The world has heard about the tragedy of Gojar, a small village in Punjab (Pakistan). More than fifty houses of local Christian community were burnt and seven Christians lost their lives on Saturday, August 1.Culprits believed that they need not respect the law and the state. They had heard that four Christians desecrated the Quran (which doesn't seem to be true now), but elders of both Christians and Muslims resolved the issue amicably. Then religious leaders incited the mobs, who were led by youth who covered their faces in veils.
The least we can do is to show respect to those who lost their lives. Let them not be passed over as mere “victims”. They were people, so let their names be remembered:
- Hameed Maseeh (1959-2009)
- Parveen (1959-2009)
- Akhlas Maseeh (1969-2009)
- Imamia Bibi (1987-2009)
- Asia Bibi (1989-2009)
- Asifa Bibi (1990-2009)
- Musa (2002-09)
6 comments:
Absolutely, we must condemn what these terrible people have done. Our hearts go out to the victims of injustice and jahiliya. May Allah rest their souls in peace.
I'm glad you put their names, thus their idenities, to be known. We've become desensitized by viewing people as statistics--mere numbers, whereas each one is or was a person with a distinct life. History too ignores the common man and raves about kings and leaders--the occasional people.
Well it shows how much do 'vanguards' of religion actually care about religion. They think hating and killing people of different faith would appease their blood thirsty god and they are willing to cross all the boundaries for this purpose.
Thank you for your eye of the spirit of peace and goodwill.
This short piece is also a reminder how unproductive (if not disastrous) "jumping to conclusions "about supposed facts can be. We are each responsible not to allow any few people to represent in our understanding a larger group of any kind - whether Christian - Muslim - Sufi etc.
The amiable resolutions - even among the few - are such beautiful and strong witnesses for the larger leadership and citizens of a region, nation and to the world at large...
Sometimes at our peace vigils here in the US we read the names of persons who are now gone to this time-frame - victims of various injustices. Sometimes these names are read for hours with a bell pause in between.
This manner of caring you demonstrate here - across religious, cultural and regional boundaries - can't help but bring about more of us who see ourselves in one another.
Watch for news of Dr. Aafia's first hearing with new lawyer grouping tomorrow Wednesday PM Eastern Standard Time (ET or EST)....
Send items to me if you don't mind:
newlease7@yahoo.com
Unfortunately time and funds do not allow me to go but I hope to be at the next one or more...
PS One of the lawyers was her well-thought of lawyer from past, Elaine Sharp.
It's great that the Pakistani gov. is footing lawyers' bill and at same time a shame that the US is not.
Has anyone who comes here heard any news since the recently scheduled court event for Dr. Aafia? I can't find anything at all...very strange it seems...absolute silence in all the sites and searches I've tried.
Let me know please with clear subject heading newlease7@yahoo.com
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