杏MAP导航

By Lydia O鈥橩ane

In his words, the Holy Father thanked both the Pontifical Foundation "Aid to the Church in Need" and the Polish Episcopal Conference for organizing this initiative of peace and solidarity and said that this year鈥檚 financial support would be donated to Christians in Pakistan.  According to Aid to the Church in Need, for Christians in Pakistan 鈥渙ppression is a daily reality鈥�, and they are often put under pressure to abandon their faith.

Education and job prospects

Speaking to Vatican News, the Head of Press and Information at , John Pontifex said that, 鈥渢he important thing to say about the position for Christians in Pakistan is that they really are second class citizens鈥�.

He added that their 鈥渨hole job prospects are very very limited鈥� and that the education system in Pakistan has been 鈥渁ccused of being very prejudiced against Christians; that there鈥檚 a whole systemic problem of hatred of Christians in schools鈥�.

Mr Pontifex pointed out that amid growing extremism, Christians and other minorities inevitably are considered to be 鈥渋n grave risk of attack or indeed even being killed鈥︹��

Addressing the issue of the Blasphemy laws in the country, he said, that on the 鈥渇limsiest of pretexts they (Christians) can be accused of either disrespect towards the prophet Mohammad or indeed disrespect somehow to texts containing verses of the Koran鈥�.

Asia Bibi

Arguably the most high profile case of a Christian being accused of blasphemy is that of Asia Bibi, a Catholic mother of five who was arrested in November 2010 and sentenced to death. In July 2015 the Supreme Court of Pakistan suspended her death sentence pending an appeal. As she awaits a final appeal hearing, people around the world continue to pray that she will be released from jail.