KARACHI: Leaders of the Christian community on Thursday expressed solidarity with the people of Pakistan in their condemnation of blasphemous actions by France and reiterated their respect for religious beliefs of Muslims around the world.

As a token of solidarity, they visited Idara Noor-i-Haq, the Karachi headquarters of Jamaat-i-Islami Pakistan, met the party leaders and held a joint press conference with JI and its minority wing leaders, voicing anger against the French government for not taking action against those who were behind recent wave of blasphemy.

They agreed on the need for religious harmony in the country and demanded the federal government take appropriate action in this regard on diplomatic level.

They strongly condemned the French ruling regime for deeply hurting sentiments of almost two billion Muslims across the globe and urged the federal government to show some courage and come out of hysteria of economic setbacks in the event of action against France. “Difference between exports to France and imports from the same country is not so big as to hit the economy,” said JI Karachi chief Hafiz Naeemur Rahman.

“Besides, the government should be aware of the fact standing by a just cause itself is an unavoidable obligation. The government should realise that the honour of Holy Prophet (PBUH) is a matter of life and death for each and every Muslim,” he said.

The JI leader said that the French government had deeply hurt sentiments of countless people and shockingly the regime was not ashamed of its actions. The entire world needed to realise the sick mentality behind what happened in France on state level, he said.

He asked the government to spearhead an international campaign in this regard, instead of targeting protesters who were agitating against blasphemy.

JI leader Muslim Pervez, Younus Barai, Zahid Askari, JI minority wing leaders Younous Sohan advocate, Samuel Nazir, Pervez Barkat and representatives of the Christian community pastors Salman Manzoor, Amjad Farooq, Robin Raz, Mohsin Iqbal, Eric M. Sahotra, Arshad Khan, Jamal Rajput, Harez Gul, Saleem Manzoor and others attended the press conference.

Published in Dawn, April 23rd, 2021