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3 Cases From South Asia Involve Killing of Christians

By Howard M. Friedman

From South Asia comes three stories of murder of Christians impelled by religious fanaticism. In Kathmandu, Nepal, police have arrested 27-year old Sita Shrestha. Bos News today reports that the woman confessed to planting a bomb in the Church of the Assumption, a Roman Catholic Church near Kathmandu, on May 23. The blast killed three people and wounded over a dozen others. Shrestha was inspired by the extremist Nepal Defence Army that aims to expel non-Hindus from Nepal and make Hinudism the country's official religion.

Worthy News yesterday reported on an incident in Pakistan's Punjab province. A Christian bus passenger, Ishtiaq Masih, was beaten to death by the owner and employees of a roadside tea stand in the village of Machharkay where the bus had stopped for a rest room break. A sign at the Makah Tea Stall proclaimed, under threat of "dire consequences," that: "All non-Muslims should introduce their faith prior to ordering tea. This tea stall serves Muslims only." Apparently Masih did not notice the sign when he ordered his tea. However the owner, 42 year old fundamentalist Muslim Mubarak Ali, saw that Masih was wearing a necklace with a cross.

Again from rural Punjaab Province In Pakistan, Digital Journal today reports on the kidnappping, torture and murder of 28-year old Tariq "Litto" Mashi Ghauri, a Christian University student, who was found in a compromising position with his Muslim girlfriend, Shazi Cheema. Cheema's three brothers told Ghauri to convert to Islam and marry their sister. Ghauri agreed to the marriage, but refused to convert.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on June 14, 2009 (boomark / email).