Hotline Asia Urgent Appeals -- UA030818(7)

Action Requested || Sample Letter || Background
Please respond before 15 September 2003
Update

Summary

Fr. George Ibrahim, 38, of the Faisalabad diocese was shot at and seriously injured by six unknown gunmen who entered his parish house at Renala Khurd, Punjab province on 5 July 2003 at about 1:45a.m., while he was sleeping. He died on his way to the hospital in the early morning of 5 July 2003.

The police initially registered a First Information Report (FIR) of armed robbery, although nothing was taken from the house. Later, due to pressure from the Church leadership and the local Christians, a reference to a section of penal code about terrorism was added to the FIR. According to the local people, the murder might be related to a dispute over the denationalization of the Catholic school, which was under Fr. George Ibrahim's administration.

According to Church sources, certain practices and policies in Pakistan encourage hatred and intolerance that have led to violence against the minorities. In the past two years several attacks on Christian institutions and organizations have taken place. Local sources believe that these incidents highlight the lack of protection against violence for Christians and other minorities.

Action Requested

Please write polite letters to express your concern about the lack of a serious investigation into this murder case, and the lack of protection against violence for Christians and minorities in general. Urge the authorities to:

1. conduct proper investigation and bring the culprits to justice;

2. ensure protection for minority citizens and repeal laws and practices that discriminate against them;

3. set up an inquiry commission on state of the minorities with the powers of a tribunal.

SampleLetter

Background

Fr. George Ibrahim belonged to a Catholic village, Kushpur Chak 51 G.B. , district Faisalabad in Punjab province. He served as a priest in dioceses of Faisalabad for the past 10 years.

On July 4, after daylong pastoral work, Fr. George Ibrahim returned to Our Lady of Fatima Parish House at about 12:00 midnight. After taking supper, he went to bed in the courtyard. At about 1:45a.m. six men entered the compound and opened fire, seriously injuring him. On the way to the Civil Hospital Okara, Fr. George died.

The police promised that they would arrest the culprits within few days. It was reported that few days after the incident, an elderly person of a nearby village and a previous watchman with Fr. George Ibrahim, were arrested by the police without any charges against them. Little progress has been made so far.

Story behind:

The local people say that the murder might be related to the dispute over denationalization of the Catholic school in Renala Khurd, which was under the administration of Fr. George Ibrahim. In 1972 the government nationalized all missionary schools in the Punjab province. Later in 2001, these schools were denationalized again.

The then Principal of the Renala Khurd's Catholic school was reportedly not ready to quit the position when the denationalization was implemented. She also claimed that the house where she lived was her property. The house is in the school premises. Demonstrations and agitation against the decision of the government to denationalize Christian schools were also organized among the Muslim children at her instigation. A court decision and the help of police eventually forced her to leave the school premises.

It was reported that the principal left the school building one week before the murder. Church sources claim that she had threatened Fr. George Ibrahim and the Franciscan Sisters of Renala Khurd. According to local people, the former principal had connections with a militant organization, which was banned by the government in January 2002.

Situation of Christians and Minorities in Pakistan:

Concern groups in Pakistan have repeatedly called for better protection of Christians and other minorities, through repeal of discriminatory laws and practices that promote disharmony, persecution and intolerance towards minorities.

In the past two years, however, at least six incidents of violence against Christian minorities in Pakistan have been noted. A church in Bahawalpur was attacked in October 2001, and 16 people were killed. Similarly, in 2002, churches in Islamabad, Taxila and Daska (Sialkot) were attacked costing 12 lives. A school in Murree and an organization working for human rights in Karachi were attacked and a total of 11 were killed. These incidents altogether resulted in 41 deaths and about 88 injuries.

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