Pakistani Christians refused Covid-19 aid because of faith

Some Christians in Pakistan have reported being refused Covid-19 aid because of their faith.

International Christian Concern (ICC) said it had documented three such incidents since the Muslim-majority country went into lockdown to slow the spread of coronavirus.

In once incident, over a hundred Christian families in the village of Sandha Kalan, in Kasur, Punjab, were left out of a food aid distribution. 

Shahakeel Ahmed, a local Muslim and human rights activist, told ICC that a cleric at the local mosque had ordered that the food parcels be distributed to Muslim families only. 

Ahmed said he complained about the discrimination but his concerns were ignored.

He has since come together with other Muslims to collect food to distribute among Christian families in need.

"I condemn this inhumane and discriminatory act by my Muslim village fellows and stand in solidarity with the poor Christian population of the village," he told ICC.

"Therefore a group of like-minded individuals are collecting donations from liberal Muslims to extend foodstuff to this vulnerable segment, the Christians of this country."

Coronavirus is a growing crisis in Pakistan, which has over 5,000 confirmed cases. 

Nearly half of the country lives below the poverty line and many low-income workers are labourers who have now lost their jobs because of the outbreak. 

Last week, doctors in the country were beaten by police as they protested "deplorable" conditions in hospitals. 

News
Mission Aviation Fellowship makes Sudan a fresh ministry priority amid humanitarian crisis
Mission Aviation Fellowship makes Sudan a fresh ministry priority amid humanitarian crisis

The Christian aviation charity is ending its ministry in Tanzania after more than six “decades of transformation” as its humanitarian focus shifts to the Sudan crisis.

When ‘my truth’ replaces the truth
When ‘my truth’ replaces the truth

We live in changing times, where feelings about how we “identify” now hold more authority than facts.

Christian pro-life volunteer denies five fresh charges in abortion buffer zone case
Christian pro-life volunteer denies five fresh charges in abortion buffer zone case

A Christian charity volunteer has pleaded not guilty to five charges of breaching an abortion clinic buffer zone in Birmingham, as her lawyers challenge whether the prosecution should proceed.

Can we really think ourselves happy?
Can we really think ourselves happy?

There is growing evidence that people living with neglected tropical diseases, including leprosy, experience significantly higher rates of depression and anxiety, with discrimination and social exclusion among the factors contributing to this burden.