A People Betrayed: The Impact of Islamization on the Christian community of Pakistan
Sookhdeo, Patrick
Publisher: Christian Focus Publications and Isaac Publishing
Ross-shire (Scotland) and Wiltshire (England) 2002
PP 454
Sookhdeo, Patrick
Publisher: Christian Focus Publications and Isaac Publishing
Ross-shire (Scotland) and Wiltshire (England) 2002
PP 454
As apparent from the title A People Betrayed is a story of betrayal, broken promises and
injustices committed against one people by another. The former are the
Christians of Pakistan. The latter, the betrayers are majority Muslim sect, the
rulers, the religious elite and the law makers and the law enforcers of
Pakistan. The book is a catalog of historical
injustices, social, economic mistreatment, expedient political U-turns as well
as premeditated willful acts of systematic marginalization committed against the
largest religious minority of Pakistan, the Christians of Pakistan, my people.
These indigenous Pakistani Christians are the sons and
daughters of the land, and have contributed in her creation, with the (mistaken)
hope that they would be considered its equal citizens. Despite the historical
injustices these people continue to consider Pakistan as their rightful
homeland, even though they find themselves rejected in their own land and at
best tolerated as second class citizens. The perpetrators of these shameful activities
and atrocities targeting these vulnerable minority are the members of the
majority faith ruling class themselves, who when they were a minority, feared
the mistreatment they might suffer after the British Raj’s coming to an end.
The systematic narration of the grievances and a scholarly analysis thereof is
the subject matter of the book.
The author’s aims include creating awareness about the Christians
and their plight in a country which in the international consciousness is almost
exclusively associated with Islam. Very
methodically the author first establishes the historical context of
Christianity’s presence in India (and present day Pakistan). He begins with the
arrival of Thomas (one of the twelve disciples of Lord Jesus) who reached India
around 50/60 AD and made earliest converts to Christianity, the spiritual
progeny of whom, the “Thomasite Christians” are still thriving in South India. Using
various historical, traditional (based on oral traditions), and non-canonical
sources i.e., The Acts of Thomas, the author attempts to establish the possible
presence of Christians in Northwest of the present Pakistan (present Taxila)
during the mid-first century. The discovery of The Taxila Cross (1935) and its
adoption as the symbol of the Church of Pakistan in 1971 is discussed in this
context.
The fast moving events based on very complex phenomena and
the amount of detail might make the work difficult to follow by those not acquainted
with the complexities of the subject matter.
This however is deliberate as the author adheres very closely to the
academically accepted style of referencing almost everything he states.
The Second major area of discussion is Pakistan’s political
landscape starting from its creation in 1947. The vision and promises of
Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the Quaid-e-Azam, of and about a secular nation have to successfully
all but buried in the tides of time. The final all the way down to the time of
General Zia ul Haqq who attempted, many times quiet successfully and Islamised
everything and created a very difficult situation for the minorities. Jinnah’s
vision was for a secular state in which everybody would be treated equal, as
evidenced by his speech of 11 August 1947. The ideological development of the
state of Pakistan is well argued by referring to various intellectuals who have
contributed to the process. The laws, conditions that need to govern
non-Muslims living in a Muslim state (the concept of dhimmitude) is also expounded.
In the sections entitled ‘De facto discrimination
against Christians’ and the one about blasphemy
and apostasy, the social, economics well as legal and political pressures exerted on the Christians are
exposed and explained. The legal and social bias used against Christians is
clearly demonstrated by the various so called ‘blasphemy cases’ which are
listed and discussed. The more prominent of these are those of Denial Scot (the
first Christian against whom a case was filed under 295 C), Gul Pervaiz Masih
(First Christian to be convicted under the Blasphemy law), Tahir Iqbal (a
Muslim convert to Christianity who was the first to be allegedly killed because
of a Blasphemy charge), Niamat Ahmar and many others. In protest, against the pronouncement of
death sentence against Ayub Masih, Roman Catholic Bishop John Joseph committed suicide
on 6th May 1998 in front of the court. There are far too many cases detailed in the book
to be listed, let alone be commented upon, in this short review. Laws of
apostasy regarding Muslims changing their religion are also discussed at some length.
Apostasy in Islam is punishable by death. The abuse and misuse of these laws to
stir communal violence against Christians was seen in the shameful incident of
burning (on 6th February 1997) of the twin Christian villages,
Shanti Nagar and Tibba colony.
The book is more than just a compilation of facts, events and
cases. It is also an incisive and analytical critique of the root causes of the
problems faced by the Pakistani Christians. In the ongoing mistreatment and
marginalization of these people, the deeply entrenched and therefore lingering
presence of Hindu caste system cannot be overlooked. The role of the missionaries
too has had many facets, and Sookhdeo uses very calculated and precise language
to describe, (quite accurately in my view), their positive contributions as
well as negative influences to the cause of Christians in Pakistan. The term “Mission Compound” Christians is an
example. This phenomenon highlights how some missionaries inadvertently were created
a subset of Christians who did not (have to) engage even with the general
Pakistani society let alone with its politics. And of course, all along the
political forces were gradually, systematically and irrevocably closing in on
the freedoms, properties, legal status and economic well being of the community.
The Christian political leaders have either suffered from the system’s flaws
(like separate electorate system), have been too short sighted or have lacked
the political insights and will to prevent the tides that have carried their
people further down the socio-economic status.
In the section entitled Christian Responses, the author takes
a panoramic and critical look at how the Christians in general and their
religious leaders in particular have used the situations wisely or otherwise
and the ensuing mess these have created. He identifies apathy born of self-pity, and
missionary influence as well as disunity as the main self-imposed handicaps in
dealing with the problems.
A People betrayed is an in-depth root cause analysis and
a historical proofs exhibition of the
injustices suffered by the Christians in Pakistan from the time of its creation
to the 2002. It is ruthless apportioning of the blames and credits where they
are due. This no holds barred approach
in stating facts and drawing unpleasant yet accurate conclusions makes this
work worthy of high regard. It also has sections on the way forward like
inter-faith dialogue, and raising international awareness of these issues.
The author has painstakingly established the presence of a
significant number of Christians in Pakistan; their not-to-be-ignored role in
its history, and their significant contributions to the creation and
development of Pakistan. They, however, have been betrayed by the state and its
various institutions and governments.
This volume is a welcome addition to a handful of serious
studies on the subject of Christians in Pakistan. Even though it is well
researched, amply referenced (448 references), logically laid out and
academically sound, it does betray a polemical passion. And, at least I, as a Christian
from Pakistan, cannot fault such a passionate approach, as nearly all other
studies on this topic, by Muslims, and a few Christians too, are nothing but a
series of rosy myths propagated about the supposedly equal and wonderfully fair
treatment that the minorities get in Pakistan. It is to Dr Sookhdeo’s enduring
credit that he has very systematically and successfully exploded this myth, and
earned a PhD, as well as, a place of honor in the hearts of people like
this reviewer.
Akhtar Injeeli
Akhtar Injeeli
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