ICC Note:

Three years ago, militants from the Pakistani Taliban attacked All Saints Church in Peshawar, Pakistan killing over 130. Many of the Christians had gathered in the church’s walled courtyard after the end of the Sunday service, making them in easy target for the militants carrying two suicide bombs. Despite the passage of three years, many of the survivors of the bombing are still struggling to survive. Injuries, both mental and physical, continue to plague many of the Christian affected by the bombing. Will Pakistan finally fulfill its promises to assist these Christians and also take steps to protect them from future attacks?

09/29/2016 Pakistan (Asia News) – Three years after the Taliban committed a massacre at the All Saints Church Protestant in Peshawar, some injured Christians are still struggling to survive.

On the day of the anniversary, 22 September, the church that was attacked held a memorial prayer for the more than 100 victims and the 144 people who were injured.

“Four Christians are still visiting hospitals for their treatment,” Rev Humphrey S. Peters, bishop of the (Anglican) Church of Pakistan, told AsiaNews. “The government must fulfil its promise to establish an endowment fund for the people affected by the church bombing”.

On 22 September 2013, two suicide bombers blew themselves up at the end of the Sunday service, near the Protestant Church in Kohati Gate. More than 600 worshippers were inside the building at the time of the blasts.

Built in 1883 in the style of a mosque, the historic building faces Makkah and symbolizes an attempt at peace, harmony and peaceful coexistence between the Muslim majority and the Christian minority.

In the aftermath of the attack, the leaders of the Islamic community, along with Protestants and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Pakistan, firmly condemned the barbaric act of violence.

Since the attack in Peshawar, capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (northern Pakistan), Islamic terrorists have targeted the province. In fact, more suicide bombings were carried out a few days after the church attack.

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