{"id":50527,"date":"2024-07-02T14:00:46","date_gmt":"2024-07-02T05:00:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/?p=50527"},"modified":"2024-07-02T16:57:14","modified_gmt":"2024-07-02T07:57:14","slug":"vomk-report-308","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/2024\/07\/02\/vomk-report-308\/","title":{"rendered":"PAKISTAN: RALLY BACKS MURDER OF ELDERLY CHRISTIAN SHOEMAKER"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”50532″ img_size=”full”][vc_custom_heading text=”A large rally in Pakistan last month backed the murder of an elderly Christian shoemaker accused of blasphemy, with organizers warning that others should expect the same fate, according to Voice of the Martyrs Korea and its partner for Pakistan ministry, UK-based Release International.” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:1.2em|text_align:left” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal” el_class=”headline”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]2,500 gathered in <\/span>the city of <\/span>Sargodha <\/span>in Punjab Province, <\/span>where the murder took place<\/span> in May<\/span>, to show their support for the killing of 74-year-old Nazeer Masih Gil. The rally, organi<\/span>z<\/span>ed by Islamist extremists Tehreek-e-<\/span>Labbaik<\/span> Pakistan (TLP), also <\/span>protested <\/span>against<\/span> the arrest of those accused of killing the Christian shoemaker.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]This latest claim of blasphemy is <\/span>reportedly the<\/span> ninth made in <\/span>Sargodha <\/span>since 2023.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Voice of the Martyrs Korea Representative Dr<\/span>.<\/span> Hyun Sook Foley says the recent string of blasphemy claims is <\/span>especially <\/span>concerning due to the city\u2019s <\/span>large size<\/span> and public image. \u201cThey call it the \u2018California of Pakistan\u2019 due to its beautiful orange plantations,\u201d says Representative Foley. \u201c<\/span>The city<\/span>\u2019<\/span>s <\/span>website says, \u2018<\/span>Individuals of Sargodha are exceptionally tranquil and tolerant<\/span>\u2019 and \u2018<\/span>Since the formation of Pakistan, not even a solitary time<\/span> [has there been] <\/span>battle among individuals of various factions or religion<\/span>[s]<\/span>.\u2019<\/span> Yet this is the city where <\/span>there have been nine accusations of blasphemy in the past year, where <\/span>Nazeer Masih Gil was martyred, and where 2,500 people gathered to support his murder and <\/span>threaten<\/span> further violence against Christians.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]According to reports<\/span> on the rally from Voice of the Martyrs Korea partner Release International<\/span>, TLP leader Muhammed Naeem Chattha Qadri demanded of the crowd<\/span> at the June rally, \u201c<\/span>Tell me if we were wrong in killing that <\/span>\u2018<\/span>chuhra<\/span>\u2019<\/span> who burned the <\/span>Quran<\/span>?<\/span>\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]\u2018<\/span>Chuhra<\/span>\u2019<\/span> is a derogatory term <\/span>for<\/span> sanitation workers and Christians<\/span>, according to Release International.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Qadri added this warning: <\/span>\u201c<\/span>Whoever commits blasphemy will meet the same fate.<\/span>\u201d<\/span> According to reports, h<\/span>e then went on to threaten the police <\/span>\u201c<\/span>if they attempt to protect the blasphemers.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”50535″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]On May 25, up to 2,000 extremists responded to an accusation broadcast over mosque loudspeakers that Christian <\/span>Nazeer Masih Gil<\/span> had burn<\/span>ed<\/span> a copy of the <\/span>Quran<\/span> on a bonfire.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\u201cAccording to reports from our partner Release International, Nazir\u2019s son tried to reason with the mob, apologizing if his father had mistakenly done anything wrong,\u201d says Representative Foley. \u201cBut the mob would not listen.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

She says members of the mob filmed themselves kicking and beating the elderly Christian until he was unconscious and then looting his shoe factory and ransacking his house. They allegedly posted these videos on social media.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]\u201c<\/span>Our partner, Release International, <\/span>reported to us that <\/span>t<\/span>he same mob stoned police when they tried to intervene and hurled bricks at the ambulance when it took <\/span>Nazeer Masih Gil <\/span>to <\/span>the <\/span>hospital<\/span>,\u201d says Representative Foley<\/span>. He died from his injuries nine days later.<\/span> She said that <\/span>Nazeer\u2019s widow, who is <\/span>also <\/span>in her 70s, was so traumati<\/span>z<\/span>ed <\/span>that <\/span>she was unable to speak.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]According to <\/span>reports from <\/span>Release International<\/span> received by Voice of the Marty<\/span>r<\/span>s Korea<\/span>, <\/span>Nazeer\u2019s son, Sultan<\/span>, says he <\/span>believe<\/span>s<\/span> the attack was motivated not by blasphemy but by jealousy<\/span> caused by the success of his father\u2019s <\/span>business<\/span>, which had resisted many <\/span>attempts to <\/span>shut <\/span>it <\/span>down.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>In the same province of Punjab <\/span>last <\/span>August, a mob attacked a Christian colony in <\/span>Jaranwala<\/span>, following blasphemy accusations against Christians<\/span>,\u201d says Representative Foley, citing reports from Release International<\/span>. <\/span>\u201c<\/span>They burned churches and houses. Mercifully, the Christians were able to flee<\/span>,<\/span> and no<\/span> one was killed.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”50529″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_custom_heading text=”Martyred Christian shoemaker Nazeer Masih, shown here after the mob attack on May 25 which claimed his life. (Photo from the X account of Bishop Azad Marshall)” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:13px|text_align:center|color:%230f0f0f|line_height:1.45em” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Representative Foley notes that there is a <\/span>troubling history of unsubstantiated <\/span>accusations of <\/span>Quran burning against Christians in Pakistan.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\u201cIn February 1997, a mob of <\/span>more than <\/span>30,000 Muslims burn<\/span>ed<\/span> the village and church in Shanti Nagar<\/span> in the <\/span>Khanewal<\/span> District <\/span>based on a false accusation <\/span>of <\/span>Christians burn<\/span>ing<\/span> Qurans there. In<\/span> November 2005, <\/span>more than <\/span>1,500 Muslims burnt three churches in <\/span>Sanglahill<\/span> District, <\/span>on a similar charge<\/span>,<\/span>\u201d<\/span> says Representative Foley.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>Then o<\/span>n<\/span> Christmas Eve <\/span>2020, <\/span>in <\/span>Kotli Muhammad Sadique, a small village in Narowal district<\/span>\u2014which is also in Punjab province, like the latest blasphemy accusations\u2014a <\/span>mob of over 300 gathered outside <\/span>a <\/span>c<\/span>hurch, <\/span>demanding <\/span>that <\/span>it <\/span>hand over <\/span>Christians <\/span>who <\/span>allegedly <\/span>burn<\/span>ed<\/span> pages<\/span> of a Quran<\/span>.<\/span> Police arrived and<\/span> mistakenly<\/span> arrested<\/span> and then beat <\/span>Ilyas Masih<\/span>, a<\/span> poor <\/span>Christian <\/span>laborer<\/span> and father of <\/span>five children<\/span>.<\/span> Under this torture, h<\/span>e <\/span>then <\/span>shared the names of three Christian <\/span>boys <\/span>who <\/span>originated <\/span>the bonfire<\/span> as part of a holiday celebration but who strongly denied the charges of Quaran burning.\u201d Representative Foley noted that charges <\/span>against the boys <\/span>were never substantiated.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Representative Foley <\/span>says <\/span>that <\/span>Voice of the Martyrs Korea has <\/span>allocated<\/span> 10,000,000<\/span> KRW to Release International<\/span> for <\/span>support <\/span>of <\/span>persecuted Christians <\/span>and their families who choose to stay, or who have no choice but to stay, in settings of persecution in <\/span>Pakistan<\/span>. <\/span>\u201c<\/span>Often w<\/span>hen <\/span>Christians <\/span>around the world <\/span>hear about <\/span>persecuted Christians, their first thought is<\/span> to help them escape<\/span> the country to go<\/span> somewhere safe<\/span>.<\/span> But <\/span>in case<\/span>s<\/span> like these <\/span>in Pakistan<\/span> where C<\/span>h<\/span>ristians are falsely accused of blasphemy, helping those C<\/span>h<\/span>ristians flee often <\/span>makes attackers <\/span>more <\/span>bold<\/span> to assault the Christians who remain<\/span>. <\/span>It <\/span>can also <\/span>make the Christians look guilty<\/span> and <\/span>weak<\/span>, and t<\/span>he <\/span>witness to the gospel <\/span>is silenced<\/span> in the very places where such a witness is sorely needed<\/span>.<\/span> Supporting <\/span>persecuted Christians <\/span>to stand firm<\/span> where they are<\/span> helps <\/span>make their communities safer for other believers in the future, and <\/span>it <\/span>helps <\/span>make a positive witness for the gospel.<\/span> But it means we <\/span>have to<\/span> be vigilant to stand with them and to share the stories of their faithful, suffering witness around the world.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Donations to Voice of the Martyrs Korea\u2019s Families of Martyrs and Prisoners (FOM\/FOP) fund can be made at www.vomkorea.com\/en\/donate<\/span><\/a> or via electronic transfer to:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\uad6d\ubbfc\uc740\ud589<\/span> 463501-01-243303<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\uc608\uae08\uc8fc<\/span>: (<\/span>\uc0ac<\/span>)<\/span>\uc21c\uad50\uc790\uc758\uc18c\ub9ac<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Please include the name \u201cFOM\/FOP\u201d on the donation.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][\/vc_section]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"[vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”50532″ img_size=”full”][vc_custom_heading text=”A large rally in Pakistan last month backed the murder of an elderly Christian shoemaker accused of blasphemy, with organizers warning that others should expect the same …","protected":false},"author":659,"featured_media":50534,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"give_campaign_id":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[235,869,140],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-50527","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-special-column","category-china-special","category-vomk-report"],"translation":{"provider":"WPGlobus","version":"3.0.2","language":"en","enabled_languages":["ko","en","zh","ru"],"languages":{"ko":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false},"en":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false},"zh":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false},"ru":{"title":false,"content":false,"excerpt":false}}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50527","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/659"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=50527"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50527\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":50554,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50527\/revisions\/50554"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/50534"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=50527"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=50527"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=50527"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}