RSSPakistani Christmas Reminiscent Of Kristallnacht
Michael Haltman | December 25, 2009
A Key Ally In The War On Terror
In a country that is predominantly Muslim, what is the level of tolerance this Christmas season for the less than five percent of the population that is Catholic or Protestant. In the city of Gojra, Christians are now living in tent camps due to the rampaging mobs that in August rioted in the streets, looted their homes and burned those homes to the ground. Eight died, seven from one family.
This display of ethnic and religious hatred is reminiscent of the two days in November 1938, when in Germany Kristallnacht occurred, marking the beginning of Hitler's attempt to eradicate the Jewish population. Not only in Germany, but the Jewish faith period!
What is the government of Pakistan, one of our key allies in the war on terror going to do, or be willing to do, to stem the rising tide of extremist attacks on the non-Muslim citizens throughout the country? Not much, no doubt, as the governments hold on power is tenuous and slipping in this nuclear armed country. This, plus the fact that throughout the Pakistani government there are countless officials in agreement with the tactics that are being used.
Meanwhile, the celebration of Christmas in Pakistan will go on, but with the talk of "a special Christmas present" threatened by the same people that torched the homes in Gojra before hanging over it. While the police promise protection, this is not particularly comforting to the people as they say that the police stood by and did nothing during the first attack. In Islamabad, there is a muted celebration of Christmas in the Christian neighborhoods, with the authorities asking that any processions in other areas of the city be kept to a minimum.
Fear of attack and of being killed based on religious preference. Fear of having homes burned to the ground due to religious affiliation. Isolated by religion in a designated part of town. Police and possibly government complicit in the violence. Intolerance and hatred for the religious minority.
Nazi Germany circa 1938, or Pakistan today? As always, if we forget the lessons of history, we will be destined to repeat them. Remember that the treatment of the Christians in Pakistan is merely a microcosm of a much greater world problem.
(Photo courtesy of Samaa T.V.)
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