In Pakistan, gunmen opened fired and killed one Christian priest and wounded another in a brazen attack over the weekend in the northwestern city of Peshawar. Father William Siraj, Father Naeem Patrick and another priest were driving home after mass on Sunday before the group was ambushed by two men on a motorcycle, killing Siraj instantly and wounding Patrick. Police have said that an investigation is underway, but no one has stepped forward, claiming responsibility for the attack. Most presume that the shooting is the works of extreme Islamic militants targeting religious minorities, but that is yet to be officially determined. According to VOA, it is another brazen attack on the Christian community in Pakistan, mainly in the area where Siraj was murdered.
Christians both locally and globally have quickly condemned the shooting, and many within the local Christian community in Peshawar are heavily mourning the loss of one of its leaders. “We strongly condemn the firing on the clergy of Diocese of Peshawar and instant killing of Pastor William Siraj and injuring Rev Patrick Naeem earlier today,” Pakistani Bishop Azad Marshall tweeted out in response to the news. “We demand justice and protection of Christians from the Government of Pakistan.” Meanwhile, Washington Post reports that Chief Minister Mahmood Shah of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province has also urged the police to find the shooters as soon as possible.
Despite the lack of suspects and motive for the crime, many presume that the shooting was the works of extreme Islamic militants who have been known to target religious minorities. According to VOA, Christians in Pakistan only make up 2% of the entire Pakistani population. The Washington Post reports there has been a “broader increase” in violence against Christians, with the small religious minority group being “targeted several times by militants in recent years,” more famously in the city of Peshawar.
In 2013, twin suicide bombers detonated their bombs outside a church in Peshawar, killing over 70 people and wounding 100 more and was, according to Reuters, “one of the deadliest attacks on Pakistan’s Christian minority.” There was also no claim on the attack, leaving the Christian community searching for answers. Consequently, given its turbulent history, the killing of Father Siraj is yet another punch to the gut for the city of Peshawar, with itself being the epicentre of a previous bloody religious attack.
Reuters reports that Siraj’s procession was emotionally charged, with mourners heavily grieving their loss as his body passed through the streets to a house. Many also chanted “Long Live Jesus Christ” while Siraj was carried through the city. The lack of swift justice provides no comfort nor solace for the Pakistani Christians, but they have no choice but to press on and hope one day Peshawar and the greater region of Pakistan can be places of interfaith harmony. Until then, they must continue to weather the numerous attacks on their faith and the unfortunate casualties that come with it.
