February 2023 Persecution Magazine

Pakistan Primer
PERSECUTION HOTSPOTS AND A BRIEF HISTORY
When we think of humanitarian concerns, typically we think of Africa,
the Middle East, and maybe India. Pakistan is a nation that garners
less attention than neighboring India and Afghanistan. There is no
Islamic extremist group that has seized control of the country like
the situation in Afghanistan, nor is it governed by radical Hindu nationalists who
use “anti-conversion” laws as a means to target Christians, such as in India.
In a way, the situation in Pakistan is more egregious, as it combines the
oppressive-like nature of radical Islam with the pseudo-legitimate cover of
its nation’s laws to inflict persecution on its most vulnerable group.
The Islamic Republic of Pakistan has proven intransigent to other
beliefs by enacting and abusing blasphemy laws. These laws create a
divide that marginalizes the Christian community and encourages
violence against Christians.
Despite the egregious treatment of Christians, their
faith remains firm.
ICC STAFFER’S PERSPECTIVE
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I have had the pleasure of working with
Pakistani Christians from various walks of life,
and I am constantly humbled by their resilience.
Despite the abuse that Christians in Pakistan
suffer, they are some of the most gracious and
faithful people I have encountered.
I reflect on Psalm 82, where we are called to
“defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold
the cause of the poor and the oppressed. Rescue
the weak and the needy; deliver them from the
hand of the wicked.”
Persecution | FEBRUARY 2023
These believers are anything but weak. In
fact, they are among the strongest people our
Father has graced us with. But they do need
help.
We will do all that is in our power to keep young
girls from being kidnapped and forced to marry,
to give young believers the means to do more
than work in the sewers, and to break the cycle
of persecution in Pakistan and lift up those who
suffer because of their faith.