Five Christians killed in Pakistan

Rome, Italy, Sep 4, 2009 / 10:14 am

Vatican Radio reported Thursday that five Christians were gunned down in the Pakistani city of Quetta on August 28, according to local media reports.

The latest attack by Muslim extremists follows the massacre of in the city of Gojra, where several Christians were killed and more than 100 homes were ransacked.

According to Vatican Radio expert Stephano Vecchia, “It is very likely that this was done by the same (Taliban) extremists who acted out in the city of Gojra at the beginning of August.”

“Many sources in Pakistan have noted a change in strategy of the Taliban: no more suicide attacks against sensitive targets, but rather a strategy of tension that leads to confrontation between the communities. This strategy seeks to hit minorities particularly hard,” he explained.

Vecchio said apart from the political tensions that the country is currently experiencing, Christians have to deal with the anti-blasphemy laws, which turns them into victims of discrimination and an easy target for extremists.

Anti-blasphemy laws stipulate life sentences and even the death penalty for those who insult the Koran or the prophet Mohammed. The bishops of Pakistan have complained that the law is often abused.

Christians represent about 1.6% of the Pakistani population, which numbers 160 million.