The problem with stories like this one is that we are not told
whether the party in question amounts to anything or is a major
factor in Pakistani politics. Not knowing this, it is impossible to
judge the seriousness of the threat.
OTOH, it is serious enough to cause alarms among Christians and receive
international publicity. Any way you look at it, this is not good news.
Billy
Islamic Party Asks The Court To Ban The Bible In Pakistan
Aftab Alexander Mughal ("Energy Publisher," June 6, 2011)
Islamabad, Pakistan - Christian leaders in Pakistan strongly condemned the
demand to ban the Holy Bible by a radical Islamic party
Jamiat-Ulema-e-Islam (Samiul Haq Group). The party has launched a campaign
asking to ban the
circulation of the Bible, described as a "pornographic” and "blasphemous
book."
Church of Pakistan Bishop Dr. Alexander John Malik of Lahore strongly
reacted in a press statement to the demand and said that agreeing to such a
demand would be interfering in the religious matters of the Christian religion
and violation of religious freedom fully guaranteed by the constitution.
The Bishop further said that the demand is sowing seeds of discord among
different communities.
During a press conference on May 30, Maulana Abdul Rauf Farooqi and other
clerics of Jamiat-Ulema-e-Islam quoted “immoral Biblical stories” and
demanded to ban the Bible. Maulana Farooqi said, “Our lawyers are preparing to
ask the court to ban the book.”
Bruce Bhatti, a Christian human rights activist from Lahore, told
Minorities Concern of Pakistan, “It is a dangerous move, and this demand is
based on
hate. It is totally against the human values and will further promote
religious intolerance in the country where Christians have been persecuted
because of their faith.”
A Catholic priest, Father James Channan OP, who serves as the regional
coordinator for the United Religious Initiative, termed the clerics’ demand a “
strong blow to Christians” in the country. According to the UCA News, the
priest said, “It’s a degrading move. We shall defend our manual for life at
every level. The supreme court cannot head to such madness.”
____________________________________
--
Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community
<[email protected]>
Google Group: http://groups.google.com/group/RadicalCentrism
Radical Centrism website and blog: http://RadicalCentrism.org
