Bishops from countries where Christians are particularly persecuted are joining their brothers in the episcopate from the UK for an event at Westminster Cathedral to make an international call for religious freedom.
The Night of Witness, staged at Westminster Cathedral, is being organized by the Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need, amid fears that persecution is threatening the survival of Christianity in a number of countries, particularly in the Middle East.
Flying in to take part in the May 17 event are Archbishop Joseph Coutts of Karachi, Pakistan, and Bishop Joannes Zakaria of Luxor, Egypt. Both bishops will make key addresses, as will former Anglican bishop of Rochester, Dr. Michael Nazir-Ali, originally from Pakistan, who is an expert on interfaith issues.
The Night of Witness will include music and readings given in solidarity with people persecuted in countries including India, Pakistan, Iraq, Egypt and Nigeria. Present at the event will be Stephen Anjum who fled with his family to the U.K. from Pakistan, after his wife, Thomesena, was shot at by extremists alleging that the Anjums’ son had insulted the prophet Mohammed.
Anjum said, “People in the U.K. and elsewhere in the West are simply not aware of the scale of the problems that we face in my country. We need major moral support so that people in my country can be safe from violence and intimidation.”
LONDON, MAY 4, 2012 (Zenit.org)