PAKISTAN
DOWNLOAD FACT SHEET DOWNLOAD FULL REPORT
Pakistan Facts
Score: 86 / 100
Region: Asia
Persecution Type: Islamic Oppression
Persecution Level: Extreme
Population: 196,744,000
Christians: 3,938,000
Main Religion: Islam
Government: Federal Parliamentary Republic
Leader: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi
Profile of PersecutionMethodology
Violence 99%
Church Life 79%
National Life 90%
Community Life 82%
Family Life 81%
Private Life 86%
Where Persecution Comes From
Much of the Christian persecution in Pakistan comes from radical Islamic groups that flourish and expand under the favor of political parties, the army and the government. Both the army and the government make a distinction between the “good” and “bad” Taliban. For the time being, these radical Islamic groups run thousands of madrassas, Islamic education centers where youth are taught and encouraged to persecute religious minorities like Christians. While this puts converts to Christianity at risk as well, the main sources of danger for them are their own families, since conversion from Islam is seen as cause for shame.
How Christians are Suffering
While long-standing historic churches have relative freedom in worship and religious activities, they are heavily monitored and regularly targeted for bomb attacks. Churches that are engaged in outreach and youth work face the worst of the persecution, although all Christians suffer from institutionalized discrimination. Occupations deemed as “dirty” and “shameful” are reserved for Christians, and many believers are victims of bonded labor. Pakistan’s notorious blasphemy laws target religious minorities but affect Christians the most, especially those who seek to evangelize. Discussion of the Christian faith is also known to attract attention from radical Muslims, making it dangerous to engage in faith-related conversations.
Examples
Converts who gather for worship or other activities do so at great risk. They are also followed and monitored. Anyone who meets with these converts is investigated as well.
In small townships and villages, Christian parents are forced to send their children to the local madrassa for Islamic education, where children are pressured to convert to Islam at an early age.
Each year, an estimated 700 girls and women are abducted in Pakistan. Some have been abducted, sexually abused, forcefully married to Muslims, and made to convert to Islam.
Christians continue to be killed for accusations of blasphemy, as well as for their low status in society. In June 2017, a Christian sewage worker died in a hospital because three Muslim doctors refused to touch him, thereby making themselves unclean, during their Ramadan fast.
Share Your Comment
Pray for Pakistan
Pakistan Photo Gallery
Stories from Pakistan
July 22, 2018
5 Powerful Prayers for Pakistan’s Upcoming Elections
Next week’s elections in Pakistan mark a critical pivot point for persecuted believers in the sixth-largest country and the fifth…
+ READ MORE
July 2, 2018
On Independence Day, Remember the Millions of Christians Who Share Our Faith, Not Our Freedom
As you celebrate Independence Day and thank God for your freedom this week, please kneel in solidarity with persecuted believers…
+ READ MORE
May 11, 2018
Brother Andrew: ‘Don’t Ever Forget We Are Here for the Book’
Today (May 11, 2018), Brother Andrew celebrates his 90th birthday. The Dutchman, who became known as "God’s Smuggler," recently returned…
+ READ MORE
LOAD MORE STORIES
DOWNLOAD FACT SHEET DOWNLOAD FULL REPORT
Pakistan Facts
Score: 86 / 100
Region: Asia
Persecution Type: Islamic Oppression
Persecution Level: Extreme
Population: 196,744,000
Christians: 3,938,000
Main Religion: Islam
Government: Federal Parliamentary Republic
Leader: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi
Profile of PersecutionMethodology
Violence 99%
Church Life 79%
National Life 90%
Community Life 82%
Family Life 81%
Private Life 86%
Where Persecution Comes From
Much of the Christian persecution in Pakistan comes from radical Islamic groups that flourish and expand under the favor of political parties, the army and the government. Both the army and the government make a distinction between the “good” and “bad” Taliban. For the time being, these radical Islamic groups run thousands of madrassas, Islamic education centers where youth are taught and encouraged to persecute religious minorities like Christians. While this puts converts to Christianity at risk as well, the main sources of danger for them are their own families, since conversion from Islam is seen as cause for shame.
How Christians are Suffering
While long-standing historic churches have relative freedom in worship and religious activities, they are heavily monitored and regularly targeted for bomb attacks. Churches that are engaged in outreach and youth work face the worst of the persecution, although all Christians suffer from institutionalized discrimination. Occupations deemed as “dirty” and “shameful” are reserved for Christians, and many believers are victims of bonded labor. Pakistan’s notorious blasphemy laws target religious minorities but affect Christians the most, especially those who seek to evangelize. Discussion of the Christian faith is also known to attract attention from radical Muslims, making it dangerous to engage in faith-related conversations.
Examples
Converts who gather for worship or other activities do so at great risk. They are also followed and monitored. Anyone who meets with these converts is investigated as well.
In small townships and villages, Christian parents are forced to send their children to the local madrassa for Islamic education, where children are pressured to convert to Islam at an early age.
Each year, an estimated 700 girls and women are abducted in Pakistan. Some have been abducted, sexually abused, forcefully married to Muslims, and made to convert to Islam.
Christians continue to be killed for accusations of blasphemy, as well as for their low status in society. In June 2017, a Christian sewage worker died in a hospital because three Muslim doctors refused to touch him, thereby making themselves unclean, during their Ramadan fast.
Share Your Comment
Pray for Pakistan
- Pakistan is an Islamic Republic, and the country suffers at the hands of numerous radical Islamic groups. Please pray for the Pakistani government to pass laws that will protect Christians.
- Pray for Pakistani converts from Muslim backgrounds who suffer the brunt of the persecution in Pakistan. Radical Islamist groups see them as apostates, and their family, friends and neighbors see their conversion as shameful to the community.
- Pray for safety and protection for the Christian women and girls in Pakistan who must live under the threat of abduction, rape and forced marriage.
Pakistan Photo Gallery
Stories from Pakistan
July 22, 2018
5 Powerful Prayers for Pakistan’s Upcoming Elections
Next week’s elections in Pakistan mark a critical pivot point for persecuted believers in the sixth-largest country and the fifth…
+ READ MORE
July 2, 2018
On Independence Day, Remember the Millions of Christians Who Share Our Faith, Not Our Freedom
As you celebrate Independence Day and thank God for your freedom this week, please kneel in solidarity with persecuted believers…
+ READ MORE
May 11, 2018
Brother Andrew: ‘Don’t Ever Forget We Are Here for the Book’
Today (May 11, 2018), Brother Andrew celebrates his 90th birthday. The Dutchman, who became known as "God’s Smuggler," recently returned…
+ READ MORE
LOAD MORE STORIES
