AEA Condemns Beheading of Sikh Traders in Pakistan
- By Evangelical Fellowship Of India
- Published 02/23/2010
Evangelical Fellowship Of India
The Evangelical Fellowship Of India exists to empower and mobilize the local Churches, Church related institutions and individual Christians for effective witness for Christ. The Evangelical Fellowship of India crosses cultural and geographical boundaries and links Indian Christians with a world wide Christian community. EFI has continued to grow in recent years. Some of our newer areas of work now include advocacy (Christian Legal Association-CLA) and the Evangelical Financial Accountability Council (EFAC). It was founded in 1951 as a national alliance of evangelical Christians and is a central network of evangelicals in India. The vision of EFI is to strengthen Churches to live out the Gospel in the complex context of India.
Asian Evangelical Alliance condemns the recent beheading of Sikh traders in Pakistan on February 21.
According to Indian media reports, two Sikhs were beheaded by Pakistan based Taliban militants in Khyber and Orakzi areas near Peshawar. The Sikhs beheaded were among a group of persons of unconfirmed number, who had been kidnapped by the Taliban 34 days earlier. The Taliban had demanded Rs 30 million as ransom for their release of this group and beheaded two members after the expiry of the deadline for the payment of the ransom. Two persons, Gurvinder Singh and Gurjit Singh are still believed to be in the custody of the militants.
Some media reports suggest that the Sikhs were beheaded after they refused to convert to Islam.
An estimated 10,000 Sikhs lived in the tribal belt, till the Taliban imposed jiziya or religious tax on them last year. Most members of the community then fled to cities across Pakistan.
AEA calls of the Pakistani government to ensure the safe release of those still in the custody of the militants and to make every effort to ensure the protection of minority groups, especially their right to religious freedom.
Issued by:
Rev. Dr. Richard Howell
General Secretary
Asia Evangelical Alliance
New Delhi, India
According to Indian media reports, two Sikhs were beheaded by Pakistan based Taliban militants in Khyber and Orakzi areas near Peshawar. The Sikhs beheaded were among a group of persons of unconfirmed number, who had been kidnapped by the Taliban 34 days earlier. The Taliban had demanded Rs 30 million as ransom for their release of this group and beheaded two members after the expiry of the deadline for the payment of the ransom. Two persons, Gurvinder Singh and Gurjit Singh are still believed to be in the custody of the militants.
Some media reports suggest that the Sikhs were beheaded after they refused to convert to Islam.
An estimated 10,000 Sikhs lived in the tribal belt, till the Taliban imposed jiziya or religious tax on them last year. Most members of the community then fled to cities across Pakistan.
AEA calls of the Pakistani government to ensure the safe release of those still in the custody of the militants and to make every effort to ensure the protection of minority groups, especially their right to religious freedom.
Issued by:
Rev. Dr. Richard Howell
General Secretary
Asia Evangelical Alliance
New Delhi, India
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