Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Faisalabd (Agenzia Fides) - Individuals and families affected by false accusations of blasphemy in Faisalabad met to share experiences, exchange support, encouragement and hope, to ask the government to review the unjust "black law", which has claimed more than 1,000 victims in twenty years. As local sources of Fides report, the meeting was organized in view of Christmas from the Protestant Pastor Samson Javaid, who brought together the Christian victims of the blasphemy law to "pray and live a meeting of communion". "There were tears and pain, because some have lost their loved ones. There were three happy families because their loved ones have been released from prison. There was also a family whose son was sentenced to life imprisonment two years ago", says Rev. Samson.
The Anglican Bishop Mgr. John Samuel attended the meeting, encouraging families with a message of hope centered on the mystery of the Incarnation, the Cross and Resurrection. "We will pray, during the Christmas period, remembering those who are still behind bars because of false accusations of blasphemy. God bless all of you this Christmas", said the Bishop.
The group of those present expressed their unanimous appeal to the government so that it reviews or abolishes the law, of which many abuse, using it as an instrument of personal revenge, and was the reason of the killing of Christian leaders like the minister Shahbaz Bhatti and Muslims like the Governor of Punjab Salman Taseer. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 22/12/2011)
