ASIA/PAKISTAN - Christians killed: seven days of mourning

Faisalabad (Agenzia Fides) – Christians in Faisalabad, besides police, social and religious organisations have announced that they will observe seven days of mourning for the two Christian brothers murdered two days ago, “ innocent victims of anti-Christian hatred ”. “We will organise special prayers for peace in every church and meetings to reactivate interreligious dialogue ”, Fides learned from Fr. Aftab James Paul, head of the Faisalabad diocesan Commission for Interreligious Dialogue, noting that “fear, grief, anger and disappointment reign among the people”.
“We are intensifying attempts to dialogue with Muslim religious leaders. Interreligious dialogue, before these tragic events, was advanced in Faisalabad. I think extremist groups spread blasphemous material blaming Christians and killed the two men, precisely to undermine the basis of dialogue and harmony. Today we are comforted to see many Muslims come to our churches to express sadness and solidarity ” Fr. Aftab told Fides.
“We call on the government to make a careful investigation into the events and find the perpetrators and those behind them. The police in this case was negligent: it should have protect the arrested Christians”.
Francis Mehboob Sada, Director of Rawalpindi Christian Study Centre told Fides: “Not even a madman would put his name, address and telephone number on a leaflet with such blasphemous words. This is the work of people who want to provoke violence. All over the country extremist groups stir up interreligious conflict to destroy peace and harmony. They must be unmasked and stopped ”. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 21/7/2010)