Press Release January 14, 2003
Pamphlet Urges Pakistani Muslims to Kill Westerners and Christians
An inflammatory pamphlet being distributed in Pakistan by Islamic fundamentalists calls on Muslims to kill Westerners and Christians wherever and whenever they may be found. The pamphlet, which is printed in Urdu and Arabic, was distributed on January 9, 2003 in Bulochistan and North West Frontier Province (NWFP), as well as in some other major cities. Pictured on the pamphlet is a monogram of Mecca surrounded by swords. Government authorities have reportedly collected a number of the pamphlets and have started an investigation.
The main purpose of the pamphlet is to encourage armed jihad among Pakistani Muslims, stating that: “The non-believers have made the lives of Muslims miserable leaving them with no option except jihad.” The pamphlet also expresses extreme anti-Western sentiment, saying: “It is the supreme duty of the Muslims to trace out Americans, Israelis, Russians, Indians and Westerners, whether they are army men or not, and kill them, whether they are in the city, air, sea or desert.” Muslims are also instructed not to work with Christians or make a contract with them because they are the enemies of Islam.
Not surprisingly, the majority of the inflammatory pamphlets were distributed in the two provinces controlled by the MMA, an Islamic party that supports the imposition of sharia law and has been known to shelter Taliban and Al-Qaeda members. The MMA also recently blamed the death of three Christian young women on the Christian community and called for the release of an Islamic cleric who was arrested for inciting violence in a Christmas Day attack near Daska in Punjab Province.
There has been a significant rise in Islamic militancy in Pakistan since US-led forces attacked and brought down the fundamentalist Taliban regime in Afghanistan. Pakistani clerics have also increasingly called for revenge against the West. Pakistani Christians have felt the brunt of much of this anger, as they are associated with the West because of their religious affiliation. International Christian Concern calls upon the Pakistani and US governments to do all that they can to protect Pakistani Christians, as well as foreign citizens in Pakistan. The Pakistani Embassy may be reached at 202-939-6200. The Department of State Public Affairs Office can be reached at 202-647-6575.
International Christian Concern, a Washington, DC based human rights organization, advocates and aids Christians undergoing persecution worldwide. More information is available at www.www.persecution.org or by calling the ICC office at (301) 989-1708.
