Let’s promote March 2nd as the Annual World Day against Christianophobia!
Sign the petition to the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon for the recognition of a World Day against “Christianophobia”
Dear Secretary General!
Present-day persecution of Christians attracted world attention after the cold-blooded killing of 58 worshippers by radical Islamist gunmen inside Our Lady of Salvation Syriac Catholic Cathedral in Baghdad (Iraq), in October 2010, and the bombing during a New Year’s Eve service of the coptic al-Qiddissin Church, in Alexandria (Egypt), leaving 23 people dead and another 97 injured.
Perhaps even more worrying was the March 2nd murder of Mr. Shahbaz Bhatti, Pakistan’s Federal Minister of Minorities in broad daylight in Islamabad, since he was martyred precisely for his opposition to the «blasphemy laws» which are used as a legal instrument to persecute non-Muslims.
Direct killing, however, is not the only form of “christianophobia.” Current persecution of Christians also includes vandalism against churches and discrimination and harassment of individuals, particularly in the West, under the form of unjust representation in the media, unfair treatment by employers, disrespect for the right to conscientious objection, disregard for the right of parents to be the primary educators of their children, etc…
This reality makes the recognition of a World Day Against Christianophobia urgent – to draw the attention of public opinion, social movements, policy makers and the media to this crucial issue and to provide a unique annual opportunity for Christians to defend their rights in society.
A World Day against Christianophobia is the natural next step after recent positive attitudes adopted by the European Parliament, such as its resolutions expressing deep concern over the attacks against Christian communities in Iraq (Nov 25th, 2010), and its condemnation of attacks against Christians in Egypt, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, Iran and Iraq, as well as the forcible interruption by the Turkish authorities of the Christmas Mass in northern Cyprus (Jan 20th, 2011).
However, words – even if they are pronounced from the floor of a Parliament – are not enough ! No concrete results will come from them if the persecution against Christians is not recognised as the first worldwide emergency with regard to religious discrimination and violence.
Clement Shahbaz Bhatti 
Born on 9th September 1968. Murdered by radical Islamists on 2nd March 2011
"I want to live for Christ and I want to die for Him."
"Because of this desire, I will consider myself even to be more fortunate if Jesus Christ will accept the sacrifice of my life."
Shahbaz Bhatti had received death threats since 2009, when he spoke in support of Pakistani Christians attacked in the Gojra riots in Punjab Province. These threats increased following his support for Asia Bibi, a Pakistani Christian sentenced to death for blasphemy. Bhatti himself foretold his death and recorded a video, which was to be released in case of his death.
On March 2nd, 2011, Shahbaz Bhatti had just left his mother's home on his way to work when his vehicle was sprayed with bullets. The group Tehnk-i-Taliban told the BBC that they carried out the attack, because Bhatti was a “known blasphemer.”
To provide a unique annual opportunity for Christians to defend their rights in society: