Organised in Ireland by Today is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church

Christians face persecution in 60 countries Red – Severe Orange – Significant Green – Limited

Today we focus on one country

Pakistan Pakistan is gripped by political turmoil due to the growth in Muslim fundamentalism Christians (3% of population) are often the targets of violent Islamist attacks

On Easter Sunday 2016, 72 people (Christians and Muslims) were killed in a suicide attack targeting Christians in a park in Lahore

A family outing on Easter Sunday ended in shock, pain and bereavement

Pastor Shakeel Anjum took six funerals of Easter bombing victims in one day

Mourning some of the 81 victims of a previous attack on a church in Peshawar

Pakistan Pakistan’s blasphemy laws are often misused to settle personal scores Since 1986, more than 1,000 people have been accused under the blasphemy laws, (over 50% from religious minorities)

Asia Bibi In prison for 7 ½ years Sentenced to death in November 2010 Supreme Court appeal pending

Muslim fundamentalists calling for the execution of Asia Bibi

Two politicians who supported Asia Bibi were murdered by Muslim extremists Salman Taseer Shabhaz Bhatti

Shagufta Kausar and husband Shafqat Emmanuel under sentence of death since April 2014

Sawan Masih under sentence of death since March 2014

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said last year, “I am the prime minister of all Pakistanis, whether they are Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christian, Parsi or any other religion.”

Pakistan will be featured in the next Church in Chains magazine (published in late November) Regular updates at