Delhi Catholics pray for Sikhs beheaded by Taliban

(February 26, 2010) The Indian Archdiocese of Delhi held an inter-religious prayer service on Thursday for two Sikh men, kidnapped and beheaded in Pakistan reportedly because of their faith. The Taliban in Pakistan kidnapped the two men in the Khyber Agency (district) two weeks ago, killing them on Sunday. Pakistan officials said they were kidnapped for ransom. But a press release from the archdiocesan communication office, said the Taliban beheaded the members of the minority community for refusing to convert to Islam. The northwest Khyber Agency, is one of seven semiautonomous tribal districts along the Pakistan-Afghan border. The prayer program for some 50 people, at least half of them turbaned Sikhs, was jointly organized by the Federation of Catholic Associations of Delhi Catholic archdiocese and the Delhi Minority Commission. Representatives from the Jain, Sikh and Christian communities quoted from their scriptures and prayed for the Sikhs killed for their faith. They also prayed for the Taliban to repent so that violent incidents like these are not repeated. Father Victor D’Souza, Delhi archdiocesan vicar general, who led the prayers, said those who kill in the name of religion “know nothing about their religion.”