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Islamabad: The Asia Evangelical Alliance (AEA)
expressed concern at the demolition of Sikh homes in
Pakistan on April 29, 2009.
According to Press Trust of India, Taliban militants
demolished 11 homes of members of the minority Sikh
community in Pakistan's troubled Aurakzai tribal region
after they failed to pay jiziya or a tax levied on non
Muslims. The houses were destroyed on the orders of
Taliban commander Hakeemullah Mehsud, the head of the
militants in Aurakzai Agency and a deputy of Tehrik
eTaliban Pakistan chief, Baitullah Mehsud.
The militants had earlier in the month set a deadline
for the payment of jiziya, which the Sikh community
failed to meet. Media reports vary on the amount of tax
levied on the community, the amount ranging between Rs
50 million to Rs 150 million a year as jiziya.
Though the Sikhs have been living in Aurakzai for
centuries, the militants claimed this was being done as
Shariah or Islamic law had been enforced in the area and
all non Muslims had to pay "protection money".
AEA called on the Pakistan Government to provide
adequate protection to the minority groups within the
country and to take necessary action to stop the rise of
militancy in the county.
AEA also urged Christians across the globe to pray for
political stability in Pakistan and for adequate and
effective measures to be taken to check the rise of
militancy in the region.
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