”

Recently, Karnataka’s state government, led by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) politicians, pledged to enact a law to regulate religious conversions and criminalize fraudulent religious conversions. Three other BJP-led states, including Madhya Pradesh, Assam, and Haryana, have made similar pledges after Uttar Pradesh, another BJP-led state, promulgated India’s newest anti-conversion law in November 2020.

Radical Hindu nationalists have used the specter of mass religious conversions to Christianity as justification to pass similar laws limiting religious freedom. According to these nationalists, Indian Christians are accused of converting poor Hindus to Christianity in mass by fraudulent means.

However, India’s own population data does not support this conspiracy. In 1951, the first census after independence, Christians made up 2.3% of India’s population. According to the 2011 census, the most recent census data available, Christians still make up 2.3% of the population.

In states where similar anti-conversion laws are currently enacted, including Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh, Uttrakhand, and Uttar Pradesh, they are widely abused. Radical nationalists abuse these laws by falsely accusing Christians of forcefully converting individuals to Christianity to justify harassment and assault. Local police often overlook violence perpetrated against Christians due to the false accusation of forced conversions.

To date, no individual has been convicted of forced conversion in India. This is in spite of the fact that some of the anti-conversion laws have been on the books since 1967.

William Stark, ICC’s Regional Manager, said, “We here at International Christian Concern are deeply concerned by the actions taken by police in Karnataka. India’s police should be protecting the rights of the country’s citizens, not unilaterally stripping citizens of their rights due to their religious identity. Article 25 of India’s constitution is very clear. All Indians have the right to profess, practice, and propagate the religion of their choice. What the police in Karnataka have done to the Christians of Bannimardatti is simply wrong and unconstitutional.”

For interviews, please contact Olivia Miller, Communications Coordinator: press@persecution.org. 

About ICC
International Christian Concern is a non-partisan, 501(c)(3) charitable organization focused on human rights, religious freedom and assisting the persecuted Christian Church around the world. 

Media Contact
Olivia Miller, Communications Coordinator
E-mail: press@persecution.org 
Phone: (301)-859-3842

International Christian Concern
2020 Pennsylvania Ave. NW #941, Washington, D.C. 20006
www.persecution.org | E-mail: icc@persecution.org

Proof that Pakistan is crazy

 Have you ever wondered why so many people that were born in Pakistan choose to live in different countries now?  Well, the story below will give you some insight.

International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that a 25-year-old Christian leader in Pakistan was taken into police custody and charged with violating the country’s blasphemy laws after sharing a social media post critical of Islam in late December. According to local sources, the post incited the threat of mob violence that drove hundreds of Christian families to flee their homes.

“Pastor Raja Warris published a faith-based post on Facebook on December 22 which Muslims claim hurt their religious sentiments,” Saleem Khokhar, a displaced Christian from Charar, told ICC. “The pastor apologized for the post and the issue was resolved the next day.”

On December 26, hundreds of Muslims gathered in the Charar neighborhood of Lahore, where Pastor Warris resides, and threatened to behead the pastor and set fire to Christian homes unless police took action. Hundreds of Christian families fled their homes, fearing an outbreak of violence in Charar.

“The situation turned dangerous when someone found out the Muslims were planning to set fire to the houses of Christians,” Khokhar told ICC. “This forced the Christians to flee the neighborhood.”

Hundreds of anti-riot policemen were deployed to Charar to contain the mob. Leaders of the Christian community also met with police to resolve the escalating situation.

“We sought time for negotiation with the protest leaders, but the police said they could not guarantee the safety of our people if the accused was not presented for arrest,” Rev. Ayub Gujjar, Vice Moderator of the Raiwind Diocese of the Church of Pakistan, told Morning Star News. “We reluctantly agreed to bring Warris, but demanded that he be kept at an undisclosed location due to the serious threat to his life.”

On December 27, police charged Pastor Warris with committing blasphemy under Section 295-A and Section 298-A of Pakistan’s blasphemy laws. Copies of the First Information Report (FIR # 1122/20) were shown to the leaders of the mob in an effort to de-escalate the situation.

If convicted, Pastor Warris could face up to 10 years in prison for committing “deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings.”

In Pakistan, false accusations of blasphemy are widespread and often motivated by personal vendettas or religious hatred. Accusations are highly inflammatory and have the potential to spark mob lynchings, vigilante murders, and mass protests.

Since Pakistan added Section 295-B and 295-C to the country’s blasphemy laws in 1987, the number of blasphemy accusations has skyrocketed. Between 1987 and 2017, 1,534 individuals in Pakistan have been accused of blasphemy. Out of that 1,534, 829 accusations (54%), were made against religious minorities. With Christians only making up 1.6% of Pakistan’s total population, the 238 accusations (15.5%) made against Christians are highly disproportionate.

Currently, 24 Christians are imprisoned on blasphemy charges in Pakistan. These 24 Christians are defendants in 21 blasphemy cases represented at various levels of the judicial process in Pakistan.

ICC’s Regional Manager, William Stark, said, “We here at International Christian Concern remain concerned by the situation in Charar. We call on Pakistani authorities to continue protect the homes of Charar’s Christians. Even though Pastor Warris has been officially charged with violating the blasphemy laws, there is still the potential for mob violence against the Christians of Charar. No one should be forced to flee their home because of a social media post. Pakistan’s blasphemy laws must not be misused to justify mob violence. Too often these laws have been a tool in the hands of extremists seeking to stir up religiously motivated violence against minority communities.”

For interviews, please contact Olivia Miller, Communications Coordinator: press@persecution.org. 

About ICC
International Christian Concern is a non-partisan, 501(c)(3) charitable organization focused on human rights, religious freedom and assisting the persecuted Christian Church around the world. 

Media Contact
Olivia Miller, Communications Coordinator
E-mail: press@persecution.org 
Phone: (301)-859-3842

International Christian Concern
2020 Pennsylvania Ave. NW #941, Washington, D.C. 20006
www.persecution.org | E-mail: icc@persecution.org