Pakistan

Pakistan trivia:

-The Islamic Republic of Pakistan is the sixth most populous country in the world, with an estimated population of 172,800,000 in July 2008

-Pakistan has the second-largest Muslim population of any country in the world: around 96% of Pakistanis are Muslims. By comparison, Christians and Hindus, the next largest religions, each make up about 2% of the Pakistani population.

-Pakistan has been under Shari'a law since 1991.

Pakistan Trivia

-Geographically, Pakistan borders India in the east, and Iran and Afghanistan in the west. In the north and west are arid mountains; in the southeast is the Sindh desert. The Indus River runs the length of the country from north to south, creating the very fertile Indus Valley.

Government/politics

-Non-Muslims are not eligible for the seats of the president or the prime minister; no non-Muslims at all have been nominated for the Senate elections being held in March.

-40% of government funds go to the military and to the development of nuclear weapons.

Government/politics

-The government does not directly support persecution of religious minorities, and even continually assures Pakistanis of their religious freedom; missionary visas are even available to foreigners. However, almost nothing is done to protect non-Muslims from persecution. Corruption is rampant; and where there is not corruption, there is intimidation. Furthermore, many laws are in place which are easily abused by Muslims for the oppression and mistreatment of religious minorities, particularly the blasphemy laws and the Hudud ordinances.

Pray for:

-Better government and leaders

-Justice

-The repeal of unjust laws

Women-Christian women are considered part of a lower caste by Muslims, and are treated as slaves, going from house to house to clean their lawns, toilets, and cattle stables, and carrying garbage and human waste in baskets on their heads.

-According to a Pakistani high court ruling, if a woman converts to Islam, then her marriage, performed according to the rites and rituals of her former religion, is null and void. As a result of this, many Christian women are kidnapped, forced to convert to Islam, and then "married" to their captors. When their husbands or families come to claim them, they are rebuked by the Muslims and the authorities and told to go away.

Women

-Under the Hudud ordinances, in order to prove anything in court, a Christian woman must have the support of four male eyewitnesses of honorable standing. As a result of this, there is virtually no recourse for victims of sexual assault, as no honorable man will stand by and watch such a thing. Furthermore, if a victim is unable to prove that she was raped, she is open to accusation of adultery or fornication, for which she can be imprisoned. Aside from her lack of legal resources, in a shame/honor culture such as Pakistan's, a woman who has been raped and publicly disgraced in such a way is unemployable and unmarriageable.

Pray for:

-Protection, both divine and human

-Justice

-Peace and comfort

The Church

-Christians make up only about 2% of the total population of Pakistan.

-Pastors and leaders face intimidation and violence, as do their families.

-Christians are considered part of a low caste, and face discrimination. A Christian man's testimony in court is worth only half of a Muslim man's testimony.

Pray for:

-Boldness

-Unity

-Leaders