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Christians flee after threats
11/05/2007 19:44 - (SA)
Islamabad - Several Christian families have fled their homes in northwestern Pakistan after their minority community received threatening letters to shut churches and convert to Islam, a rights activist said on Friday.
The unsigned letters were distributed this week in the town of Charsadda - where Pakistan's interior minister last month escaped a suicide attack that killed 28 people.
Shahbaz Bhatti, head of the All Pakistan Minorities Alliance, claimed militants trying to impose Taliban-style social strictures were responsible for the letters, which gave Christians until May 17 to convert.
He said several families among the 500 or so Christians in the town had already migrated to other places and others were contemplating the same.
He appealed to President Pervez Musharraf to "take strong and immediate measures for the safety of our people".
Bhatti said: "These extremists are asking us to change our religion. We will not do it, even if we have to die."
Police said on Thursday they had stepped up security at churches in Charsadda. Copies of the handwritten letter, sent to churches and homes, did not say what consequences the Christians might face if they did not comply with the ultimatum.
Bombing music stores
The threats come amid a spate of reports about how religious vigilantes are using intimidation and violence to enforce a strict interpretation of Islam across an expanding swath of Pakistan near the border with Afghanistan.
Other recent examples are bombings of music stores - including at least three blasts in Charsadda in the past week - threats to barbers not to shave customers' beards and pressure for the closure of schools for girls.
Christians and other minorities make up about three percent of Pakistan's overwhelmingly Muslim population of about 160 million.
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