Taliban threat: Churches increase security

Churches across Pakistan have stepped up security in response to the threat of terrorist attacks following the Taliban’s return to power in neighbouring Afghanistan.

At a meeting of Catholic and Protestant leaders, senior clergy agreed to tighten surveillance and beef up armed protection, especially at Sunday services. The move comes amid concerns that the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan will trigger extremist incidents aimed at Christian and other minority faith communities.

Pakistan human rights activist Sajid Christopher, chief executive of the Human Friends Organisation, said there were fears raised that Taliban-associated group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other militant organisations would capitalise on events in Afghanistan and target religious minorities including Christians.

Speaking to Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) on 2nd Sept, Mr Christopher said: “When the Taliban were in power before, there were a lot of terrorist attacks in Pakistan. There were terrorist organisations attacking churches and other Christian institutes and other Christian institutes. They clearly became targets. Now the Taliban are back, it will strengthen the TTP and other Islamist groups and so there could be attacks.”

Building on security protocol already in place, tightened protection measures include increased action to check the identity of people entering church compounds by car, metal detectors used as people go in for services and a beefed-up armed presence at church entrances.

Mr Christopher warned that the security outlook for more moderate Muslims was also of concern, saying: “Among peaceful and progressive [Muslim] communities there will also be fear but those with a militant mindset are happy that the Taliban are back in power again.”

His comments come at a time of fear for the safety of what remains of Afghanistan’s Christian community, those unable to be part of last week’s mass evacuation of the most at-risk people, mainly non-indigenous groups.

Taliban fighters have allegedly gone house-to-house to track down Christians and other minorities and there were reports of people being ordered to hand over their phones with the threat of being killed on the spot if their devices were found to contain Bible verses or devotional material.

Earlier this week, former US religious freedom ambassador Sam Brownback warned of genocide against Christians and other minorities in Afghanistan.

He reportedly said: “It’s a deadly and catastrophic situation and could easily lead to genocide.”

- By John Pontifex

Featured Image: Wiliam Arif Khan and security guards at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Lahore, Pakistan. Copyright: Aid to the Church in Need.

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