Pakistan : Church-run school burned down in suspected terrorist attack
ICC Note
“We learned that the Church of Pakistan is facing a terrible situation for its survival as professing and confessing Jesus Christ as Lord,”
By Matthew Davies
11/06/2009 Pakistan (Episcopal News Service)-A historic girls’ school run by the Church of Pakistan was burned to the ground Nov. 3 in what is suspected to be the latest act of terrorism against the Christian minority in the predominantly Muslim country.
All three buildings at St. Denys’ School in Murree were set on fire during the afternoon, causing damage estimated at one billion Pakistani rupees (US$1.2 million), according to reports. The school has about 200 students and 52 teachers and staff.
“All the children and staff were rescued and shifted to the diocesan retreat and renewal center,” said Bishop Alexander John Malik of the Diocese of Lahore in a Nov. 4 email to church partners. “The reason [for] this sad and shocking incident is still to be determined but the act of terrorism cannot be ruled out.”
The incident comes just two weeks after the Church of Pakistan ‘s synod, meeting a few blocks from St. Denys’ School, stressed its concerns about the ongoing persecution of Christian minorities, especially following the August attacks in Gojra, where nine Pakistani Christians were burnt to death by an Islamist militant mob.
A blasphemy law in Pakistan ‘s penal code has been used by extremists to justify violent attacks, such as those in Gojra.
“We learned that the Church of Pakistan is facing a terrible situation for its survival as professing and confessing Jesus Christ as Lord,” said Augustine. “The churches have been attacked and Christian homes burned; the blasphemy law has terrorized them like a sword hanging over their heads 24/7.
“The government has issued orders that if Christians want to open their churches and schools, then their buildings need to have high walls with barbed wire on top. In addition, they must have security cameras and armed guards to protect them,” Augustine continued. “The costs of such security measures are prohibitive for many churches and schools to remain open to minister as Christian institutions.”
