By James Varghese

The loudspeaker’s cut wires hang lifeless on the dung-stained church wall, even after local Christians and Muslims reconciled.

According to the news carried out by the news portal of Asian catholic Asian news www.ucanews.com, Muslims have submitted a written apology to Christians in a place called Gowind on October 12 ; two days after about 500 Muslims stormed New Apostolic Church in this village near the India-Pakistan border.

Shouting slogans against Christians, the Muslims cut the loudspeaker wires and plastered dung on the walls while 20 Christians were at an evening prayer service. They were protesting the church’s use of its own loudspeaker to broadcast its morning service. Muslim clerics then issued calls over mosque loudspeakers for a “social boycott” of Christians.

However, three Muslims — Daler Khan, Haji Yaseen Gardor and Tariq Mehar — signed the apology at the local police station while another 100 Muslims stood outside. The apology states : “We apologize to the Christians for desecrating the church and hurting their religious sentiments.”

The signatories also vowed to observe Pakistan’s laws prohibiting the use of loudspeakers and amplifiers to spread sectarian sentiments.

Even so, the events have left local Christians fearful. Nine policemen now guard the compound of the only church in Govindh, 420 kilometers southeast of Islamabad. The 10,000 or so villagers include 25 Christian families.

Sattar Masih, (Masih is not a name but identifies a male Pakistani as a Christian) a local evangelist and a Christian community representative, told UCA News : “Loudspeakers were not used during last Sunday’s prayers because we want to live in peace. We are even willing to pray at home to avoid further troubles.” Sattar, who witnessed the apology signing, added that the poor local Christian community has no option but to compromise.

A fact-finding team from the Catholic Bishop’s National Commission for Justice and Peace, and the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) visited the area on October 11 and reported that local Christians hold local Muslim clerics responsible for instigating villagers.

Shahzad Masih, who heads the New Apostolic Church choir, told UCA News that after the attack, announcements were made in the eight local mosques urging Muslims to shun Christians. “For two days,” 16-year-old Shahzad said, “Muslim shopkeepers refused to sell anything to Christians, not even food or cattle fodder,” and a Christian was even prohibited from using public transport.

According to Sattar, 45 yrs, local Muslims have been asking the Christians not to use the loudspeaker for months, claiming it disturbed their fajr Muslim prayers, the first of the five daily Muslim prayers. “But we were using the loudspeaker at 6 in the morning, after fajr prayers,” Sattar pointed out.

HRCP condemned the attack on the church. Mehboob Ahmad Khan, a legal adviser to the rights group, told UCA News it shows growing intolerance, especially in rural areas. Khan, a Muslim, said a loudspeaker “can be used for entertainment and prayer,” and “attacking a place of worship, especially in holy Ramadan, is sad.” After talking with local Muslims, he added, he has concluded that they will not let the Church use its loudspeaker ever again.

Local laws prohibit a loudspeaker’s sound to be heard outside the immediate precincts of worship places.

© Assist News Service