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Fears for Christians as Islamists gain foothold in Pakistan

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Published: Thursday 19 August 2010

Fears for Christians as Islamists gain foothold in Pakistan

Project(s): 00-634

Country: Pakistan

Fears that Islamist groups are winning hearts and minds through relief efforts among Pakistan’s flood victims are growing within the Christian community.

Extremists with terrorist links have stepped in to fill the aid gap as international support has been slow, while the Pakistani government has been critizised for its ineffective response to the crisis – which has now affected as many as 20 million people. The United Nations (UN) said yesterday (August 18) that after intense lobbying it had secured nearly half of the $460m required for initial relief work, but the number of people in need of emergency assistance has risen to eight million.

Jean-Maurice Ripert, the UN aid envoy for Pakistan, told the French newspaper Le Monde last week that militants could take advantage of the situation to “score points”, adding: “The people's misery can always be exploited by those who have political or militant aims.”

A Christian family receive aid
from Barnabas Aid

A Barnabas Aid partner, who is assisting with our relief efforts among thousands of Christian families in Pakistan, shared his concern that Islamists will be able to seize political power because of their effective response to the flooding crisis. If this happened, he said, it would make the situation of Christians in Pakistan far worse.

He said: “The Islamists are helping people in areas where even the government has failed to reach. In the time of need, the government’s slow response has given them the opportunity to win the hearts of the affected people.

“People of Pakistan are already tired of Pakistani government... Further, the month of Ramadan has also given the Islamists opportunity to preach their version of Islam and attract people. They are gaining a foothold in the area...

“Once the Islamists get in power Christians will be targeted as they are also associated with Western countries due to same faith.”

Radicals respond

Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD), reportedly the charity arm of the banned Islamist militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), said it has 2,000 members working for flood relief across the worst hit areas. LeT was behind a bloody attack on Mumbai, India, in 2008 after which the group was blacklisted by the UN for links to terrorism.

Pakistani Taliban militants have urged the country’s US-backed government, which they have been fighting against, to reject Western aid for flood victims. A spokesman for Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) last week pledged $20 million and relief distribution if the government promised none of its members would be arrested.

Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik moved yesterday to reassure international donors that the Taliban would not be allowed to take advantage of the crisis to bolster its support.

Dr. Patrick Sookhdeo, International Director of Barnabas Aid, said:

“Pakistani Christians have been targeted by Islamist groups on a number of occasions in recent years and it is a matter of urgent concern that Islamists are now capitalising on the flooding crisis to harness support for their militant agenda.

“We must pray fervently that the Pakistani people are protected from the insidious influence of Islamic radicals and receive the help they need from genuine sources.

“I am so grateful to many Christians around the world who have already donated through Barnabas Aid to help their brothers and sisters in Pakistan at this time. Please do remember our fellow-Christians as you pray about the situation and continue to give as the Lord enables you, for the need is vast and urgent. ”

Give today

Donations may be made to the 00-634 Disaster Relief Fund.

If you prefer to telephone, please call 1 866 936 2525 or 703 288 1681. Please quote project reference 00-634 (Disaster relief Fund).

If you prefer to send a check by post: Click this link for the address of our regional office. Please quote project reference 00-634 (Disaster relief Fund).

Please Pray:

Pray that donations to reliable aid agencies would quickly increase so flood victims do not have to turn to Islamists for help.
Give thanks for the generosity of Barnabas Aid supporters to our ongoing urgent appeal, which has so far enabled us to provide immediate aid to thousands of Christian families.
Pray that those who have survived the disaster will be protected from water-borne diseases and will soon be able to start rebuilding their lives.

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