WORLD NEWS - 2007
Image

Bhutto supporters pin hopes on son and heir

Crowned her political successor on Sunday, 19-year-old son Bilawal will not be eligible to run for parliament for another six years, but banker and party stalwart Haseeb Ala can wait.
"Truly, Benazir left a great vacuum," said Ala, 48, sitting under an awning outside the towering fortress-like wall

Image

Six Christian Dead Bodies Recovered, 400 Christian Homes and 60 Churches Torched in Orissa, India

NEW DELHI: December 31, 2007. (ANS) -- A national fact finding team of six led by Dr. John Dayal, Secretary General of All India Christian Council, Member of National Integration Council and President of All India Catholic Union, has reached Balliguda in Orissa to find out more about the violence th

Image

Militants, Bhutto aides allege cover-up

Bhutto aide said they doubted militant commander Baitullah Mehsud was behind the attack on the opposition leader and said the government`s claim that she died when she hit her head on the sunroof of her vehicle was "dangerous nonsense."
Meanwhile, attackers opened fire at a motorcade of Bhutto supp

Image

The body of Benazir Bhutto reaches Larkana for burial in family graveyard

Her killing after an election rally in the city of Rawalpindi triggered a wave of violence, especially in her native Sindh province, and could lead to the postponement of January 8 polls meant to return Pakistan to civilian-led democracy.
Bhutto, 54, had hoped the huge popular following she enjoyed

Image

Two Christians killed and 12 Churches burned on Christmas in India

Authorities deployed 450 police and imposed a curfew to quell the violence in the remote district of Orissa state where the churches --- most nothing more than mud-and-thatch houses --- were attacked, said Bahugrahi Mahapatra, a government official.
Six of the village churches were torched on Chris

Image

Pakistani Christians condemn assassination of Benazir Bhutto, killing of BB is to derail democracy; Nazir S Bhatti

Nazir Bhatti said "death of BB is grave challenge to government on safety and security of people of Pakistan and total failure of establishment"
"It was responsibility of government to secure life of Benazir Bhutto but it seems that security measures were neglected and such sad incident happened" B

Image

The Great Deception: by Bishop T Nasir

The document has been addressed to all the Christian World starting from Pope Banedict XVI to a common Christian. This document puts emphasis on "Neighborly Love" that has been taught by Lord Jesus Christ and they (The Muslim Scholars) claim, is common in Christianity and Islam. This document can be

Image

The election manifestos of PPP, PML (N), PML (Q) and MQM require clarifications on Christian’s issues. Nazir S Bhatti

Mr. Bhatti said "MQM demands provincial autonomy in true spirit of Pakistan Resolution of 1940, but neglects rights of minorities stated in this resolution and written assurance of All India Muslim League to Christian leaders to allocate Separate Electorate"
Nazir Bhatti added, " Christians expecte

Image

Musharraf set to end Pakistan emergency

Musharraf purged the judiciary, jailed thousands of opponents and silenced television news channels after he suspended the constitution and declared emergency rule on Nov. 3.
Attorney General Malik Mohammed Qayyum told The Associated Press that the president, who has acknowledged that he breached t

Image

Parish priest of Kabul on witnessing Christmas among Afghan Muslims

Kabul (AsiaNews) - "A reawakening of awareness of our Christian identity and dignity" teaching the Gospel by the way we live: only in this way will we succeed in "bringing the Christmas' hope of salvation to the entire world, including the Islamic world". This is the invitation launched by the reli

Image

Thieves are coming back: Watson Gill

It is my foremost duty to aware my Christian brothers and sisters to use their valuable vote to push these thieves out in elections on January 8, 2008. It is very important event to outset those who are selling hopes of Christian youth.
For instant, our two great MPA`s from Sindh are playing game w

Image

20 million Pakistani Christians and Election 2008

The Joint Election system is imposed on millions of Christian to deprive of their democratic right to elect their representations by their own votes. The behaviors of leading Muslim political groups negate true spirit of Joint elections on failure to award party tickets to any Christian on general s

Image

Muslim political parties nominated to select 47 Non-Muslims on 10 reserved seats in National Assembly.

The 8 Muslim political parties shall distribute Non-Muslim seats proportional to their seats in National Assembly of Pakistan after results of elections 2008.
The Hindus dominated in these selections when Hindus are on third position according to population and Christians on second number after Mus

Image

PCC rejects selections of Christian representation in parliament by Muslim political parties. Nazir Bhatti

Nazir S Bhatti, President of Pakistan Christian Congress approved rejection of selection of Christian parliamentarians by Muslim political parties under Joint Electorate and endorsed demand of Dual voting rights with Separate Electorate.
Mr. Nazir S Bhatti said, "Selection is not a democratic syste

Image

Assyrian Christian cleric freed in Turkey

Assyrian cleric Daniel Savci was rescued by security forces in the province of Batman two days after he was abducted in nearby Mardin province, Gabriel Akkurt, a fellow cleric, told The Associated Press.
Aziz Mercan, the deputy governor of Batman, gave a slightly different account. He said security

Image

Bush presses Pakistan to lift emergency rule

"He told me he would take off his uniform, and I appreciate that he kept his word," Bush said in an interview with CNN. But he added that "in order to get Pakistan back on the road to democracy, he has got to suspend the emergency law before elections."

Image

“She allowed students to name teddy bear Mohammad” British teacher in Sudan faces blasphemy

Sudanese police arrested Gillian Gibbons in Khartoum on Sunday after parents complained that she allowed 6-year-old boys and girls at an expensive English school to name the bear, and so "insult" the prophet Muhammad.
The penalty carries the death sentence for Muslims in Sudan, where Islamic Sharia

Image

Christian leader urges Pakistan to establish diplomatic ties with Israel.

Karachi: November 27, 2007. Mr. Asharf P. Butt Advocate Secretary General of God's People Fellowship of Pakistan and Legal Advisor of Pakistan International Human Rights Organization, a Christian religious leader in press statement have urged Govt. of Pakistan to recognized and to have diplomatic ti

Image

Maldives moves against veiled women, jihadis on TV

The measures are part of a package of restrictions designed to stem a feared spread of militant Islam that could damage the Indian Ocean archipelago`s status as a top destination for rich tourists.
"We have instructed Television Maldives to stop hiring female anchors who wear headscarves and not sh

Image

Sharif back in Pakistan from exile

LAHORE: November 25, 2007. (AP) Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif returned from exile Sunday to an ecstatic welcome from thousands of supporters and immediately stepped up the pressure on military ruler Pervez Musharraf to end emergency rule.
The arrival was a fresh challenge for the president, w

Image

Commonwealth suspends Pakistan

The Commonwealth, largely made up of Britain and its former colonies, gave Pakistani military ruler Gen. Pervez Musharraf a Thursday deadline to lift emergency rule and step down as army chief.
A committee of foreign ministers "has suspended Pakistan from councils of the Commonwealth pending restor

Image

Balach Marri, another top leader killed in a military operation in Ballochistan.

QUETTA: Nov 21, 2007. (AFP): Security forces killed Balach Marri, the leader of a banned group blamed for a deadly insurgency in Balochistan province, a spokesman for the group said Wednesday. Identified by Pakistani authorities as the leader of the Balochistan Liberation Army, he was killed in a m

Image

42 million students study in 250,000 Catholic Schools.

It is a reality that in the Asian continent alone affects some ten million students and constitutes a privileged area of action for the Catholic Church. Educating Together in Catholic Schools. A Shared Mission between Consecrated Persons and the Lay Faithful, a paper published by the Congregation fo

Image

SC throws out Musharraf challenges

"There were five petitions, they have all been dismissed. There is only one left, and that will be heard on Thursday," attorney general Malik Mohammad Qayyum told AFP after a hearing from which international media were banned.
The party of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto earlier said it was withdr

Image

19-Year Old Saudi Rape Victim Ordered to Undergo 200 Lashes

RIYADH: November 19, 2007. A 19-year-old female victim of gang rape who initially was ordered to undergo 90 lashes for "being in the car of an unrelated male at the time of the rape" has been sentenced to 200 lashes and six months in jail for telling her story to the news media.
The new verdict was

Image

Eritrea: Catholic Church in Shock as State Expels Missionaries

Reliable sources have confirmed to CISA that the missionaries, including a Kenyan, were given 14 days to leave the country, beginning November 6.
The expulsion, our sources say, is part of a wider plot by the Maoist dictatorship of President Isaias Afewerki to destroy the Catholic Church in the Hor

Image

Musharraf will quit army before December 1: attorney general

ISLAMABAD (AFP) - Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has said that he will step down as army chief before December 1, the country`s attorney general told reporters Thursday.
The announcement came as military ruler Musharraf, who seized power in a bloodless coup in 1999 and declared a state of em

Image

Washington-based cleric plans working toward an Islamic State of North America by 2050

With branches in Oakland, Los Angeles, San Diego, Sacramento and Philadelphia, the group As-Sabiqun – or the Vanguard – is under the leadership of Abdul Alim Musa.
The declaration of his intention to help lead a takeover of America was highlighted by noted Islam observer Robert Spencer on his

Image

Musharraf to quit army this month

In an interview with The Associated Press, he accused former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, currently under house arrest, of fueling political turmoil and rejected Western pressure to quickly lift emergency rule, which he indicated was likely to continue through the January elections.

"All those

Image

Across India, rich and poor remember Mother Teresa

Special prayers were held at the tomb of Mother Teresa which were attended by hundreds all religions, caste and creeds, in a special service the Archbishop of Kolkatta, Lucas Sirkar, urged the authorities to speed up the process of a canonisation; "Our expectation is that she be soon declared a sain

Image

US based Pakistani evangelist Joseph K Din shot dead in Lahore

He was involved in evangelism at age of 30 but became full time evangelist and headed to his native city of Lahore.
The Din family is serving God through evangelism from four decades and established " Family Ministry"
The Unique idea of "Family Ministry" was to help local Christian communities to

Image

Families preparing for funeral in New Jersey of brutally murder Bishop Arif Khan and his wife Kathleen in Islamabad.

who was shot dead along with his wife Kathleen in Islamabad on Wednesday. Bishop Arif Khan, a US citizen from Pakistani origin and married to Kathleen, an American woman was enjoying family with children when couple decided to serve Jesus by a Radio Ministry to spread word of Lord in Islamic Republi

Image

Inderias Dominic Bhatti, a prominent Socio-religious leader launches TMP

Lahore; September 2, 2007. The Christians in Pakistan fully respect Inderias Bhatti on his representation in International conferences to highlight Christian persecution in Pakistan. He extends his area of services from religion to social services also and announced to commission a non-profit organi

Image

Christians Soul-Search Overseas Evangelism. The Korea Times

Changes in their programs are imminent, not only because the government will regulate such travel more strictly but also because the nation`s religious groups have learned they need to restrain from missionary work which is ``too passionate.``
The Christian Council of Korea said that Korean churche

Image

China arrests Mgr Julius Jia Zhiguo, Catholic Bishop of Hebei

AsiaNews sources confirmed that at 9 am this morning (Beijing time) policemen and members of the Religious Affairs Bureau picked up the prelate and took him to an undisclosed location.
The bishop, who is not recognised by government authorities, was preparing a pastoral letter and organising meetin

Image

What is behind curtain of rallies organized by Shahbaz Bhatti and Joseph Francis on August 11, 2007, in Lahore?

but both have two different backup parties named Christian Liberation Front CLF and Center for Legal Aid and Settlement CLAAS.
Shahbaz Bhatti and Joseph Francis have one thing common, both want to be leaders of Christians, both want to prove loyalty to Pakistan Peoples Party PPP, both want to crush

Image

Milap gains limited freedom of bonded Christian children in Pakistani Brick Kiln industry on Independence Day.

Independence Day of Pakistan" with Christian children working in Brick Kiln Industry of Pakistan.
Milap, secured few hours of freedom for these Christian children who are not allowed to leave working places. They start working by daybreak and work till twilight making bricks, moving bricks and hate

Image

Taliban-South Korea hostage talks resume

Three South Korean delegates arrived Thursday morning at the office of the Afghan Red Crescent, where previous negotiations with the Taliban have been held. International Red Cross officials were also at hand to facilitate the talks, said Franz Rauchenstein, an official with the International Commit

Image

Pakistan Christian Association of USA elects Nazir Bhatti as President, Stephen Jaleel VP, William Shahzad Chairman and Atique Khokar as SG.

under Chairmanship of Mr. William Shahzad. The delegates elected PCA leaders for 2007-2008, as Nazir S Bhatti President, Stephen Jaleel Vice President, David Edward VP, Yaqoob Yohanna VP, William Shahzad Chairman, Atique John Khokhar Secretary General, Babar Khokar Secretary Coordinator and Finance.

Image

PCC appeals Chief Justice of Pakistan to free millions of Christians on this Independence Day. Nazir Bhatti

Nazir Bhatti said that formation of Pakistan was not possible if Christian leaders S P Singha and Ralia Ram have not voted in favor of All India Muslims League in London Round Table Conferences and before Boundary Commission but Christian's role in independence of Pakistan is ignored and forgotten.

Image

Taliban says hostages safe for now

The captors have repeatedly threatened to kill more of the captives they seized on July 19 if their demands are not met, though negotiations appear to have bogged down in recent days.
Taliban and South Korean officials have agreed they want to meet for talks to break the deadlock, but have not been

Image

Musharraf decides against Pakistan emergency

The military ruler, facing the greatest challenge to his leadership since he seized power in a 1999 coup, opted against the move, which would have postponed elections, Information Minister Mohammad Ali Durrani told AFP.
"President Musharraf has decided not to impose the state of emergency in the co

Image

India: Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasrin targeted by Islamic Fundamentalists

Hyderabad: August 9, 2007. This morning Taslima Nasrin, a popular writer born in Bangladesh and famous human rights supporter, was wounded during a press conference with journalists in Hyderabad, capital of Andhra Pradesh, as she presented her book.
The assault was carried out by members of the Maj

Image

Rev. Patrick Augustine writes An Open Letter to Talibans and Islamic Community on Korean hostages.

The kidnapping of the 23 South Korean citizens has been a very disgraceful and painful story in a land where Afghan hospitality is a cherished tradition. Twenty-three young persons came from South Korea to your land with a noble mission to help the suffering people of Afghanistan. The world is well

Image

Governor of Balochistan province fails to satisfy WSI leaders on disappearance of Balochis during Washington visit.

Washington: August 4, 2007. On Thursday August 02, 2007, three members of the World Sindhi Institute, including Executive Director, Munawar Laghari attended a discussion at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington with the Governor of Balochistan, Owais Ghani.
Governor Ghani

Image

Hostage pleads for help as Afghanistan rules out prisoner swap

Afghanistan: August 4, 2007. (AFP) - A purported hostage made an emotional plea for help in a telephone call with AFP on Saturday, as an Afghan negotiator ruled out an exchange of Taliban prisoners for 21 South Koreans.
"They threaten us, they tell us they will kill us," a woman who was said by th

Image

Taliban ready to meet SKoreans over hostages

South Korea is desperate to end the ordeal of the mainly female aid workers abducted in southern Ghazni province, most of whom are said to be ill, with the rebels threatening to kill again if their demands are not met.
But the embassy in Kabul did not confirm that it would go ahead with such a meet

Image

China: Priests arrested and put into solitary confinement as answer to letter of Pope

Rome: August 2, 2007. At least 11 priests from the underground church are being held in arrest in various regions throughout China. AsiaNews sources confirm that since last May their conditions have worsened due to Letter of Pope to faithful.
In Hebei, Zhejiang and central Mongolia all of the acti

Image

New elders join talks on Korean hostages.

No immediate progress was reported by either side, but Afghan officials appeared hopeful that the inclusion of more elders would increase the pressure on the Taliban to release the hostages.
"My message to the South Koreans, in particular to the families of these men and women being held by the Tal

Image

Faced with fatwa, Nilofar Bakhtiar, a former Pakistani minister vows to fight extremism

PARIS: July 28, 2007. (AFP) A former Pakistani government minister who resigned after Islamists issued a fatwa against her for posing in an "obscene manner" with French paraglider pilots, vowed Saturday to fight religious extremism.
"My mission in life now is to face and fight extremism of any kin

Image

Militants threatening letter to Bishop Nasir: “Convert to Islam or die”

Such threatening letters were dropped in Charsadda and Shanti Nagar in homes of Christians in months of May-June but letter to Bishop Nasir is first to any high profile Christian religious leader in Pakistan.
The threat to Bishop Nasir have created very serious concern among his followers around w

Image

Prime Minister welcomes Supreme Court decision to reinstates chief justice

"The reference of the president dated March 9, 2007 is set aside," presiding judge Khalil-ur-Rehman Ramday told the court, announcing a 10-3 verdict.
"As a further consequence the petitioner, the Chief Justice of Pakistan, shall be deemed to be holding the said office and shall always be deemed to

Image

Azerbaijan: On trial, a Baptist pastor in prison for over two months

He has been accused of assaulting 5 policemen, of having damaged their car and of having led "illegal gatherings under the guise of religious activity without concrete authority and without state registration", of "attracting young people to services and playing loud music at services, disturbing th

Image

Nationalists force the cancellation of a concert wanted by the Patriarch of Constantinople

Yet more tensions between the Turkish Authorities and the Ecumenical Patriarchate: today permission was revoked for the concert of the famous Greek singer song writer Dallara, also well known in Turkey, which was to have closet the II Conference of Orthodox Youth organised by the Patriarchate in Ist

Image

Christian condemned to death in N Korea, US politicians write to the UN

Washington: July 15, 2007. The younger brother of Son Jong-nam, ex officer of the Pyongyang army converted to Christianity, is due to be executed in public, has appealed to the US and UN to help save him.
A group made up of US senators, democrats and republican, have written to the United Nations

Image

Vatican says other Christian churches "wounded"

Protestant leaders said this was offensive and would hurt inter-denominational dialogue.
A 16-page document by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which Pope Benedict once headed, described Christian Orthodox churches as true churches, but suffering from a "wound" since they do not reco

Image

Pope Angers Jews, Liberals With Rite, Conservatives Rejoice as Pontiff Revives Old Latin Mass

The decision, a victory for traditional, conservative Roman Catholics, came over the objections of liberal-minded Catholics and angered Jews because the Tridentine Mass contains a prayer for their conversion.
Benedict, who stressed that he was not negating Vatican II, issued a document authorizing

Image

Roman Catholic priest attacked in India

The attackers, who were from an anti-Christian group called Bajrang Dal, beat him savagely and struck him with blows.
The incident took place as Fr. Pereira was in a hospital along with a Hindu covert to Christianity and three others who had brought him there medical treatment. Then the gang shout

Image

Shahbaz Bhatti has done nothing for poor and illiterate Christians: Catholic Association of Pakistan

In a press statement issued here on comments of Pastor John Barkat that Shahbaz Bhatti has done tremendous work for community, Mr. Iqbal deplored Bishop Lobo and Shahbaz Bhatti working and termed it against interests of deserving Christians.
Catholic Association was established in 1937, by His Holi

Image

APMA demands equal rights for minorities in Pakistan. Shahbaz Bhatti

Peshawar: June 28, 2007. All Pakistan Minorities Alliance (APMA) held a huge public gathering at Peshawar and an oath-taking ceremony of the APMA Provincial Executive Council was also organized which was attended by over 2,500 Christian, Sikh, Hindu, Balmiks, Kalash and Bihai minorities, including w

Image

Pope: just as in Aryanism, today there is the temptation to deny Christ’s divinity

In order to counter this "integral catechesis" is needed, through which the faithful can teach Christianity "which truly involves our entire existence and which makes us credible witnesses of Jesus Christ, truly God and truly man". That was the objective which Saint Cyril of Jerusalem aimed to achi

Image

Hindu Prayer Will Open Senate Session in July. CNSNews

Washington, DC; June 27, 2007.For what is believed to be the first time in its history, the U.S. Senate will on July 12 be opened with a Hindu prayer, the Senate Chaplain`s Office confirmed Monday.
For more than 200 years, the Senate has opened each workday with a prayer usually delivered by the Se

Image

SIOE demands to stop Islamisation of Europe and announces protest outside EU Parliament.

These are the rallying cries that people all over Europe are shouting far and wide to Islamists both within Europe and in other countries who seek to impose Sharia law upon European citizens.
It is not only to Muslims, who seek to expand Islam across the whole of Europe, that Europeans are saying "

Image

Pakistan says Rushdie knighthood may spark terrorism

Angry protesters in several cities torched British flags and beat them with their shoes in protest at the accolade for the Indian-born writer of "The Satanic Verses" and chanted "Death to Britain, death to Rushdie."
Rushdie, 59, was forced to go into hiding for a decade after Iran`s Ayatollah Ruhol

Image

Hamas attacks Church and School, Christians in Gaza fear for their lives. The Jerusalem Post

Gaza; June 19, 2007. Christians living in Gaza City on Monday appealed to the international community to protect them against increased attacks by Muslim extremists. Many Christians said they were prepared to leave the Gaza Strip as soon as the border crossings are reopened. The appeal came followi

Image

Muslim mob attacks worshipers and injured dozens in Church in Dijkot, Punjab.


Pakistan: June 19, 2007. A mob of Muslims equipped with firearms and sticks attacked Christian worshipers and injured dozens of men, women and children. The attackers were backed by area Council Chief of administration and police turned blind eye to stop Muslim attackers in remote village of distr

Image

PCC challenge Shahbaz Bhatti to call for referendum on SE or JE. Pakistani Christians demand SE.

He also challenged Shahbaz Bhatti to join PCC call on government to hold referendum on Separate Electorate SE or Joint Electorate JE, that Christian may select election system for them.
Nazir Bhatti said" I will visit Pope to inform His Excellency about escalation of Christian persecution in Pakist

Image

Shahbaz Bhatti is not Christian leader but agent of Pakistan government agencies and spreading false propaganda against me and PCP. Nazir Bhatti

government agencies and working to damage Christian cause for vested interests. He said that there is no Hindu, Parsi or any other Pakistani minority community in this so-called APMA but it was formed after his meeting with military regime to sabotage popular election system of Christians " Separate

Image

Iraq: Al-Qaida insurgents threat Christians to convert to Islam, marry daughters to Islamic fighters, pay tax or leave Iraq.

A U.S. military official said American forces became aware of the threats only last month and now have erected barriers around the largest Christian enclave in Baghdad`s Dora neighborhood in an effort to protect its residents.
Christians in Baghdad refuse to discuss the threats for fear of retribu

Image

Philippine: Search continues for kidnapped Catholic priest Fr. Bossi

Zamboanga: June 12, 2007. Searches continue for Fr.Giancarlo Bossi, missionary of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions, kidnapped in the Southern Island chain of Mindanao June 10 last: the administrator of the of the Catholic prelature of Ipil, Fr. Nador Jasulga, has created an emergency t

Image

In India only one religion allowed in Tirumala: Hinduism

Pradesh, the state government has banned all religions other than the one traditionally associated with local places of worship or prayer. The state's chief minister, Y. S. Rajasekhar Reddy, told AsiaNews that a bill to that effect will be presented in the next session to the state assembly.
Missio

Image

Church Construction Leads to Attempted Murder

Bursting into the home, the men swung a large bamboo pole at Jay's head, but he dodged it and took the heavy blow to his shoulder instead. Then, the men grabbed Siddhani and her sister and beat them mercilessly.
The prayer group was finally saved when some neighbors heard the women shrieking for h

Image

Man tries to jump into popemobile.

The pope was not hurt and didn`t even appear to notice that the man --- who was between 20 or 30 years old --- had jumped over the protective barrier in the square and toward the white popemobile as it drove by. The pontiff kept waving to the audience.
At least eight security officers who were trai

Image

Some extracts of Memorandum presented to His Holiness Pope by Pakistan Christian Congress

Holy Father,
I, the undersigned Nazir S Bhatti, Chief of Pakistan Christian Congress and Editor of Pakistan Christian Post wish to bring facts about election system and religious freedom issues faced by 15 million Christians in Pakistan.
The comments by His Holiness on occasion of accepting crede

Image

PCC condemn Pakistan government decision to appoint Ayshia Riyaz as ambassador to Vatican. Nazir Bhatti

Mr. Bhatti said "Ms Riyaz is among four Muslim women serving as diplomat in army of thousand of Muslim employees in Foreign Services of Pakistan while there is non Christian in any missions of Pakistan around world"
He added that relatives of Army Generals, Politicians, Bureaucrats and Businessmen

Image

It was target killing of Christian children not kidnap for ransom. Watson Gill

He termed it target killing as culprits have killed the children but kept on demanding ransom of two million rupees.
Two Christian children named Obaid and Sajjid were kidnapped from neighborhood of Christian Town from Korangi area of District East of Karachi, on May 21, 2007.
According to PCP co

Image

Another Lal Masjid in Islamabad: PIMS Muslim nurses press administration to file blasphemy charges against hundreds of Christian nurses.

There are fifty Christian student nurses and three hundred Muslim students in this institute who were sharing cordial relations before threats of Islamic laws by clerics of Lal Masjid in capital city of Pakistan.
Lal Masjid Imams and adjacent Islamic seminary students have challenged writ of gover

Image

Younis Masih sentenced to death in false blasphemy case

Lahore June 1, 2007. (AsiaNews) – Lahore district court yesterday condemned to death Younis Masih, a Christian accused of blasphemy. The judges also condemned to man to pay a fine amounting to 100 thousand Rupees. Defence lawyers denounce a lack of evidence and accuse police of negligence for no

Image

Higher Court rejects appeal of Ms Joy to recognize her as Christian in Malaysia.

and directed a Muslim Convert woman to contact Sharia Courts to decide her appeal to remove Islam from her identity card.
Malaysia is Muslim majority country and Sharia laws deal with their personnel laws but Hindu, Buddhist and Christian minorities are dealt with Civil laws.
Ms Lina Joy who was A

Image

Runaway Christian couple became easy prey of Muslim gang rapists

Lahore: May 30, 2007. (Report by Pastor Azam Peter) The more reports have been surfaced of gang rape of Christian girl in Muslim graveyard in Lahore. According to information's, the name of Christian victim is Miss Lunba, a 20 years old, who was in love with Nasir Masih (Mochaha) who is 21 years of

Image

Thousands of Christians “Arrested” in Peaceful Protest against Growing Anti-Christian Violence across India

The rally, called "Stop Violence On Christians", was organized after two recently televised attacks on Christians and an increase of anti-Christian incidents in the first few months of 2007.
The rally started at 10am at Jantar Mantar near the Parliament in New Delhi. Rally organizers had expected

Image

Christian girl gang raped by four Muslims in Lahore

According to information's Mochah Masih was passing by the graveyard with her fiancé when four drunken Muslims threatened them and hold up on gunpoint. They ordered Mochah Masih to run away and handover her future wife to them.
On refusal of Mochah Masih, four Muslims dragged both of them inside

Image

Pope: Christians must be disciples and missionaries of Christ

The Pope underscored this element of his recent trip in his address to over 40 thousand pilgrims and visitors gathered in St Peter's square for his general audience. An evangelizing journey which, in the Pope's own words, must be undertaken in the light of the "theological and social" aspects of a

Image

Sumera, a Christian teenage girl raped by Muslim employer in Kasur district of Punjab.

Mohammad Asif added some medicine in tea of Sumera and her mother to make them unconscious and then took teenage girl in fields and raped her.
This incident of sexual assault happened in Nazam Pura Chack number 2, Sub-District Chuniyah of District Kasur in Punjab province of Pakistan.
Sumera belon

Image

Walter Fazal, a millions property owner Christian alleged of blasphemy by Muslim servant.

Samanabad is posh residential area in Lahore city where property value has boomed in recent years and house where Walter Fazal resides is also estimated in millions. It is reported that Fazal has turned down offers of many real estate builders to sell his property.
On May 9, Muslim servant Riaz Moh

Image

Walter Fazal, a millions property owner Christian alleged of blasphemy by Muslim servant.

Samanabad is posh residential area in Lahore city where property value has boomed in recent years and house where Walter Fazal resides is also estimated in millions. It is reported that Fazal has turned down offers of many real estate builders to sell his property.
On May 9, Muslim servant Riaz Moh

Image

Christian families fleeing from Charsadda after threats of “Convert to Islam or Die:”

The claims made in press conference by some Christian leaders "That instead of this threat, Christians shall remain in Charsadda" seemed less to satisfy feared Christian families of this remote town bordering tribal belt of Waziristan.
About 50 to 60 Christian families settled here and mostly enga

Image

India: Freedom of Religion Bills against Christianity: Nagaland Chief Minister

New Delhi, SVM News, May 18, 2007: Neiphiu Rio, Chief Minister of Nagaland State in India said that the so-called freedom of religion bills are basically directed against Christianity, having been used to prevent conversion to this religion, and to harass Christian missionaries, who have renderd

Image

May 17, a deadline to Pakistani Christian to convert to Islam or die by Pakistani Taliban.

NWFP is border province to Afghanistan and touches boundaries with tribal belt of Waziristan. The remote town of Charsadda came in world limelight few weeks back when suicide attack killed dozens of participants of a rally addressed by Home Minister of Pakistan.
The threatening letter copies were

Image

India: Mastermind in pastor attack case arrested

Seven people arrested earlier in the case had admitted that the brutal attack was carried out at Virendra`s behest.
Virendra, stated to be the mastermind behind the attack, is VHP`s Organising Secretary for Jaipur city. He is also an employee of the Employees` State Insurance (ESI) Hospital, from

Image

Fact-finding mission of Christian leaders visits Jaipur to investigate attack on Christian Ministry

An assault on Massey by 20-25 VHP activists was recorded by TV cameras on 29 April 2007 in Jaipur, Rajasthan, and broadcast around India. The Fact Finding Team, organized by the All India Christian Council (aicc) and Satbhav Morch (Brotherhood Front) Jaipur, appealed to the Rajasthan Government to b

Image

A dialogue between cultures in the meeting between the Pope and Khatami

Naturally the pope and Khatami also discussed the Middle East and the problem of Christians in the region and particularly in Iran. "Regarding the Middle East, - reads a Holy See press office statement – the need for strong initiatives by the international community to set up serious negotiations

Image

Pope expresses solidarity with Msgr. Bagnasco, the target of threats

urging him not to give in to intimidation. Yesterday morning, Benedict XVI made a personal phone call to the Archbishop, followed later in the day by an official telegram. In the note written on behalf of the pope by the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the pontiff also urges

Image

India: Pastor Walter Masih attacked by Hindu radicals near Rajistan CM House in Jaipur.

At 1.30 PM, in vicinity of House of Chief Minister of Rajistan in historic city of Jaipur, Hindu radicals in masks attacked Pastor named Walter Masih in front of his children and wife.
In footage shown on Aajtak TV channels, Pastor cried for help but no one came to rescue on fear of radical element

Image

Mob and police torture Catholic man accused of blasphemy

Instead, Maulana Mohammad Umer, imam at a local mosque, filed a complaint against Mr Masih under Section 295–A and 295–C (commonly known as the blasphemy law) of the Pakistan Penal Code. Penalties include the death sentence for anyone who offends Islam's prophet and sacred texts.
The Police als

Image

A synod to deepen our encounter with the Word of God

Vatican City (AsiaNews) – April 27, 2007. A pastoral synod by exploring doctrinal reasoning aims to extend and strengthen the practice of our encounter with the Word of God. That is the objective of the next general assembly of the synod of bishops, which will be dedicated to the theme of "The Wo

Image

Turkey detains more in Bible attack

The arrests brought to 10 the number of suspects in custody, all people in their late teens or early 20s, said Halil Ibrahim Dasoz, governor of Malatya, the city in central Turkey where the killings took place.
Malatya is known as hotbed of Turkish nationalism and as the hometown of Mehmet Ali Agca

Image

Underground Church Worker Beheaded in Kashmir

KASHMIR, INDIA (ANS) – April 19, 2007. An active member of the Salem Voice Ministries underground House Church in Kashmir was brutally murdered on Saturday, April 14, according to news sources in India.
Manzoor Ahmad Chat, 33, was beheaded by Hizbul militants on Saturday before dawn. Local polic

Image

India: Two House Churches attacked in Himachal, Police refused to take complaint

Sources told the All India Christian Council that, while worship led by Pastor Yona Babu at Shirad Valley was going on, a group of 60 people belonging to Vishwa Hindu Parishad (World Hindu Council) forcefully entered the room and sat among church members.
Pastor Babu reported to the All India Chris

Image

Cheena Bibi, a teen age Christian girl gang raped by Muslims on Easter Day in Punjab

Police arrested four culprits but later released three who were from families of local influential and detained one who was from North Western Province of Pakistan.
According to the facts collected by Sharing Life Ministry Pakistan (SLMP) team, on 8th April 2007, Easter Day at about 10:00 A.M Cheen

Image

Pope presides over Easter Vigil Mass

Benedict started the Mass by blessing a large white candle and carrying it down the main aisle of the darkened basilica. Slowly, the twinkle of candlelight lit up the entire basilica as the faithful shared the lone flame.
The Church considers the period between Good Friday, which commemorates Jesus

Image

“ Living Under The Cross” Good Friday Message by Rev. Canon Patrick Augustine

Christians are entering in the Holy Week which is the most sacred season in the Christian calendar. The culmination of the events in the Holy Week as mentioned in the New Testament lead us to the Cross and the Resurrection (Easter). The Anglican scholar, Bishop Stephen Neill while meditating on th

Image

5 Christians charged under blasphemy and furious Muslims attack Christian colony

nominated in FIR under section 295 A&C PPC, on complaint of one Muslim named Abdul Ghaffar.
According to SLPM fact-finding team visiting Toba Tek Singh city " It was an incident of minor dispute among Christian and Muslim teens in a playground where 11 years son of Salamat Masih refused to play w

Image

Campaign for John Paul sainthood reaches landmark. By Philip Pullella

At a ceremony including solemn oaths and centuries-old sacred rituals on the second anniversary of his death, officials formally concluded the first phase of a probe into his holiness.
The Rome diocese gave the Vatican tens of thousands of pages of documents and transcripts which propose that John

Image

Pope John Paul II has cured me: A French nun recounts

"I am cured. It is the work of God, through the intercession of pope John Paul II," told Sister Marie Simon-Pierre, smiling broadly before a barrage of television cameras.
"It`s something very strong, very difficult to put into words," she told reporters in the southern French city of Aix en Proven

Image

Pakistan: Amanat Masih charged under blasphemy on instigation of influential Muslim landlords in village Nabi Pur of Punjab province.

He is reportedly accused for burning Quranic papers on asking of Liaqat Ali.
Sharing Life Ministry Pakistan SLMP, team consisting on three members Sohail Johnson Chief Coordinator and Shahzad Kamran field officer and Zahid Daniel met Zohera Bibi aged 43, wife of Amanat Masih.
Zohera Bibi told

Image

Rebecca, a rape victim gone in hiding and now fears safety of her daughter

The intruders showed guns and entered in home and now threatened to harm Rebecca's six years old daughter if she tries to pursue her rape charges.
In an application filed with Director General of Police Sindh by Rebecca's husband requests for police protection for his family. That unknown persons

Image

A Missionary Beaten up in Mandi District of Himachal Pradesh

New Delhi, March 25, 2007: Mr. Raju – a missionary in Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh was beaten up by Hindu fanatics on February 25, 2007. Police has refused to file First Information Report (FIR.)
Sources reaching to All India Christian Council said that Hindu fanatics entered his house for

Image

Pope: Europe losing faith in its future

"One must unfortunately note that Europe seems to be going down a road which could lead it to take its leave from history," the pontiff told a gathering of the continent`s bishops.
The bishops were in Rome for ceremonies to mark the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Rome, which marke

Image

Christian inmates of Adiala Jail Rawalpindi go on hunger strike on denial of congregational prayers by jail officials.

Today, all Christian Prisoners in District Jail Adiala refused their meal provided by jail staff and announced hunger strike till the grant of permission of congregational prayer in the jail.
It is pertinent to mention here that the place, which is fixed for Christian Prisoners congregational pray

Image

Indian Muslim group calls for beheading of writer Taslima Nasreen

The president of the All India Ibtehad Council, Taqi Raza Khan, said on Friday he had declared the reward for anyone who carried out the "quatal" or "extermination" of the "notorious woman."
"Taslima has put Muslims to shame in her writing. She should be killed and beheaded and anyone who does this

Image

India: Christians Victimized in Punjab assembly elections while a Pastor Beaten in Rajasthan

They were sentenced by a district magistrate to 24 days police custody under section 307 of Indian Penal Code. Sources told the All India Christian Council the allegations are false and the facts contradict reports by local media which carried fabrications from VHP and Bajrang Dal activists. Another

Image

CNN airs mysterious “Divide Pakistan” advertisements. By Chidanad Rajghatta

A maverick academic based in Europe has been buying airtime on CNN for the past two weeks to advertise his book titled Divide Pakistan to Eliminate Terrorism . The 15-second spot, which is aired every day, charges Pakistan with terrorist activities across the world and says the only way to stop this

Image

Gang-rape victim faces lashes in Saudi Arabia

In an interview with the Saudi Gazette, the 19-year-old said she was blackmailed a year ago into meeting a man who threatened to tell her family they were having a relationship outside wedlock, which is illegal in the ultra-conservative desert kingdom.
After driving off together from a shopping mal

Image

Vatican and Vietnam discuss ties

The visit comes shortly after the detention of a Catholic priest as well as allegation of abuses of believers by local officials in the country.
Vietnam government wants to establish relations quickly but the Vatican wants to see several issues resolved first.
This is the 15th round of talks bet

Image

Salik in self-imposed confinement to get his demands resolved

Also chief organizer of Pakistan Human Rights Party and former federal minister, J, Salik initiated his another self-imposed confinement at his home in Islamabad to register protest against what he alleged government irresponsible behaviour for not taking any notice of his past 40-days protest by si

Image

Scholars and clergymen in Jerusalem slam new Jesus documentary: AP Report

The Lost Tomb of Christ, which the Discovery Channel will run on March 4 in the United States, argues that 10 ancient ossuaries - small caskets used to store bones - discovered in a suburb of Jerusalem in 1980 may have contained the bones of Jesus and his family, according to a press release issued

Image

Ashraf P Butt files petition in Sindh High Courts for special permission for Christians to visit Israel.

The petition filed under section 199, of constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan against Federation of Pakistan through Foreign Ministry, Interior Ministry, Director general of Passports and Justice Ministry of government of Pakistan urges to include Israel in passports issued to Pakistani Chri

Image

India grants lifetime visa to Taslima Nasreen, A Bangladeshi woman under threat after decree by Islamic clerics on her liberal writings.

India; February 22, 2007. Millions of Indians must have been relieved to hear that Taslima Nasreen`s visa which was due to expire in a week has been extended to her life-time so that she can become a citizen of India. A fatwa pronounced by some Bangladeshi bigots --- for her turning a free thinker -

Image

Firebomb attack kills 67 aboard India-Pakistan train

Explosives found in two suitcases directly pointed to sabotage, Indian Railways Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav told reporters Monday following the midnight blast on the "Samjhauta (Friendship) Express".
The blasts came on the eve of a visit by Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri, who called the a

Image

Utah gunman, 18, was Muslim from Bosnia. Killed 5 in crowded shopping mall before being gunned down. WND.

An off-duty police officer having an early Valentine`s Day dinner with his wife was credited today with cornering Sulejmen Talovic, exchanging fire with him until other officers arrived to shoot and kill the gunman.
The trench-coated teenager wanted to "to kill a large number of people" and probab

Image

India: Dalit Freedom Network Welcomes Human Rights Watch Report on Caste Discrimination.

GREENWOOD VILLAGE; February 15, 2007. The Dalit Freedom Network welcomes the recent publication of a report by Human Rights Watch highlighting the Government of India`s refusal to properly address the Dalit issue and thereby follow treaty obligations. The report, "Hidden Apartheid, Caste Discriminat

Image

Turkey: Nobel laureate Orhan Pamuk flees in fear of life

USA: February 15, 2007. The Turkish novelist and Nobel laureate Orhan Pamuk is living in exile in the United States and is believed to be in fear for his life.
Amid a climate of intimidation that has seen the prosecution and even murder of dissident intellectuals throwing into doubt Turkey`s aspir

Image

European Parliament Opposes Dalit Discrimination

The European Parliament has this week passed a resolution opposing caste discrimination.
Caste discrimination is most commonly associated with India, but the existence of similar discrimination in Japan, some South Asian countries, and a number of African states, is gaining wider recognition.
The

Image

No stoning, Canada migrants told

The rules come in a new town council declaration on culture that Muslims have branded shocking and insulting.
Quebec is in the midst of a huge debate on integrating immigrant cultures.
Montreal police are investigating an officer who wrote a song called That is Enough Already, which says immigra

Image

Pakistan: Tortured brick makers refuse to embrace Islam

Steadfast Christian faith sustains them through month-long imprisonment. Two brothers who used to work at a brick kiln have escaped from what they describe as a kidnapping and torture by the business owner, who wanted them to convert from Christianity to Islam, according to a new report from Voice o

Image

40% of young UK Muslims want sharia law. Over a third say conversion from Islam should be “punished by death”

but three-fifths of 16-to 24-year-olds say they have as much in common with non-Muslims as with Muslims, according to an opinion poll published on Monday.
According to Jonny Paul, writing in the online edition of The Jerusalem Post, the survey, entitled "Living Together Apart: British Muslims and

Image

Israeli Cabinet Approves Muslim Minister

Parliament was scheduled to convene to give final approval to Raleb Majadele`s appointment, which the government billed as a step toward equality for Muslim Arabs, Israel`s largest minority.
The appointment was mired for weeks in political infighting and charges of racism. It drew criticism from ha

Image

Uzbekistan: Secret Police Arrest Andijan Pastor. Jailed Protestant leader accused of treason and ‘inciting enmity.

ISTANBUL (Compass Direct News) -- Uzbek secret police arrested a Protestant pastor from his church in Andijan last weekend, seven months after a regional prosecutor had accused him of committing high treason.
Pastor Dmitry Shestakov, 37, is apparently now accused of "incitement of national, racial

Image

Christian Lady Martha booked under Blasphemy Law. An exclusive report by Sohail Johnson

Sharing Life Ministry visited Martha family for fact finding. Martha's family left their house and took refuge at one of their relatives, the place where Martha's family is taking refuge can not be mentioned here due to security measures.
Sharing life Ministry Pakistan (SLMP) met with Martha hus

Image

Christian woman arrested under blasphemy on a construction material dispute with Muslim storeowner.

According to initial reports submitted by Sohail Johnson, Chief Coordinator SLMP shed light on this new case registered against Christian woman while in same district a case was also registered against another Christian woman in 2006.
In this new blasphemy, Martha got some goods of construction on

Image

India: Death of a preacher in Jharkhand may take political hue

The autopsy report has established his death as being due to poison. The police also claim they have evidence linking the deceased to Jharkhand Deputy Chief Minister Stephen Marandi.
Identifying the dead man as Suresh Thakre, purportedly a preacher with the CNI, the police said that he had recentl

Image

Radical Hindus attack Founder Centenary Interfaith dialogue meeting in Kanpur. US Christian’s representatives were also participants.

The bloodthirsty manner in which the Hindutva brigade in India celebrated the Birth Centenary of its founder and Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh chief Guru Golwalkar last Sunday is evidence that the hyper nationalist and religious fundamentalist group has sharpened its attack on Christians and Muslims a

Image

Christian believers executed in North Korea. By Michael Ireland

"The Democratic People Republic of North Korea is well-known as a country where Christians are persecuted for their faith. Because the government there keeps a tight lid on communication, however, only rarely does specific information leak out."
Quoting the World Bible Translation Center, Gary Bis

Image

Italy to monitor mosque funding

Interior minister is considering setting up a foundation which would monitor foreign funding for religious buildings and mosques.
A similar system already exists in France.
Italy now has 1.2 million Muslims, making Islam the country`s second biggest religion after Catholicism.
Giving alms is a

Image

Church Attempted To Set On Fire in Punjab. SLMP report

Catholic Church in village Nangul Sada Mureed Kay attempted to set on fire on 25th December the Christmas night. Case has been registered and one of three culprits has been arrested by the local police while one has been got bail before arrest.
Sharing Life Ministry Pakistan visited the place fo

Image

New Year: Pope calls for Middle East peace accord

Marking World Peace Day, he referred to "the scene of the shepherds of Bethlehem visiting Jesus in the manger," asking: "How can you not look again at the dire situation that characterizes this land where Jesus was born?"
The 79-year-old pontiff asked: "How can you not implore with insistent prayer

Image

Hundreds hurt in New Year revelry in Philippines

MANILA (Reuters) - Filipinos woke up to a thick smog shrouding Manila on Monday after a raucous New Year revelry of street parties, firecrackers and firing of guns that resulted in 624 injuries across the country.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque said injuries during the New Year celebrations were

Image

“Hunger for Justice will change the world” Message on New Year by Archbishop of Canterbury

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams has said that we need to feel the same hunger for justice that ended the slave trade if the world is to be changed for the better. Speaking in his New Year message, broadcast on BBC Television in the UK on New Year's Eve and repeated on New Year's Day,

"Trial of Pakistani Christian Nation" By Nazir S Bhatti

On demand of our readers, I have decided to release E-Book version of "Trial of Pakistani Christian Nation" on website of PCP which can also be viewed on website of Pakistan Christian Congress www.pakistanchristiancongress.org . You can read chapter wise by clicking tab on left handside of PDF format of E-Book.

nazirbhattipcc@aol.com , pakistanchristianpost@yahoo.com