Christians hold candles during Mass in Surabaya, in the eastern Java island of Indonesia during this 2014 file photo. (Photo by AFP)
Christian religious leaders across Asia are calling for Muslims to take a stand against Islamic extremists as well as reconciliation, forgiveness and a proper interpretation of religion, following the aftermath of the massacre in Lahore, Pakistan.
"The attack is an outcome of a barbaric and insane interpretation of religion by a group of misguided people who exploit religion for vested interests," Bishop Gervas Rozario of Rajshahi, chairman of the Bangladeshi bishops' Justice and Peace Commission, told ucanews.com.
Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, a Taliban splinter group claimed responsibility for the Easter Sunday suicide bombing in Lahore's Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park which they said targeted Christians. Of the 72 victims, 14 were confirmed as Christians, police said. More than 300 were injured. The attack came days after a terror attack in Brussels, claimed by the so-called Islamic State group, that killed 35 people.
Muslim-majority Bangladesh, which once was part of Pakistan, has seen a series extremist attacks and threats on religious minorities including Christians.
Just recently a Hindu priest, a Shia cleric and a Christian convert were hacked to death by Islamic extremists, while a Catholic priest and a Protestant pastor survived assignation attempts.
"From Europe to Asia, no one is safe from fundamentalist threats and attacks, not even in Bangladesh where the majority of Muslims are peaceful. But minorities continue to be attacked sporadically and possibilities of a gruesome attack like that of Lahore can't be dismissed," Bishop Rozario said.
It is not possible for governments in Pakistan or Bangladesh to contain fundamentalism unless large sections of its citizens are involved in a mass social movement against extremism, the bishop said.
"There are many good Muslims and they must play an active role in collaboration with the government to contain the rise of fundamentalism," he said.
Pakistani Christians offer prayers during a Christmas service at the cathedral in Lahore in this 2010 file photo. (Photo by AFP)
The Rev. David A. Das, secretary of the National Council of Churches in Bangladesh, said that since the Lahore attack, Christians "are more anxious and more scared for our safety."
He said religious minorities, especially Christians "need to engage more in dialogue with good Muslims to resist fundamentalism through social movements."
Mufti Ainul Islam, head imam of Hizbul Bahar Jame mosque and madrassa in Dhaka, said any kind of attack in the name of religion, whatever the scale, is un-Islamic.
"Those who are behind such attacks are insane, misled people and their acts are utterly unacceptable and condemnable," said Islam.
Those who resort to violence for religion are "foolish" and "ignorant" about the teachings of the Quran, the cleric said.
Govinda Chandra Pramanik, secretary-general of the Bangladesh National Hindu Grand Alliance, said that jihadists have existed throughout history but they were never before so active.
"It is because there is a lack of commitment from governments to protect minorities and the astonishing silence among the majority community and civil society groups," he said.
In neighboring India, Archbishop Leo Cornelio of Bhopal lamented that "peace-loving Christians are always targeted (because) they don't react violently."
As the church observes its Year of Mercy, may the merciful God pardon the attackers, he said.
Archbishop Victor Henry Thakur of Raipur said terrorist acts such as the Lahore massacre were a serious human rights violation irrespective of the country of origin. "Unfortunately some are hell bent on killing people in the name of religion," he said.
The southern Indian Karnataka Regional Catholic Bishops' Council in its March 29 statement said, "We pray to the merciful God that he may change the hearts of these cruel persons and make them gentle like His own heart."
While Father Joseph Chinnayan, deputy secretary general of the Catholic Indian bishops' conference said Indian Christians stand in solidarity with the suffering people of Pakistan, Indian Catholic lay leader A.C. Michael pointed out that at moment, "prayer seems to be the only option."
Indian Catholics offer prayers during a service in Secunderabad in February. (Photo by AFP)
Father. S.V.B. Mangalaraja, president of the Justice and Peace Commission of the Jaffna Diocese, told ucanews.com that having experienced similar attacks in the past in Sri Lanka during the civil war years, Sri Lankans can easily understand the insecurity of Christians in Lahore and feel one with them.
While religion can never endorse such attacks, state security is vital for everybody and prayed that that people perpetrating such violence "come back to their senses."
In far away Christian-majority Philippines that has in the past suffered Islamic extremist-related violence in the southern part of the country, Catholic bishops have called for calm.
"We should refuse to allow these extremists to dictate how we should live and relate with one another," said Bishop Gerardo Alminaza of San Carlos.
"We should act as missionaries more than victims of these tragic incidents," he said.
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of Manila in a radio interview in Manila warned that "the spread of evil continues" and appealed to Christians "not to lose hope" while at the same time calling for "deeper faith" in combating terrorism.
In Malaysia where Muslims are a majority, opposition leader Wan Azizah Wan Ismail has condemned the Lahore attack targeting Christians celebrating Easter.
"Islam expressly forbids the killing of innocents and as such this act absolutely defies the teachings of the Prophet Mohammed," she said in a March 28 statement.
"Violence and intolerance are not solutions; knowledge and understanding are," she said.
Darell Leiking, a Catholic lawmaker from Sabah, told ucanews.com that "justifying whatever they do in the name of religion is just an excuse … no religion teaches anyone to kill or hurt."
Indian Christians pray during Good Friday Mass at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in New Delhi in this 2014 file photo. (Photo by AFP)
Malaysia has been on high alert after authorities detained more than 160 people allegedly linked to the Islamic State.
Those detained included a police officer, an Islamic cleric, a student and an airplane technician for allegedly attempting to obtain bomb-making materials to launch terrorist attacks in the country.
In Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim country, Christians and Muslims alike have condemned the Lahore bombing.
Indonesia in January witnessed seven blasts and several gunfights in its capital that were reportedly coordinated by the Islamic State and that left seven people dead and many more injured
"Whatever their intentions, violence is never to be justified. As Muslims, we dare to say that whoever uses violence to preach, is against the very nature of Islam. Islam denounces violence," Helmy Faishal Zaini, secretary-general of Nahdlatul Ulama, Indonesia's largest Islamic organization told ucanews.com.
"This requires collective effort throughout the world against terrorism. The United Nations and Organization of Islamic Cooperation must take tough action against the perpetrators of the Belgium and Pakistan bombings," said Zaini.
Bishop Yohanes Harun Yuwono of Tanjungkarang, chairman of the Indonesian bishops' interfaith commission expressed the hope that more people would strive for peace.
"The pope's act of washing the feet of a Muslim and a Hindu indicates a hope for peace throughout the world. And we should always echo such a message," Bishop Yuwono told ucanews.com
With additional reporting from ucanews.com reporters in India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka.
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