[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 37 (Thursday, March 14, 2013)]
[House]
[Pages H1416-H1417]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
THE HOMES OF CHRISTIANS ARE BURNED IN PAKISTAN
(Mr. POE of Texas asked and was given permission to address the House
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, Christians are under attack in the
Muslim nation of Pakistan. Christians live in fear of being persecuted
because of their faith. They also can face life in prison or even death
if convicted of insulting Islam.
Some say that the religious laws are used as a tool to deal with
personal vendettas. A Christian man living in Pakistan last week was
accused of committing blasphemy. Suddenly, a large group of men--a mob
from a nearby mosque--stormed his home Friday night. The man was
arrested. Fearing for their safety, hundreds of other Christian
families fled in the dark of the night. On Saturday morning, the mob,
as shown in this photograph, returned and began ransacking more
Christian homes and setting them ablaze. According to Human Rights
activists, more than 100 Christian homes were burned.
Mr. Speaker, Pakistan takes our money but they do not respect the
human rights of religious minorities. Some radical Muslims believe that
[[Page H1417]]
other religions should be tolerant of their faith, but they are not
tolerant of Christians and other Muslim sects. This ought not to be.
But that's just the way it is.
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