BOOK REVIEW: Our scared minority communities —by Khaled Ahmed

Thread not Scissors: Common Spiritual Heritage for Peace and Harmony
Compiled by Ahmad Salim; South Asia Resource Centre Islamabad 2009
Pp245
Price Rs400

Thank God we have got over our love of the Taliban or we would have had to apostatise a lot of other ‘potentially excludable’ communities to make the national flag almost half white. Shia, Ismaili, Bohra and Barelvi all would have found themselves in the white patch


The white patch in our flag are the non-Muslims. There was no one in our midst who objected to this separate white patch which means that there is a tacit Muslim acceptance of ‘separation’ of the non-Muslim. Even the Quaid did not protest who should have because he didn’t want people defined, divided or separated on the basis of religion. ‘Separation’ was something in the air after 1947. And the Muslim League flag had to be modified; so why not do it with a white patch?

If the white patch represented a proportion then it should have been shortened after East Pakistan left us. It should have been widened after we apostatised the Ahmedis and made them non-Muslim. Thank God we have got over our love of the Taliban or we would have had to apostatise a lot of other ‘potentially excludable’ communities to make the flag almost half white. Shia, Ismaili, Bohra and Barelvi all would have found themselves in the white patch.

Ahmad Salim and his authors talk about the Bahais, potentially excludable, but one of the most honourable and lovable communities of Muslims. There are approximately 30,000 of them in Pakistan. After the death of Bahaullah and the inauguration of the ministry of Abdul-Baha, the Bahai community in the Indian subcontinent was split as a consequence of the activities of the followers of Mirza Muhammad Ali who had challenged his half-brother’s right to legitimate leadership.

Abdul-Baha directed a number of prominent emissaries to India, both Persian and Western, to guide the community and encourage teaching. Among these were Mirza Mahmud Zarqani, Aqa Mirza Mahram, Mirza Hasan Adib, Ibin-i-Asdaq, Lua Getsingers Stanndard, Sidney Sprague, Hooper Harris and Harlan Ober. By 1908 these individuals along with a small group of local converts had produced functioning communities in Bombay, Calcutta, Aligarh and Lahore.

The Spiritual Assemblies of the Bahais in Pakistan date from 1904. In 1944, the Karachi Spiritual Assembly sent out pioneers to Lahore and the assembly there was formed between 1945 and 1950. Spiritual Assemblies in Multan, Hyderabad, Sukkur, and Rawalpindi were established later.

The Christians of Pakistan are the largest religious minority in Pakistan. The total number of Christians in Pakistan was at least 2 million in 2008, or 1.1 percent of the population. Of these, 1.4 million in 1998 were Catholic. However, the current number of Christians is debatable as the Catholic Church record of births contains higher figures than this. In 1998 there were 1.4 million members of the Protestant Church. That yields a total number of Christians at 2.8 million.

The Church of Pakistan is the largest Protestant denomination, which is a union of Anglicans, American Methodists, Scottish Presbyterians and Scandinavian Lutherans. It was formed in 1970. The Presbyterian Church of Pakistan is the third largest Christian denomination and the other Christians come from different indigenous and Pentecostal Free Churches. (p.98)

For centuries, Christians have been a part of this country. According to an estimate more than 90 percent of the country’s Christians reside in Punjab, making them the largest religious minority in the province. Approximately 60 percent of Punjab’s Christians live in the villages. The centuries-old presence of the Christian community in Pakistan is proof of their historical roots in the land where they lived in harmony and peace (p.98)

The history of the churches is an important part of the history of Christianity in the Indian subcontinent. Their history can be traced to several Christian missions from the 16th century onwards. Initially there were four dioceses in the Church of Pakistan, i.e. Karachi, Multan, Lahore and Sialkot; but in 1980, through a special resolution and for better ministerial work, four new dioceses were created: Hyderabad, Raiwind, Faisalabad and Peshawar. There are now 13 dioceses with eight active diocesan bishops and one bishop for the Gulf for Urdu-speaking Christians working there.

The Christian community of Pakistan has always played a vital role in nation-building, from the education to the health sector; from sanitation services to the general useful workforce. The Christian community feels that they cannot participate in the political and social aspects of the society as much as they would like as they feel that the society has not given them a sense of belonging.

Christian schools that were nationalised in 1972 have been returned to the church. The largest, Forman Christian College Lahore, was given back to the Presbyterian Church in 2003. Christians have also developed some outstanding institutions like the United Christian Hospital Lahore, Gujranwala Theological Seminary, St Thomas Theological College Karachi, Edwardes College Peshawar, Mission Hospital Sahiwal, and Kinnaird College for Women in Lahore.

There is a significant Hindu community in Pakistan. Presently Hindus make up 2 percent of Pakistan’s population. This is at least five times the number of Hindus in Britain. Prior to 1947, Hindus constituted 26 percent of the population in areas that comprise Pakistan. The Partition of India was the biggest forced migration of people in human history. After partition, the Hindus population decreased to 15 percent in this region.

Today there are 2.5 million Hindus in Pakistan. The largest Hindu population is in Sindh but there are small Hindu communities all over Pakistan. In Sindh, Hindus are a part of the society. For centuries Hindus and Muslims have lived together in Sindh. They speak the same language and share the same heritage and history. In other parts of the country there have been occasional threats to their property and lives. The authorities rarely intervene to help Hindus and that often makes matters worse.

For Sikhs, there are many historical sites in present-day Pakistan which are very important for the Sikh community. Nankana Sahib has special importance. The Samadhi of Ranjit Singh is located in Lahore. Nankana Sahib has nine Gurdwaras which are associated with different events in Guru Nanak Dev’s life. The town is an important site of pilgrimage for Sikhs from around the world. Each year thousands of Sikhs come to Pakistan from India and different parts of the world to pay homage

But after partition there was a marginal Sikh population left in Pakistan. There was an influx of the Sikh population to Pakistan during the civil war in Afghanistan. There was a Hindu and Sikh minority in Afghanistan and due to porous borders a large number of them fled from their homes in Kabul, Kandahar and Jalalabad to settle in different parts of Pakistan. Among these refugees were the Afghan Sikhs who joined their kinsmen in Peshawar and Lahore.

Harcharan Singh became the first Pakistani Sikh to join the Pakistan Army as a commissioned officer. Another Sikh Gulab Singh was selected as the traffic sub-inspector in Lahore. Both these Sikhs belong to the historic city called Nankana Sahib. Sikhs have been also encouraged to take part in the politics of the country as Kalyan Singh Kalyan was elected as the first Sikh provincial assembly member in Pakistan representing the Pakistan People’s Party. (p.225)

Parsis are the most pacific, public-spirited and gifted of Pakistan’s minorities. Bombay emerged as a hub of the community in the 19th century. Regional developments intervened and Sindh became part of the Bombay Presidency, opening new avenues for the Gujarati-speaking business community of Bombay.

Ambrin Hayat writes: “Parsis along with the Gujarati Hindus and Muslims came to Karachi to set up business. Some even went to Thatta and Hyderabad. Some drifted further and settled in Quetta. An adventurous family went to Multan and a few went on to Lahore and a couple to Peshawar.” However a major part of the community settled in Karachi where they lived and prospered with other Gujarati-speaking groups.

Parsi memory takes us back to Iran. Their biggest shrine is there. Seti Pir is situated east of Yezd and it is the shrine that marks the place where Yezdagird’s queen (Shahbanoo Hastbadan), the mother of the princesses, Banu-Pars and Hayat-Banu, herself fleeing from the invaders, jumped into a deep well, together with her two attendants, to save her honour.

Seti Pir is, therefore, regarded as the mother of the other five great Pirs. Avesta is the ancient scared text of the Parsis. Zend Avesta is a commentary on these holy texts. The scripture Avesta is divided into two parts, the Avesta and the Khorda Avesta. Avesta contains Yasna, Vispered and the Vendidad. *

(Daily Times)

Christian Human Right Activist goes in hiding after life threats

Lahore, Pakistan: June 27, 2009. (PCP reports) The accusation of blasphemy, gang rape of Christian girls, attacks on Christians and episode of threats have risen after Shahbaz Bhatti was risen to be a Federal Minister For Minorities in government of Pakistan Peoples Party PPP in Pakistan. The Pastors, laymen, Human right activists, women, elders and youth feel unsecured under present administration of Pakistan. Read this e-Mail to a prominent Christian Human right activists by a Muslim “ You all “M” “F” ...... if you are real men come forward .... you bastards you make websites against Islam.... but ALHAMDULLILAH see still the highest conversion rate in west is to ISLAM........ ALLAH is SOVEREIGN ALLAH IS GREAT..... LAAAILAHAA: The Remot Host of this e-Mail was identified as : 119.152.40.250: The sender also printed his name as Ghulam Nabi”

The Christian Human right activist reported this e-Mail and SMS threats to area Police but no action was taken against culprits and he was forced to fled from his home and home town.

The Christian activists (The name not printing due to security reasons) was born in Lahore in 1974 and secured post graduate degree in Computer Science.

He started one Christian Human Right Organization and launched its Website which was not appreciated by his Muslim friends and local Muslims.

The Christian victim e-Mailed Pakistan Christian Post “I started new Christian organization Named United Christian Organization i.e. www.ucopak.org. This organization was founded with only one thing in mind that we will provide some practical solution for the Christian of Pakistan as described in Mr. Nasir S. Bhatti in his book Trials of Pakistani Christian Nation. I belong to Lahore one of the big cities of Pakistan. I completed my first ten years in Christian school i.e. Cathedral School # 2 at 4 Church Road, Lahore, Pakistan. I had lot of Muslims friends. I always felt that we are not belong to Pakistan as it is only for Muslims because they made it and call it the Fort of Islam. No doubt for the long time I was engaged in for developing my self and to support my family. I always want to help my Christian brothers and sister . No doubt we have lot of organization in Pakistan who are trying there best to raise Christian up but I believe that we need a revolution like in India they made Kerala a most educated state in India. So we need to educate them, provide some jobs opportunities in Pakistan”

The fleeing Christian activists wrote more “Most of our Christians are uneducated and choices for them are sanitary work and to be involved in illegal liquor sale. As they know even after getting education they won’t get a good job most of them stay away from school and those who want had only choices to Muslims school. They are always humiliated for being Christian. There are Christian schools but they are expensive and even less to fulfill the need”

He started the organization in Feb 2009, to bring a new revolution of education among Christians but right now, he got trapped in Muslims blasphemy.

He wrote to PCP “I got lot of threats for being murdered from Muslims over my mobile phone. I and my brother manage to escape from Pakistan but still I am getting threats over my emails. I & my family consists of three brother, my wife and my son are in great danger. I have emailed hundred and thousands of persons out there but very less response. Most of them assuming that it is spam email, I have to return next month back to Pakistan but the condition is very bad they will capture me on the airport as my name is in the news papers. I am astonished to know that they are using my organization name and distributing anti-Islam material with my name. It is the same story they always do with non-Muslim. I request you to show this story so that people can know real truth about me.

“Things are getting worse and I believe that call for help to my Christian brothers and sister out there would result me getting out of this situation and I can continue my mission to help my fellow Christian brothers and sisters” he wrote

United Christian Organization: He explains



I always have an idea to help my poor and those who are suffering specially in Pakistan as I suffered a lot while my stay in Pakistan before going to Dubai as a Christian. And this is the time when I decided to start UCO with my brother keeping in mind these verses from the bible

Mathew: 6:33: But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

I stopped thinking about business and worldly things and decided to devote my self totally for this organization. We started the job by sponsoring a local church with the help of Mr. Younas a God fearing pastor. We were collecting data of the local persons their needs and solution to their problems. As deeply I studied the Christian problems and met local Christian I became more firm on the need of organization. There are lots of Christian organizations working in Pakistan but only coming out of our houses and protests would not help any of them. The benefit only goes to leader of the protest who could be elected in next election. I have vision to make a canann in Egypt. Making Christian 100% educated and providing them jobs from our own factories to get them out of their only choices i.e. sanitary work or illegal liquor sell. For more information you may visit my Site i.e. www.ucopak.org

He tells reason of Dispute

As we were collecting data about this concern, my idea came into the knowledge of some Muslims as well. Muslims who never admit that Christians are in problem in Pakistan, according to them we are enjoying the ideal freedom in Pakistan. Only one who says anything against Islam is in problem. So I got some calls from unknown numbers about my organization and they demand that I should stop spreading hate against Muslims and Islam. There was no hate I was spreading I just want Christian to realize and united for their betterment. There was no action against any Muslim or Islam but still they were insisting to stop my practice otherwise me and my family would be in great danger as I could be entrapped in blasphemy law for my activities. They want us to live a slave’s life in Pakistan. These threats didn’t make my decision weak at all. I am not afraid to die but I want scarifies my self for some reason not like this. Only afraid I have in my heart is for my family otherwise I would jump into the fire smiling.

What is future of Christians in Pakistan? The Federal Minority Minister Shahbaz Bhatti is hiding behind bunkers and working on agenda of Pakistan Peoples Party PPP government which is under influence of Hindus of Sindh.

PCP sources revealed that there are hundreds of true Christian civil society activist under threat of Muslim extremist groups while laymen activists under umbrella of Catholic Church and Church of Pakistan are enjoying protection of PPP government. Do government have planned to end true voice of Christian and protection of its tools?

PCP is receiving hundreds of mails of Christians under threats by Muslims extremists in Pakistan and their demands to invite attention of International community.

Christian woman facing blasphemy charges in Pakistan

Thirty-seven-year-old Asia Bibi was recently arrested by police on allegations of blasphemy in the village of Ittanwali, Punjab province, Pakistan.

On June 19, some of the Muslim women who work with Bibi on a farm owned by a local Muslim engaged in a heated discussion with Bibi about Islam. Bibi told them that Christ died on the cross for their sins and asked them what Mohammed had done for them. "Our Christ is the true prophet of God and yours is not true," Bibi said. The Muslim women became angry and began to beat her. Some men then locked her in a room. Muslims announced from mosque loudspeakers a plan to punish Bibi by blackening her face and parading her through the village on a donkey. Local Christians informed the police, who took Bibi into custody before the Muslims could carry out their plan. At last report she was being held at a police station in Nankana city and local Christians were urging the police not to file blasphemy charges. However, police claim that they must go forward due to pressure from local Muslim leaders.

Pray that Bibi will be released. Pray for strength for Bibi's family. Ask God to give boldness to Christians in Pakistan as they witness to their Muslim neighbours.

(Voice of Martyrs)

All suspected killers of Christian leader acquitted

Friday, June 26, 2009By By Shamim Bano

KarachiAll five suspects apprehended for the assassination of Christian leader Ivan Edwin Moon were acquitted on Thursday due to lack of evidence in the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge, South, Abdul Naeem Memon.

The trial was conducted for about one year and seven witnesses recorded their statements in the court, but the prosecution failed to produce any evidential proof. Furthermore, no one confessed before the court. The acquitted were said to be affiliated with Tehreek-e-Islami Lahskari Jhangvi, and include Asif alias Pasha, Mohammed Atif, Zubairuddin alias Sharjeel, Wajahat and Mohammed Arshad. According to the prosecution, the suspects injected Church of Pakistan Karachi Diocese Secretary Ivan Edwin Moon with poison in 2002. The incident took place within the limits of Preedy Police station on April 22, 2002. The police arrested the accused on February 26, 2008 from Akhter Colony in an FIR lodged by Samuel Griffin under Section 302. Griffin informed the trial court that he received news on May 22, 2002, that his brother-in-law Edwin had passed away. He immediately rushed to the mortuary of Civil Hospital Karachi (CHK) where he discovered Moon’s corpse. The deceased’s employer, Farhan, said that Moon’s body was lying on a chair in their shop located in Al-Noor Chamber, and both his hands had been tied to the chair. Faan suspected that Moon had been administered a poisonous injection due to personal enmity. Defence Counsel Naeem Qureshi said that no eyewitness was produced and there wasn’t ample proof against the suspects. The court, in light of the facts as narrated, ordered the acquittal of five of the suspects for lack of evidence.

It is to be noted here that all the five suspects who were allegedly involved in the Rimpa Plaza murder case later the same year in which seven persons were killed also acquitted by the Anti-Terrorism Court on March 13, 2009, due to lack of evidence. Rimpa Plaza case was registered in PS Garden FIR 205/2002, Section 302Deputy-Public Prosecutor Abdul Maroof said that since there was no documentary proof against the accused, the court should close the file and acquit the accused.

(The News International)

PAKISTAN: TORTURED CHRISTIAN LANGUISHING ON FALSE CHARGES

Police maneuver to keep incapacitated son of preacher in jail – and out of hospital.

LAHORE, Pakistan, June 23 (Compass Direct News) – A 37-year-old Christian is languishing in a Sialkot jail after police broke his backbone because his father was preaching Christ, according to a local advocacy group.

Arshad Masih had been in a hospital – chained to his bed on false robbery charges – after police torture that began Dec. 28, 2008 left him incapacitated. He was discharged from Allama Iqbal Memorial Hospital in Sialkot on Saturday (June 20) and returned to jail despite efforts by the Community Development Initiative (CDI), a support group that is providing Masih legal assistance.

CDI Research Officer Napoleon Qayyum said that hospital personnel treated Masih callously, but that conditions there were better than in the jail in Sialkot. At least in the hospital, Qayyum said, Masih’s gray-haired father was able to carry him on his shoulders when he needed to go to the bathroom.

Hospital staff members released Masih even though they knew he would not receive the medical care he needs in jail and could face further abuse, the CDI researcher said.

“We told the hospital administration and doctors that Masih would be released from jail within a few days, so he should not be discharged from the hospital as he would not be taken care of in jail, but they paid no heed to our request,” Qayyum said.

He said Sialkot police gave assurances that Masih would be released from jail if he arrived there from the hospital by 10 p.m. A police van left early Saturday morning from Sialkot to bring Masih from the hospital in Lahore to Sialkot jail, but it did not reach the hospital until 6 p.m. even though it is only 100 kilometers (62 miles) from Sialkot to Lahore.

Qayyum said officers also invented delays on the return trip.

“Despite our requests to the police van staff, they reached the jail at 10:30 p.m.,” Qayyum said. “The Sialkot police used the delays to demoralize us by creating problems so that we do not file a petition for torturing.”

The CDI official said the group’s first priority is to “take him out of Sialkot so that police may not further create problems for him.”
Murder Threat

Hajipura police detained Masih on Dec. 28 on orders from the Sadar police station in Gujranwala, where Masih’s father, Iqbal Masih, had been preaching Christ.

The elder Masih, an itinerant preacher who has traveled to remote areas to proclaim Christ for three decades, told Compass that objections to his ministry led to false accusations of robbery against his son. Area Muslims resented his preaching and his visits to a Christian family in Gujranwala, he said, and told him to stop visiting the family.

“They told me that I was preaching a false religion and should stop doing it, and that I should succumb to their pressure,” the elder Masih told Compass.

Area Muslims had complained to Gujranwala police of the elder Masih’s efforts, and officers there first sought to arrest him in a case filed against “unidentified people,” he said. Later, he said, Gujranwala police told Hajipura police to charge his son in some robbery cases, as Arshad Masih lived in the Hajipura precincts.

When police arrested Arshad Masih on Dec. 28, they tortured him for several days, the younger Masih said.

“They hung me upside down all night, beat me and used all inhumane torture methods, leaving me permanently paralyzed,” he said.

Police falsely named him in a robbery case, according to CDI. All others named in the case were released after paying bribes, advocacy group officials said. Police officers also asked Masih’s father for a bribe of 50,000 rupees [US$620], the elder Masih said.

“They asked me as well for 50,000 rupees, but I refused to pay on the grounds that it was illegal and additionally I hadn’t that much money,” Iqbal Masih said.

The complainant in the robbery case eventually testified that Arshad Masih hadn’t been among the robbers, and he was granted bail. Before court orders reached the jail, however, Sialkot police informed Sadar police officers in Gujranwala, who arrived at the jail and had Masih remanded to them for a robbery case filed against “unidentified people.”

“Because of that, Masih could not be freed for one moment,” CDI’s Qayyum said.
Gujranwala police also threatened to kill Masih in a staged police encounter if he told the court that he had been tortured, according to CDI. They also warned him that he should not act as if he were in any pain in court.

The court, however, found him unable to stand and sent him to Allama Iqbal Memorial Hospital in Sialkot for medical examination. Gujaranwala police therefore had to leave him. But police did not tell Masih or CDI staff which police station was keeping Masih in its custody at the hospital.
With the help of the American Center for Law and Justice, CDI filed a case in the Gujranwala Sessions court for Masih’s bail and also provided some assistance for his medical treatment.
On June 16, the Sadar police station investigating officer told the court that police under his command were not detaining Masih, but that the Sialkot police were. Because the Gujranwala police were not detaining him, he argued, bail orders issued on March 23 for Masih’s release pertained to Sialkot and therefore Masih’s police custody in the hospital was illegal.
“The police have been keeping us in the dark so that we could never pursue the case in the right direction,” said CDI’s Qayyum. “How can a brutally tortured patient even heal their wounds in such mental agony when his hand is always tied in chains, and two policemen are maintaining a 24-hour watch over him?”

The researcher said he maintained hope that the judicial system would provide Masih relief from his agony, which has taken its toll on his family as well. Masih has three children that he has pulled from school due to lack of money.

His wife is illiterate and cannot make a living, CDI officials said, adding that Masih’s four married sisters are the main sources of his financial support.

(Compass Direct)

Pakistan Christian leader disapproves 'Catholic' prefix in statements

A Christian leader in Pakistan raised concern over the 'Catholic agenda' pursued by the Bishops Conference, Catholic Church and its umbrella organisations in the Islamic country.Dr. Nazir S Bhatti, President of Pakistan Christian Congress (PCC), last week, expressed dissatisfaction over the Catholic Church issuing statements that contains 'Catholic' prefix before a person's name.

Statements such as “Catholic federal minister Shahbaz Bhatti” or “A Catholic Shahbaz Bhatti rises up to Federal Minister” is causing widening rifts by damaging the unity of the Christian community, he warned.

The Christian leader argues that, "J Malik, a non-Catholic appointed as a Federal Minister, was never quoted in Pakistani press like "Catholic” or “Protestant” like “Shahbaz Bhatti, a Catholic Minister”."The present statements and press releases issued by Catholic Bishops Conference to tag Shahbaz Bhatti as Catholic Minister seems to be a conspiracy against unity of Christians in Pakistan, he says.

Moreover, Shahnaz "failed to fulfill his promises to secure social justice for Christians" and now is being called to resign from his post, Bhatti said.At this time, the PCC chief said, "unity among Christians in Pakistan is the only solution to their problems." "We hope that Catholic Bishops Conference will not dismantle unity by their press releases that divide Christians as “Catholics” and “ Church of Pakistan” congregates."Bhatti said it is high time to unite and help the Christian IDP's whose rehabilitation is a chief concern and must be addressed by the government.

(Christian Today)

Christian Groups Highlight 'Devastating' Violence Against Women, Girl Refugees

Christian groups and believers around the world capped a week of refugee advocacy with World Refugee Sunday in hopes of mobilizing more churches to pray for the more than 42 million refugees and internally displaced peoples.

Mon, Jun. 22, 2009 Posted: 08:54 AM EDT

Christian groups and believers around the world capped a week of refugee advocacy with World Refugee Sunday in hopes of mobilizing more churches to pray for the more than 42 million refugees and internally displaced peoples.

In particular, Christian relief groups this year used World Refugee Sunday and World Relief Day to highlight the plight of women and girl refugees, which some say governments have failed to protect from rape and other forms of violence and exploitation in conflict situations.
“[A]lthough the international humanitarian laws are in place that guarantee the protection of civilians, women, and children, they are not being upheld,” reported Martina Liebsch, head of Migration and Trafficking for Caritas Internationalis.

“Governments and UN agencies must address this failure by improving protection, medical treatment, counseling and means for rehabilitation and compensation,” she added. “Women should be encouraged to report on the abuses they suffered to start their healing. To do justice to their suffering their perpetrators should be brought to justice.”

Caritas, which works in conflict-torn areas around the world, noted how women and girls who have fled the conflict in Sri Lanka to go to camps say violence is their chief source of fear, for example. Overcrowding in camps leads to lack of privacy for women and adolescent girls and creates an environment for abuse, the Catholic relief group reported.

In Colombia, meanwhile, women and girls face sexual abuse, forced recruitment and exploitation as cheap laborers amid the country’s civil war. Around 17.7 percent of women in Colombia who had fled their homes reported the cause as sexual violence, Caritas noted.

And in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s troubled eastern region, 463 rape cases in South Kivu have been reported in the past three months – more than half the number reported in the whole of 2008.

What’s worse is that women and girls in eastern Congo fear soldiers meant to protect them as much as they do other armed actors involved in the intractable and brutal conflict, according to a new community-based study by international relief and development agency World Vision.
The study, carried out in the displacement camps and communities in North and South Kivu, found that women fear rape by any "men who wear uniforms," whether they be government forces or armed militias.

“Sixteen out of 18 focus groups named armed groups as the main perpetrators of violence against women and girls,” World Vision reported. “Eleven of the groups also felt that the government army was a threat to their safety and ten called for all soldiers to be removed and replaced by well-trained, well-paid police.”

As part of its work to help reduce the threat of violence against communities in eastern DRC, World Vision has trained 2,500 government soldiers and police officers in International Humanitarian Law since last October.

World Vision has also formed community protection committees made up of both men and women, which work to redress some of the issues raised in the study.
But groups such as World Vision and Caritas say more needs to be done in the government sectors to protect women and girls, who represent almost half of the internally displaced and refugee populations worldwide.

To call for action on protecting women and children refugees worldwide, Caritas members from 11 countries will be attending a U.N. consultation on refugees next week organized by the United Nation’s refugee agency, UNHCR, on June 29 in Geneva.
In her remarks, Caritas’ Liebsch noted how violence against women affects families, communities and villages. “The effects of this violence are devastating,” she added.

Eric YoungChristian Post Reporter