Islamic Group Sends Threatening Letters to Christians in Pakistan

In early November 2013, several Christians in Wassanpura, a Christian area in Lahore, Pakistan, received threatening letters. The letters, believed to be from the Muslim group Ashiqaan-e-Rasool, demanded the Christians to vacate the area, otherwise their houses would be burned and the Christians would be killed. At least five Christian homes received these threatening letters. The threatening letters are another in a long line of threats and attacks against the Christian community in Pakistan.

These Christian families, in fear for their lives, gathered together in one place. They contacted a local pastor and community leader who contacted the police department. The police arrived within 15 minutes, inspected the area, and ensured the Christians they were safe and the matter would be resolved soon. However, the Christians remained terrified and some left their homes. One local resident believes this incident could be connected to the recent blasphemy case against Adnan Masih. Masih was recently accused of writing blasphemous comments in a book on the comparison between Islam and Christianity.

Wassanpurna is a Christian enclave of about 200 Christian homes in an area of nearly 500 homes. There are three or four Muslim religious groups active in Shershah Colony, an adjacent neighborhood, which often organize processions and pass through Wassanpura chanting religious slogans in an intimidating manner.

On November 5, 2013, Christians in Wassanpura arranged for a public meeting with Muslim residents in the area. At the meeting, a legal team from the Organization for Legal Aid (OLA), an affiliate of the European Centre for Law and Justice (ECLJ), was present and offered their full support to the Christians in the area.

The Christians agreed to file a case with the local police. Khurram Shahzad Maan, Director of OLA, filed an application for registering an criminal case against unidentified persons in relation to the threats against the Christians. The complaint alleges violations of Pakistani law for criminal intimidation, dissemination of rumors, and sending threatening messages.

The OLA will submit another application to the higher officials of the police and government in order to bring this incident to their attention, to arrest the culprits, and to request security for the Christians in Wassanpura.