Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Lahore (Agenzia Fides) - Eminent Christian and Muslim leaders in Pakistan gathered today in Lahore to demand justice and to pray for the Christian couple burned alive in Kasur because accused of blasphemy (see Fides 04/11/2014).
The assembly met in the "Peace Center" in Lahore, the interreligious dialogue center initiated and run by Dominican friars. In an interview with Fides, Fr. James Channan OP, head of the Center reported that the "United Religions Initiative" forum for dialogue, the "Minhajul Quran International" Islamic movement, the Catholic magazine "The Christian Voice" were present. Numerous religious leaders, scholars, human rights activists were also present, including Abdul Khabir Azad, imam of the Mosque of Lahore (the largest in Pakistan), the Islamic Sufi leader Shafat Rasool, chairman of the Interreligious Council of Pakistan, Fr. Pascal Paulus OP, President of the Conference of Major Superiors, Fr. Inayat Bernard, director of "The Christian Voice".
The assembly unanimously condemned the killing of Shahzad and Shama and asked that the guilty are brought to justice, including Muslim religious who made the announcement in mosques, instigating murder. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan is asked to take the initiative to ensure that justice is carried out immediately. "There is a strong demand which invites institutions to stop the abuse of the blasphemy laws: to all those who abuse this law the same punishment shall be given for the alleged blasphemous, such as life imprisonment and the death sentence" explains Fr. Channan.
An appeal is addressed to the government: "In the past, in cases of mass violence against Christians justice was never done: it is time to end impunity", said the present, calling the current government of Prime Minister Sharif to "introduce peace and religious harmony in the school curriculum".
The interfaith assembly in Lahore, says Fr. Channan, also called for the intervention of the United Nations "so that it forms a special commission to determine the misuse of the blasphemy law in Pakistan, and the persecution of Christians and other religious minorities".
In reaction to the events in Kasur, the birth of a movement has been announced at a national level, "which will be present in the streets and places of worship to promote peace and harmony and to stop the killing of innocent people because of their faith". The conference concluded with a celebration of an interreligious prayer. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 13/11/2014)
