10/13/2007 11:02
PAKISTAN

*Catholics and Muslims dine together in Church for the end Ramadan*

by Qaiser Felix

Faisalabad’s Council for Inter-religious dialogue hosted Muslim leaders
and faithful in the cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul, offering them an
iftar, a bequest with which Ramadan fasting is ended. Muslim scholars
condemn the blasphemy laws.

Faisalabad (AsiaNewsWires) – In a move to promote harmony and
understanding between the nation’s religious communities, Faisalabad’s
Council for Inter-religious dialogue hosted Muslim leaders and faithful
in the cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul, offering them an iftar, [a
bequest with which Ramadan fasting is ended ndr].

Among the banquets’ guests, which took place on October 11th last, was
Sufi Masood Ahmad Lassani, a well known Muslim scholar, and the bishop
of the diocese Msgr. Joseph Coutts. Speaking to AsiaNewsWires, the
bishop explained: “in order to bring harmony in society we have to seek
out and reach out to all people of good will, like Ahmad Lassani”.

These are the people, the prelate adds, “Who give us courage to carry on
work on peace and harmony knowing that there are so many peace loving
Muslims of good will who want to work with us. Perhaps meeting more
often we will be able to have a more concrete impact”.

Speaking with AsiaNewsWires, Lassani condemned the death threats which
are oppressing Pakistan’s Christians who refuse to convert to Islam:
“force and violence is not acceptable and can not bring any positive
change but spread hate among masses. I myself have faced threats for his
interfaith activities but he is firm to keep continue this struggle”.