Peshawar massacre, Indian Christian leaders: All places of worship must be protected
Mumbai (AsiaNews) - "I condemn with all
my strength the murder of innocent Christians in
Pakistan, gathered as they were in
prayer. Places of worship for
all religions are sacred and must be protected and respected", Sajan George, president of the Global Council of Indian
Christians (GCIC), tells AsiaNews commenting on yesterday's
attack on a Protestant church
in Peshawar.
The president of the GCIC is a Protestant like the hundreds of victims of the massacre. On behalf of his association and the Christian community
in India he expresses "deep concern about the violent
contempt that Islamic extremists
in Pakistan have for the right of all
religions to practice their faith in peace and security. What happened was a cowardly act that targeted innocent
faithful. "
The massacre took place yesterday
at the end of Sunday service, when two suicide bombers blew themselves up near the All Saints Protestant church in Peshawar, in northern Pakistan. The official speaks of a hundred dead and over 130 injured. The Jandullah
Islamic extremist group claimed
responsibility for the attack, which comes just as the newly
elected Prime Minister in
Islamabad, Nawaz Sharif, said he wanted to reopen dialogue with the Taliban.
The victims included many children, seven were killed and 37 were injured. For Sajan George this is "a senseless loss of precious lives. These little ones are martyrs for the faith: their blood cries out in a loud voice for the safety of Christians in Pakistan."
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