The volunteer human rights group Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) extends its sympathies to the families who lost loved ones and calls for all human rights groups to make a public and international statement of outrage on the terrorist attacks on Pakistan Christian churches, killing 15 and injuring nearly 80, as of current news reports. The bombings on Christian churches during Sunday prayer services occurred in the Youhanabad neighborhood of Lahore on Catholic and Protestant churches.  We have been reporting on the abuse of Christians and other religious minorities in Pakistan for years.

The Pakistan Christian Post reports that the churches attacked were the St. John Church and Christ Church in Youhanabad, where two suicide bombers attacked at the gates of the churches. The Post reported that the Punjab government has failed to provide adequate security for Christian churches in Punjab.

R.E.A.L. calls for the Pakistan government to provide security for Christians and all minority religions in Pakistan. R.E.A.L. also calls upon the United Nations to act to stop the genocide of Christians and religious minorities in Pakistan, including protecting their universal human rights and acknowledging their need for refugee asylum from this ongoing genocide.

The Pakistan Christian Congress (PCC) has denounced these terrorist attacks. The PCC’s Dr. Nazir Bhatti stated that “Violence is rising against Christians in Punjab province where incidents of burning alive Christian children, women and men happen on pretext to blasphemy law while setting on fire homes of Christians is matter of every week and culprits walk free on street.”

Bishop of Pakistan’s Sadiq Daniel condemned the blasts and termed them an attack on Pakistan. He said that all the missionary schools will remain closed on Monday against the attack.

GEO News reported that the blast was so powerful that “Windowpanes of the nearby buildings were shattered due to the explosions.” CNN reported that “CNN affiliate GEO News showed twisted metal, shattered glass and panicked residents outside a church compound. Ambulance and security personnel were seen moving in. Later footage showed water cannons arriving to disperse the crowd.” CNN also reported that the terrorist Taliban organization took responsibility for this atrocity. CNN reported “Ehsanullah Ehsan, a spokesman for the Pakistani Taliban, said by telephone that his group was responsible for the suicide bombings, declaring that such attacks would continue until Sharia law is implemented in Pakistan.”

R.E.A.L. calls for human rights and government organizations to reject and condemn the actions of the terrorist organization Taliban.