While millions of people around the world are preparing for a happy and peaceful Christmas, Pakistan's Christian minority simply hopes this year's celebrations will proceed without violence and bloodshed. Threats of terrorist attacks after the high profile court case against Christian woman Asia Bibi have put churches and parishes on high alert in the run-up to this year's festive season.

In November, Ms Bibi was sentenced to death by the court of Sheikhupura, Punjab, for making alleged derogatory comments about the prophet Muhammad. Despite an international outcry, condemning the verdict, Ms Bibi is in prison awaiting her High Court appeal.

Head money
A Muslim cleric in Peshawar has already warned that some people will take the law into their own hands should Ms Bibi be released or pardoned. He has announced a 'reward' of half a million rupees (approximately 4,440 euros) for anyone who may kill her.

Ms Bibi is one of a relatively small group of Christians in Pakistan, where over 90 percent of the population is Muslim. Less than two percent – or 2.8 million people – are Christian.

Challenges
“It shows the challenges and the threats we’re facing at the moment,” Father Morris Jalal of Lahore’s St. Francis Xavier parish told South Asia Wired. “We have to deal with many persecutions against our parishioners under current strict Islamic blasphemy laws – and they’re only becoming stricter.”

Ms Bibi’s high profile case has already lead to fresh threats aimed at the Christian community during Christmas. The Pakistan Christian Congress has said it will hold a protest rally on Christmas Day to press the government to repeal the blasphemy laws and to release Ms Bibi immediately.

Churchgoers
Fr Jalal’s parish currently numbers 7,000 Catholic families, but on Christmas Day the number of churchgoers will be much higher – between 10,000 and 15,000 people will visit one of the three Holy Masses he will conduct. “Our church can only hold 1,500 people, so we usually hold these masses in large outdoor grounds. This year won’t be any different, despite the threats,” he says.

Security
With these numbers, security will be tight, although it will not be provided by local authorities. “We will only have five or six policemen there,” Fr Jalal says. “Obviously that’s not enough. We don’t believe that police are able to protect us. We’ll have to supply our own security, but imagine the scene when we are praying and our own young men stand there with guns to protect us. Somehow that just isn’t right.”

With its large Muslim majority, Christmas is not officially celebrated in Pakistan. However, December 25 is a public holiday to celebrate the birthday of M.A. Jinnah, founder of Pakistan. Christmas celebrations are allowed and many Christians celebrate Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in much the same way as in Western countries. “Christmas Day is a day of prayer and confessions,” Fr Jalal explains.

On Christmas Eve, thousands of parishioners walk to St Francis Xavier Church and other churches in large processions.  Many decorate their homes with lights and Christmas trees and exchange small gifts.

No easy life
But that’s where the comparison with the Western way of celebrating Christmas ends, Fr Jalal says.

“Experiencing constant threats is very challenging. But we have faith in Jesus. Being his disciple does not mean you have an easy life. Also, when you’re a small minority, your faith only becomes stronger. We’re challenged by many Muslims, but we can face that challenge.”