Pakistan school textbooks teach Christians seek martyrdom

October 19, 2013 - A report by an international press monitoring organization says that textbooks in Pakistani schools show that the killing of Christians is a "goal to be sought" that would help followers of Christ seek martyrdom for their faith. The report published in late September by the Middle East Media Research ( MEMRI) based in Washington DC, says that the texts are common in most public primary schools, and even Pakistani Christians and members of other minorities are forced to read and study them. The authors of the books led by the religious leaders have changed the meaning of the term "minority", which now has a negative connotation. The problem of education in Pakistan emerged strongly in 2011, the year that the government dedicated to the promotion of this issue. In one year, several studies were published which showed that thousands of non-Muslim students are "forced" to study Islam and elements of the Muslim religion, for fear of discrimination. An August 2012 report by the Pakistani Catholic Bishops’ National Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP), complained that textbooks in two provinces contain an alarming amount of hate material, while their education policy shows a deep-rooted bias against religious minorities. (Source: AsiaNews)