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Pakistan's Christian Children in Danger

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Published: Friday 04 June 2010

Pakistan's Christian Children in Danger

Project(s): 00-794

Country: Pakistan

Christian parents in Pakistan are terribly afraid for their children. Some do not want even to let them out of the house.

Incidents of violence against ’s religious minorities are increasing

Pakistan is no longer a safe place for Christians. Violent incidents against individuals and churches have increased recently, as part of a growing campaign of violence by Islamist militants against the country's religious minorities. The fears of the Christian community have been fuelled further in the past week by co-ordinated attacks on two mosques in Lahore belonging to the minority Ahmadi sect. Ninety-three people were mown down in a hail of gunfire or blown up by grenades or suicide bombers. Nearly a hundred more were injured.

In this climate of chronic instability and insecurity, Christian children are especially vulnerable. Not only are they easy targets for violence, unable to protect themselves or to flee; girls in particular may also be kidnapped and forcibly converted to Islam. Barnabas Aid's South Asia Regional Coordinator has just returned from visiting churches in Pakistan, and he reports that Christian parents long for safe havens where they know their children will be protected.

Unfortunately most non-Christian schools, whether government-run or private, tend to worsen the plight of Christian children instead of helping them. Christian pupils frequently face discrimination, and they may be publicly ridiculed or even beaten by teachers because of their faith. In 2009 Nadia Iftikhar, aged 11, was beaten unconscious with a bamboo rod by a Muslim teacher at her school in Dharema, Punjab, after she said in class that she was both a Pakistani and a Christian. The teacher had read from a textbook stating that all Pakistanis were Muslims.

The curriculum in non-Christian schools strongly emphasises Islam. Christian children may be required to study it - even though the law says that they should not be - and they are not given parallel instruction in their own religion. They may be marked down in their examinations simply because they are Christians, and they face many difficulties in obtaining university places. It is not surprising that Christian parents would prefer to have their children educated in Christian schools.

A class of children at a Christian school in

So Barnabas Aid helps to support Christian schools in Pakistan that provide a safe and nurturing environment for Christian children. We already contribute to the running costs of four schools, attended by more than 2,000 Christian pupils. But on his recent visit our Regional Coordinator met Christians who were asking for help to build twelve new schools and extend three existing ones. The new schools will be for primary-age pupils initially, but they may then be expanded to take older children.

We would like to raise funds to support as many of these projects as possible, to help many more young members of our Lord's family in Pakistan to flourish despite all the difficulties that they face. A gift of £20 could pay for four square feet of a well-constructed school building.

Dr Patrick Sookhdeo, International Director of Barnabas Aid, comments:

"Our brothers and sisters in Pakistan have been placed under intolerable pressure in recent years from the constant threat of violence. They have suffered attacks on their churches and villages, frequent imprisonments under false charges, murders, beatings, rapes, abductions and exploitation. They are largely rejected and marginalised by society. Their children are particularly vulnerable, and suffer unfairness and ill-treatment in government schools. Access to safe schools and quality education is vital for their future. Will you help us to provide them with these essentials?"

Donate Today

If you would like to make a gift to help Christian children in Pakistan have an education in Christian schools please click to donate online using our secure server (Please quote project reference 00-794 Christian Schooling for Christian Children).

If you prefer to telephone, dial: 0800 587 4006 from within the UK or +44 1672 565031 from outside the UK. Please quote project reference 00-794 Christian Schooling for Christian Children.

If you prefer to send a cheque by post: Click this link for the address of our regional office. Please quote project reference 00-794 Christian Schooling for Christian Children.

Please Pray:

For Pakistan's beleaguered Christian minority, that the Lord will watch over His people to keep them from harm, and that the hearts of those who persecute them might be changed.
For Pakistani Christian children living in danger or enduring harassment at school, that their faith will not only withstand this pressure but also grow and mature.
For the Christian schools already supported by Barnabas Aid, and for the Christians working to build and extend others, that God will prosper the work of their hands.
For many more Christian children to be able to experience a Christian education in a safe environment and grow up to be strong believers.
For the Pakistani churches to grow in numbers and be strengthened by the Lord's power, that they may maintain a clear Christian witness in the face of opposition and adversity.

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