Attacks and Threats against Christians in Nepal Dear Friends and Partners,
Christians in Nepal are alarmed over attacks against their communities and other religious minorities by Hindu extremists during the last two years. As they anxiously wait to see whether extremists will follow through on their threats, we need to speak up on their behalf to ensure that Nepali authorities take these matters seriously and bring those who are making such threats to justice.
On July 1, 2008 a Catholic priest, originally from India, was shot by masked men in the middle of the night at the mission compound of his religious order. That attack appeared primarily targeted at Christians of Indian origin, but another bomb on May 23, 2009 at the largest Catholic church in Nepal left 2 dead (including a teenage Nepali girl and an Indian newly-wed visiting Nepal on her honeymoon) and over a dozen injured, one of whom also later died. Other incidents include attacks against two mosques that left two Muslims dead.
Nepal is located between India and China and is best known as the home of Mount Everest, the world’s tallest mountain. The majority of its population of about 28 million consists of roughly 80% Hindus and 10% Buddhists. The remainder includes 4% Muslims, some 2.5% Christians, and practitioners of other, mostly local and traditional religions. Until recently the country was a monarchy and the only officially Hindu state in the world. It is also the birthplace of the founder of Buddhism and has not historically been known for religious conflict.
Politically, on the other hand, Nepal has not been without its share of instability which culminated in 2006 when the king was forced to step down under pressure from pro-democracy forces. The Hindu state was promptly declared a secular republic and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) (which had fought a 10-year guerrilla war against the government earning designation as a terrorist organization from the United States’ State Department) secured its influence by emerging from elections in early 2008 as the strongest party.
The recent attacks have been linked to an organization called the Nepal Defence Army (NDA) which was unknown before 2007. The NDA claims to be seeking the return of the monarchy and the re-establishment of Hinduism as the official religion of Nepal and has claimed to be training suicide bombers. Shortly after the May 23rd attack, threats attributed to the NDA asserted that if Nepal’s million or so Christians did not stop their activities and leave the country within a month, a million bombs would be placed in churches across the country. Nepali Christians are taking the threats seriously and, with the deadline to run out within a matter of days, we must act quickly to support them.
Nepali Christians are fearful over these threats and about increased acts of intimidation and extortion by the NDA, other extremist groups, and criminal gangs. These groups are mostly active along the southern border where they receive support from extremist Hindu groups in India. Since the May 23rd attack one woman has been arrested after allegedly confessing that she left the bomb, but Christians are concerned that this is merely window-dressing and have expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s ineffectiveness against those responsible and the leaders of these groups. While Christians have not been the only victims, the May 23rd attack and subsequent threats have changed the scenario and security around churches has become a necessity. In addition, Christians are also worried about their future under a government dominated by Maoist communist forces and hoping that the influence of atheists does not lead to increased pressure against religious expression and worship.
Please pray:
• for safety and protection for Nepali Christians in the coming days and that they would experience supernatural courage, peace, and trust and the strength to stand firm in the face of opposition;
• for the authorities of Nepal, that they would move appropriately to protect the Christians and other minorities from the threats of the extremists and that, as they seek to strengthen the fledgling secular regime, they would be guided by principles of democracy, human rights, and religious freedom and would ensure the equal rights of all Nepali citizens to free religious belief and expression regardless of their religion; and,
• that those responsible for the threats and attacks against Nepali Christians and other minorities would see the evil and futility of their actions and allow their fellow citizens to live and worship in peace regardless of their beliefs. Pray also that they would come to know true peace themselves through a personal relationship with the Prince of Peace.
ACTION:
The Bible teaches that faith without action is dead, so please take action urgently and write (contact details are included below):
• immediately to your Nepali embassy, requesting that authorities take these matters seriously and take strong, effective action to bring those responsible to justice and to ensure the safety of Nepali Christians in light of the threats that action would be taken against them in the coming days.
Please remember to send us a copy of your correspondence at: info@onefreeworldinternational.org
Remember, that the persecuted Christians are dying every day, but they are still smiling. They are in a very deep dark night, but they have the candle of the Lord. The enemy can have a very strong weapon and a very strong army, but we have the Lord Almighty.
"They can kill the dreamer, but they cannot kill the dream" in the Lord’s name.
Be with God and may God be with you.
Rev. Majed El Shafie President and Founder One Free World International El Shafie Ministries
Sources: One Free World International, Compass Di
Mr. Kali Prasad Pokhrel
Charge d'Affaires a.i. Embassy of Nepal 2131 Leroy Place N.W. Washington, D.C., 20008 Tel.: (202) 667-4550, -4551, -4552; Fax: (202) 667-5534 Email: kppokhrel@nepalembassyusa.org