A Catholic teacher who was appointed headmaster at a primary school in a small Pakistani village was beaten and tortured by a group of Muslim extremist teachers, reported Fides
Muslim teachers expressed hatred and resentment against Saddique Azam. Specifically, they called him a «choora,» which is the name of a low caste and is a pejorative term used to describe Christians in the nation.
After Azam was appointed headmaster in the village of Pernawa three months ago, some Muslim teachers complained to the district authority of the education officer in Kasur that the appointment had been assigned to a Christian.
Christian lawyer Sardar Mushtaq Gill who offers free legal aid to Christian victims of abuse and violence
He explained that Azam was under great pressure and asked to resign, but wouldn’t.
On October 5, three Muslim teachers barged into his office and sat at his desk. When Azam walked in his office he asked for explanations, and after showing yet another refusal to resign, the three teachers started beating him, causing him several injuries and trauma, and was treated in hospital.
The rest of the school staff intervened and called the police, who arrested the three attackers. «Christians in Pakistan continue to suffer discrimination because of their faith and given the existence of laws that legitimize discrimination» says the lawyer. (D.C.L.)
