Jaranwala, a Christmas fair to restore hope for victims

Fear among the Christians of Jaranwala in Pakistan after the August assaults on their churches and homes is still high. After losing their homes nearly a thousand families are even more socio-economically excluded. To restore hope and confidence during Advent, the Cecil&Iris Chaudhry Foundation organized a Christmas fair for the victims of Islamic fundamentalists' rampage

Jaranwla (AsiaNews) - Only 4 months ago in Jaranwala in Pakistan more than 900 Christian families were forced to flee and hide in the fields with women, elderly people and children to save their lives from the fury and burning of Islamic fundamentalists.

The toll was hundreds of Christian homes burned and 21 churches attacked, of which 3 belonging to the Catholic community. The rebirth of this wounded Christian community comes from Advent: it is in this period that the Cecil&Iris Chaudhry Foundation (CICF) organized a Christmas Fair to restore dignity, hope and trust to the Christians of Jaranwala, victims of the events that occurred on 16 August. This is also why the event kicked off on December 16th. The Christian community has rallied around this ordeal and has risen with the aim of celebrating the birth of Jesus together.

The inauguration of the fair was attended by several representatives of the local administration, social and religious leaders, including Father Khalid Mukhtar, Catholic priest of the diocese of Faisalabad in Punjab, the Rev. Aleem Anwer bishop of the Anglican Church of the Diocese of Faisalabad, Major Arshad Nizam, division commander of the Salvation Army Church and Mrs. Michelle Chaudhry, president of the CICF.

She said: "As a mother, I feel that children and women have suffered the most, and that not much had been done for them in this sense. So we thought we would do it ourselves with this community event. With Cecil&Iris Chaudhry Foundation we have not only condemned and demanded justice for the victims, but we are supporting the families in material and financial terms. We have also taken care of their psychological needs. This Christmas fair is an attempt to provide them with further relief from the trauma they carry within self".

Shahbaz Masih, 52, is among the Christian victims of Jaranwala, and told AsiaNews: "I am very grateful for this beautiful Christmas event. We were very depressed that this Christmas was coming after the tragedy in August. At this fair our children went back to playing and having fun. Furthermore, from the CICF we received blankets, warm clothes and gifts for the little ones."

At the Christmas fair there are free food stands for families and games for children. A local church group presented a Christmas carol recital to celebrate the holidays.