August 2 | 
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Muslims join Christians to remember Pakistani atrocity
The Christian community in Gojra, Pakistan, was joined by a small number of Muslims on the second anniversary of the Muslim attack on their neighbourhood in which eight Catholics were killed.
Two Pakistani Muslim leaders publicly apologised yesterday to the people who lost loved ones, homes and businesses in 2009 in one of the country’s worst outbreaks of anti-Christian violence.
Two pirs (Muslim holy men) addressed large crowds yesterday asking for pardon on behalf of the extremist mobs that carried out the rampage during which eight Catholics died in a fire.
Pir Israr Bihar Shah, head of a Muslim seminary (madrassa), in the Gojra area, and Pir Hafiz Abbul Haui, who runs a nearby mosque, said the mobs actions went against the ‘spirit of Islam.’
Their comments come just under two months after all 70 people accused of the anti-Christian violence Gojra were acquitted.
Gojra’s Christian quarter came under fire on August 1 2009 when a 1000-strong mob rampaged through the streets, setting fire to more than 150 homes and businesses. They were responding to an allegation of blasphemy against the Qu’ran. Under Pakistan’s controversial blasphemy laws, such a crime is punishable by life imprisonment.
At this week’s anniversary events, hundreds of Christians took part in a memorial Mass at Gojra at which Bishop Joseph Coutts of Faisalabad presided.
Reporting on the seminar that followed the Mass, Fr Aftab James Paul, director of Faisalabad’s diocesan commission for inter-faith dialogue and ecumenism, told Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) that that people listening to the pirs’ comments ‘gave a very good response’ to the scholars’ remarks and ‘were very happy.’
ACN provided support for victims of the Gojra violence and helped with buildings damaged in the violence.
—http://www.acnuk.org/
Pic: Relatives mourn after the 2009 attacks against Christians in Gojra, Pakistan
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Its time for the west to act tough on Pakistan.and tell the political and militarily leadership to repeal the the blasphemy laws and must end its discrimination to religious minorities and dalist, Pakistan must stop double standards and must respect the religious minorities of their country give them their due in political and social economical space
Personally, I feel a better spirit of inter-faith dialogue, initiated and encouraged by Christian communities and other faiths here in the UK, would negate the demand for “getting tough”.
Islam is the largest growing monotheistic faith, and Christianity once thrived under persecution; we have a faith that survived centuries and untold crimes against the Body of Christ, the Church.
There is no eye for ane eye, Jesus instructed us to turn the other cheek. Difficult as that is, almost impossible even to Christians, it might be worthwhile reintroducing some common themes: fasting on Wednesdays and Fridays, a greater devotion to Adoration of the Eucharist, and although we are told by the prophets and saints, inspired by all Jesus’ teachings, to “pray constantly”: to be mindful and remember that God desires peace, and we don’t win peace by thrusting our faith on those who have not had the greatest of fortune of being born a Christian.
We believe in Original Sin, and therefore the need for a Saviour. I welcome and congratulate the true peace-loving Muslims who joined in the occasion, even to the danger of being “aligned” with, as some would say, “blasphemers”.
Incidentally, traditionally in Scotland, the Gaelic Diciadaoin (Wednesday) means “The Day of the first fast” and Dihaoine “The Day of the Fast”. These were constant reminders of the Christian communities then the obligations they had to fulfill.
I understand a lot of this is way off subject, but a greater understanding of our own faith wouldn’t go amiss, before we “insist” on Christ being all in all; it comes through grace.
Dear William,
Thank you very much for commenting about the Christian of pakistan. This is very appreciating if the west will be the tough with Pakistan for amending the blaspehmy law.
Europe must have to built pressure to government of Pakistan to reappeal the blasphemy law.