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International
Christian Concern www.persecution.org / Email:
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
CONTACT: Jeremy Sewall, Advocacy Director 1-800-422-5441, jeremy@persecution.org. |
Taliban Extorts Protection "Tax" from
Christians in
News of
WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 8,
2009) - International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that hundreds of
religious minorities, including Sikhs and Christians, fled Swat Valley because
the Taliban had imposed the "jizya tax"
required by Islamic law on religious minorities.
The jizya tax is imposed by fundamentalist Muslims on
members of other religions who refuse to convert to Islam and has been used by
Muslim governments for centuries. The aim of the jizya
tax and other similar restrictions is punishment and slow strangulation. It
aims to humiliate non-Muslims and impoverish them so that they are forced to
convert to Islam.
Christian and Sikh families living in an area similar to the
Religious minorities living in another tribal area have already paid 20 million
rupees [$248,860] as 'tax' to the Taliban after militants forcibly occupied
some of their homes and kidnapped a Sikh leader last month.
News of a planned assault on the Taliban in
Jeremy Sewall, ICC's
Advocacy Director, said, "We urge the Pakistani Army to completely
root the Taliban out of
# # #
ICC is a Washington-DC
based human rights organization that exists to help persecuted Christians
worldwide. ICC provides Awareness, Advocacy, and Assistance to the worldwide
persecuted Church. For additional information or for an interview,
contact ICC at 800-422-5441.
You are free to disseminate this news story. We request that you reference ICC
(International Christian Concern) and include our web address, www.persecution.org.
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