The impact of Islamization on the Christian community in Pakistan
Christianity arrived in the area which is now Pakistan well before the advent of Islam, but was extinguished for a while by Muslim persecution, before being re-introduced by Western missionaries. The Pakistani Christian community of today numbers about three million people, who are mainly the descendants of mass conversions of Chuhra people about a century ago. Consequently the community has a low socio-economic status on average. Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, apparently intended equality for all citizens, but there has been a range of other opinions as to the place of Islam in Pakistan and the status of non-Muslim minorities. The passing of the Objectives Resolution in 1949 began a process of Islamization, which included changes to the legislation and constitution and an increasing level of discrimination against Christians at many levels of society, significantly by zamindars and the police. Some of the types of discrimination correspond to the traditional dhimmi status of Christians in a Muslim society; others do not, notably the ~blasphemy law~ which has interesting links with apostasy. The Shari'ah has gained increasing prominence in the legislation. As citizens of a state created to be a homeland
Sookhdeo, Patrick
Islam; Christianity; Shari'ah; Apostasy; Politics
The impact of Islamization on the Christian community in Pakistan. Christianity arrived in the area which is now Pakistan well before the advent of Islam, but was extinguished for a while by Muslim persecution, before being re-introduced by Western missionaries. The Pakistani Christian community of today numbers about three million people, who are mainly the descendants of mass conversions of Chuhra people about a century ago. Consequently the community has a low socio-economic status on average. Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, apparently intended equality for all citizens, but there has been a range of other opinions as to the place of Islam in Pakistan and the status of non-Muslim minorities. The passing of the Objectives Resolution in 1949 began a process of Islamization, which included changes to the legislation and constitution and an increasing level of discrimination against Christians at many levels of society, significantly by zamindars and the police. Some of the types of discrimination correspond to the traditional dhimmi status of Christians in a Muslim society; others do not, notably the ~blasphemy law~ which has interesting links with apostasy. The Shari'ah has gained increasing prominence in the legislation. As citizens of a state created to be a homeland
impact christian_community pakistan christianity arrive area pakistan well advent islam extinguish muslim persecution introduced western missionary pakistani christian_community today number people mainly mass conversion people consequently community low socio_economic_status average founder pakistan apparently intend equality citizen range opinion place islam pakistan status non muslim minority pass objectives resolution begin process include change legislation constitution increase level discrimination christians many level society significantly police type discrimination correspond traditional status christians muslim society others notably law interest link gain increase prominence legislation citizens state create homeland