Haroon, 22-year-old Christian, murdered for not converting to Islam
A Christian man in Pakistan was murdered on Wednesday for not converting to Islam. The man worked at an Islamic center sweeping the floors, where he was mocked for his beliefs before being shot and killed, according to the new April 21 report.
Known only as Haroon, 22, the man was promised a “life of luxury and marriage to a rich Muslim woman if he would convert to Islam” by a security guard at the center, Umer Farooq. According to the Center for Legal Aid and Settlement in the UK (CLAAS), Farroq was angered, shot and killed Haroon with a single gunshot to the head.
CLAAS notes that Farooq claims Haroon had attempted suicide.
“The situation endures because of the government inactions,” said Nasir Saeed, director of the Center for Legal Aid and Settlement in the UK (CLAAS). “If people involved in such crimes are brought to justice, then it can act as a deterrent, but instead they are being encouraged by local religious leaders, Imams and Madrasahs.”
Saeed stated that he believes such crimes are on the rise because of a growing intolerance and hate towards religious minorities.
“The government must ban religious discussion and forcing non-Muslims to convert to Islam must be considered a crime, otherwise minorities have no future in Pakistan,” said Saeed. “It is equally dangerous for the government as with the growing violation of human rights, Pakistan could be deprived of the benefits it is receiving from the international community, including Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) status.”
While police have been slow to file charges, Saeed says Farooq must be found guilty of murder and punished accordingly so such atrocities will cease.
Pakistan map Photo/CIA
