Evangelical leader expresses condolences to the family of former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and the nation of Pakistan


By Michael Ireland
Chief Correspondent, ASSIST News Service

The Rev. Johan Candelin of the World Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty Commission

The leader of one of the world's largest evangelical Christian organizations has spoken out from Finland on behalf of evangelical believers against the assassination of Pakistani opposition leader and former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

"The murder of former Prime Minister is one of the most tragic events in the history of Pakistan," said the Rev. Johan Candelin, Executive Director of World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) Religious Liberty Commission. Candelin is known as a "Goodwill Ambassador" on behalf of persecuted Christians.

"After working together with Mrs. Bhutto for democracy for several years I can say that her importance for democracy and human rights in Pakistan can never be underestimated."

Having had a Catholic nun called Anna as a home teacher in Pakistan; Bhutto had great respect also for the Christian faith and protected all religious minorities, according to the Rev. Candelin.

"She told me several times that she wanted to work for Pakistan where a Jew could go to the synagogue, a Christian to the church and a Muslim to the mosque -- all without any fear," he said. "She was fully aware of the risk she took when she went back to Pakistan, but said that democracy is worth risking one's life for."
He added, "In the history of Pakistan she will have a very important place beside her late father who also was killed for his work for democracy. Benazir Bhutto was a warm, intelligent and wonderful person. She was the first woman Prime Minister in a Muslim nation. The World Evangelical Alliance wishes to express our deepest condolences to the husband and two children of Mrs. Bhutto and to the whole nation of Pakistan."

Bhutto was assassinated in a suicide bomb attack earlier on Thursday, December 27, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.

The attack took place during a political rally ahead of the general election on January 9. Around 20 people are believed to have died in the attack. According to police, a suicide bomber fired shots at Bhutto, 54, as she was leaving the rally venue in a park.

World Evangelical Alliance (WEA): World Evangelical Alliance is made up of 128 national evangelical alliances located in 7 regions and 104 associate member organizations. The vision of WEA is to extend the Kingdom of God by making disciples of all nations and by Christ-centered transformation within society. WEA exists to foster Christian unity, to provide an identity, voice and platform for the 420 million evangelical Christians worldwide.

Michael Ireland is an international British freelance journalist. A former reporter with a London newspaper, Michael is the Chief Correspondent for ASSIST News Service of Lake Forest, California. Michael immigrated to the United States in 1982 and became a US citizen in September, 1995. He is married with two children. Michael has also been a frequent contributor to UCB Europe, a British Christian radio station.