Christian Students in Pakistan Face Increased Pressure to Convert to Islam.

The Punjab government in Pakistan has launched an inquiry into allegations that Christian students are coming under pressure to convert to Islam.

Last year, leaders of Pakistan’s Christians petitioned the nation’s Supreme Court to end discrimination against minorities in the education system. Then, earlier this year, the Pakistan Minorities Teacher’s Association also called upon the Chief Justice of Pakistan to look into the victimisation of non-Muslim students, stating that:  “Pakistani non-Muslim students are facing victimisation and religious persecution in the educational system of Pakistan.”

The most recent example was of a Christian student, Naveed Rafique, who was told he was failed because in his Islamic Studies oral examination he did not recite the “Kalimah”, the Islamic statement of faith.

Rafique told Christians in Pakistan: “I am Christian and I do not know the Islamic Kalimah.”

The Teacher’s Association reports that an attempt was then made to force him to convert, and that simply reciting the Kalimah is regarded in many places as an act of embracing Islam.

According to the Association, state schools in Pakistan are deliberately attempting to persuade non-Muslim students to convert to Islam. “They are not ready to accept the religious identity of non-Muslim students at any cost. They are forced to study Islamic beliefs and practices in the subjects of languages, social sciences, pure sciences and Islamic Studies from school education to higher education.”

Professor Anjum James Paul, chairman of the association, has now received a letter from the Punjab government promising the matter will be looked into, Christians in Pakistan report.

• Pray for Christians school students, who are facing increasing pressure and oppression against them. Pray for courage and strength to stand up for their faith in school and to resist attempts to force them to convert to Islam.
• Pray for protection for Pakistan Christians, including school students. Pray that the government will act on their promise of protection and to allow freedom of religion and worship for all people.
• Pray for the Pakistan Government, for wisdom as it faces growing fundamentalism across the Muslim communities.
• Pray for a move of the Holy Spirit across this nation, for many to have life changing encounters with the Risen Christ Jesus and realise the truth of His Gospel.

Matthew 10 vs 32: “‘Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven;”

Source: http://www.christiantoday.com/article, http://www.persecution.org