تويت
Accused Christian brothers killed outside court
20
July 2010
Accused Christian brothers killed outside court
Two young Christian men accused of blasphemy were shot dead by masked attackers as they left court in Faisalabad, Pakistan, prompting an outbreak of violence.
Brothers Rashid Emmanuel, a pastor, and Sajid Emmanuel, a graduate student, were killed at 2pm on 19 July as police were transporting them to jail. A police inspector who was escorting the brothers, who were both in their 20s, was injured. The gunmen fled the scene.
Local Christians took to the streets in protest over the incident, prompting calls from mosques for Muslims to come out to “fight rampaging” Christians. Shops were looted, and vehicles and homes were vandalised in the Emmanuel brothers’ native Daud Nagar, with at least ten people reported injured.
A Barnabas Fund partner in Faisalabad said: “The Christian community is devastated by the shocking daylight murder of these two young Christian brothers. People are now living in fear about what further attacks believers may face in this latest wave of anti-Christian violence. There is no respect for the court and we feel powerless to defend ourselves.
“The Emmanuel brothers were dearly loved and respected for their faithful work for the Lord in Faisalabad.”
It was the brothers’ first court appearance after being detained earlier this month on blasphemy charges. They were accused of producing a handwritten pamphlet defiling Muhammad but the court heard from police that there was no evidence to support the charge. A report from a handwriting expert found that the writing on the pamphlet did not match that of either of the accused.
A mob of thousands of Muslim protestors in the majority-Christian Faisalabad area where the brothers lived had demanded the death sentence for them on 10 and 11 July, forcing many families to flee for their safety. But rumours spread on 18 July that the brothers would be found innocent and released.
Barnabas Fund supports Christians in Faisalabad through three projects: a girls' school, a boys' hostel and a Bible correspondence institute.
Please pray
• For the Emmanuel family, especially Rashid’s wife of just seven months, as they grieve the shocking deaths of the two brothers.
• For the Lord to protect believers in Faisalabad in this latest wave of anti-Christian violence (link to previous articles)
• For the gunmen to be brought to justice and for peace between the Muslim and Christian communities.
• That the Pakistan government would come under pressure, in light of this terrible tragedy, to repeal the blasphemy law.
BARNABAS FUND EMAIL NEWS SERVICE
Barnabas Fund works to support Christian communities around the world where they are facing poverty and persecution. Barnabas Fund's email news service provides the media and our supporters with urgent news briefs concerning suffering Christians around the world. Further details, quotes and photos on this and other stories may be available for news editors on request.
• Australia Postal Suite 107, 236 Hyperdome, Loganholme, QLD 4129
Phone: 07 3806 1076 or 1300 365 799 | email: bfaustralia@barnabasfund.org
• Jersey Le Jardin, La Rue a Don, Grouville, Jersey, JE8 9GB
Phone: 700600 | Fax: 700601 | Email: bfjersey@barnabasfund.org
• New Zealand PO Box 27 6018, Manukau City, MANUKAU 2241
Phone: (09) 280 4385 or 0800 008 805 | Email:office@barnabasfund.org.nz
• United Kingdom Barnabas Fund, 9 Priory Row, Coventry, CV1 5EX
Phone: (024) 7623 1923 | Fax: (024) 7683 4718 | Email: info@barnabasfund.org
• USA Barnabas Fund, 6731 Curran Street, McLean, VA 22101
Phone: (703) 288-1681 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (703) 288-1681 end_of_the_skype_highlighting | Fax: (703) 288-1682 | Free: 1-866-936-2525 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1-866-936-2525 end_of_the_skype_highlighting | Email: usa@barnabasaid.org
Accused Christian brothers killed outside court
Two young Christian men accused of blasphemy were shot dead by masked attackers as they left court in Faisalabad, Pakistan, prompting an outbreak of violence.
Brothers Rashid Emmanuel, a pastor, and Sajid Emmanuel, a graduate student, were killed at 2pm on 19 July as police were transporting them to jail. A police inspector who was escorting the brothers, who were both in their 20s, was injured. The gunmen fled the scene.
Local Christians took to the streets in protest over the incident, prompting calls from mosques for Muslims to come out to “fight rampaging” Christians. Shops were looted, and vehicles and homes were vandalised in the Emmanuel brothers’ native Daud Nagar, with at least ten people reported injured.
A Barnabas Fund partner in Faisalabad said: “The Christian community is devastated by the shocking daylight murder of these two young Christian brothers. People are now living in fear about what further attacks believers may face in this latest wave of anti-Christian violence. There is no respect for the court and we feel powerless to defend ourselves.
“The Emmanuel brothers were dearly loved and respected for their faithful work for the Lord in Faisalabad.”
It was the brothers’ first court appearance after being detained earlier this month on blasphemy charges. They were accused of producing a handwritten pamphlet defiling Muhammad but the court heard from police that there was no evidence to support the charge. A report from a handwriting expert found that the writing on the pamphlet did not match that of either of the accused.
A mob of thousands of Muslim protestors in the majority-Christian Faisalabad area where the brothers lived had demanded the death sentence for them on 10 and 11 July, forcing many families to flee for their safety. But rumours spread on 18 July that the brothers would be found innocent and released.
Barnabas Fund supports Christians in Faisalabad through three projects: a girls' school, a boys' hostel and a Bible correspondence institute.
Please pray
• For the Emmanuel family, especially Rashid’s wife of just seven months, as they grieve the shocking deaths of the two brothers.
• For the Lord to protect believers in Faisalabad in this latest wave of anti-Christian violence (link to previous articles)
• For the gunmen to be brought to justice and for peace between the Muslim and Christian communities.
• That the Pakistan government would come under pressure, in light of this terrible tragedy, to repeal the blasphemy law.
BARNABAS FUND EMAIL NEWS SERVICE
Barnabas Fund works to support Christian communities around the world where they are facing poverty and persecution. Barnabas Fund's email news service provides the media and our supporters with urgent news briefs concerning suffering Christians around the world. Further details, quotes and photos on this and other stories may be available for news editors on request.
• Australia Postal Suite 107, 236 Hyperdome, Loganholme, QLD 4129
Phone: 07 3806 1076 or 1300 365 799 | email: bfaustralia@barnabasfund.org
• Jersey Le Jardin, La Rue a Don, Grouville, Jersey, JE8 9GB
Phone: 700600 | Fax: 700601 | Email: bfjersey@barnabasfund.org
• New Zealand PO Box 27 6018, Manukau City, MANUKAU 2241
Phone: (09) 280 4385 or 0800 008 805 | Email:office@barnabasfund.org.nz
• United Kingdom Barnabas Fund, 9 Priory Row, Coventry, CV1 5EX
Phone: (024) 7623 1923 | Fax: (024) 7683 4718 | Email: info@barnabasfund.org
• USA Barnabas Fund, 6731 Curran Street, McLean, VA 22101
Phone: (703) 288-1681 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (703) 288-1681 end_of_the_skype_highlighting | Fax: (703) 288-1682 | Free: 1-866-936-2525 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1-866-936-2525 end_of_the_skype_highlighting | Email: usa@barnabasaid.org