Memorial Day for Martyrs Day

Shamim Masih writes about a Memorial Day for Pakistani-Christian Martyrs killed as a result of Islamic Supremacism in the Muslim majority nation of Pakistan. Below is Shamim’s article. After Shamim’s article I am going to make the attempt to add more details to the Christian Martyrs Shamim writes about.

JRH 2/28/13

______________________

Memorial Day for Martyrs Day

Pakistani activists hold joint memorial service to remember slain Pakistani Christians

By Shamim Masih

Sent: 2/26/2013 2:23 PM

Islamabad Pakistan (Shamim Masih): The courageous person who sacrifices his life for values of religion or rights of community secures very unique respect and honors of a “Hero” in society and becomes part of history. The generations pay tributes to sacrifices of martyrs and celebrate their anniversaries to remember them.

§  Martyr Feroz Masih, who was killed by Karachi Police firing in front of Governor House on Feb 13, 1997.

§  Bishop John Joseph was mysteriously murdered by secret agencies of Pakistan on May 6, 1998 in Sahewal city of Punjab province of Pakistan.

§  Martyr Nawaz Masih and Martyr James Masih were not bishops or high profile Christian leaders but common laymen who had love for Christian nation in Pakistan.

§  Shahbaz Bhatti, Federal Minority Minister, was assassinated on March 2, 2011, in Capital city Islamabad.

In recognition to their struggle for Pakistani Christians, religious leadership and human rights activist hold a joint memorial service to remember the slain Pakistani Christians on 23^rd February, 2013.

Basharat Khokhar, a human activist said whenever a nation is in crisis their martyrs become a ray of hope and successes to launch a new campaign to successfully resolve issues but nation which forget their martyrs have always faced failure as history records. We as Pakistani Christians remember our martyrs, he added.

__________________________

Here are some more thoughts on the Martyrs listed above.

Feroz Masih

We are observing the 15th anniversary of Martyr Feroz Masih, who was killed by Karachi Police firing in front of Governor House on February 13, 1997, during a peaceful protest procession against a Muslim mob attack on a Christian village, Shanti Nagar in the Punjab province of Pakistan.  Amidst clouds of tear gas shelling and police firing on Christian protestors, hundreds were rendered unconscious, dozens were injured, whilst nine received bullet injuries and more than 1,000 were arrested. Feroz Masih was among those nine critical bullet wounded Christian who were rushed to JPMC Hospital where he died with his one hand fastened to his bed in a police hand cuff.

Feroz Masih was not any politician or Church leader or an activist of any foreign funded non- government organization, or any political party leader or any federal minister in government or any tool of the Pakistan establishment, but an honest Christian who had a passion for the oppressed Christian nationals in Pakistan and love for his fellow brothers who were victimized in village of Shanti Nagar - hundreds of miles away from his home in Karachi. Feroz Masih had never ever met any of the suffering Christians of Shanti Nagar, nor was he hoping for their votes to seek any public office in the national assembly or provincial assembly or any district council, but still he felt their pain and took to the streets on February 13, 1997, to ensure justice and basic equal democratic rights in Pakistan for which he sacrificed his life. (Excerpted from: In memory of Pakistan's martyrs; Nazir Bhatti; British Pakistani Christian Association; 5/22/13)  

Chief of Pakistan Christian Congress and Chairman Martyr Feroz Masih Award Committee announced the names of nominated persons for first Martyr Feroz Masih Award. PCP Report.

…

The award is in the memory of the sacrifice of Martyr Feroz Masih who was killed by the Karachi Police firing on peaceful protest procession of PCC against Shanti Nager village attack by the Muslim fundamental group on February 13, 1997 before Sindh Governor House. The PCC central council at meeting in Karachi passed a resolution to inaugurate Shaheed Feroz Masih Award for remembrance of his precious life sacrifice for Christians in Pakistan. The resolution also added to press for the demand of the arrests of the killer police officials involved to gun down Feroze Masih and injuring many on Feb. 13, 1997. This is the first award nomination, which shall be continued in future every year in month of February, and award distribution ceremony shall be held in Pakistan and also in the foreign countries as per decision of Martyr Feroz Masih Award Committee.

… (Pakistan Christian Post; February 14)

Bishop John Joseph

Rev. Dr. John Joseph, 66, Catholic bishop of Faisalabad and a high profile human rights activist, shot himself dead in the dark corridors of a sessions court in Sahiwal (700 kilometres from the capital, Islamabad) at about 9:30 p.m. on 6 May 1998 in protest against the death sentence recently given to Ayub Masih on 27 April for blaspheming Islam. This is the same spot where Ayub Masih, a Christian of his diocese, was shot at on 6 November 1997.

Bishop John Joseph travelled to the city of Sahiwal in the afternoon of 6 May from his residence in Faisalabad. He went to address a prayer meeting for the Christian parishioners there specially organised for the victims of blasphemy cases. Since the early 1990s when Section 295-C of the Pakistani Penal Code was amended, making the death sentence mandatory for the offence of blaspheming Islam, dozens of non-Muslims have fallen victims to the often-abused blasphemy laws. And the bishop was deeply shocked by Ayub’s verdict.

At dinner time on 6 May, Bishop John Joseph had little appetite as according to the parish priest, Fr. Yaqoob Farooq, O.P.. After others had had their meals, the bishop asked Fr. Yaqoob to accompany him to the spot of the court-house where Ayub Masih was shot at exactly six months ago. On reaching close to the vicinity of the sessions court, the bishop asked Fr. Yaqoob to stay back and went to the spot himself. Moments after, Fr. Yaqoob heard a gun shot. He then rushed to the spot and found the bishop had shot himself in the neck. According to Fr. Yaqoob, Bishop John Joseph was instantly dead.

On hearing the news of the bishop’s death, the Christian populace of the city gathered at the spot in the court-house. As of 12:35 a.m. of 7 May, the Christians there refused to remove the dead body until the prime minister would come personally to express his sorrow. Bishop John Joseph, a human rights activist well-known locally and internationally, was the founding chairperson of the National Commission for Justice and Peace under the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Pakistan, and he remained in office since its establishment in 1984.

Bishop John Joseph had led two nationwide protests of the Christian community and even went on hunger strike for the cause. The first protest was in 1992 against the government’s proposal to include a column for one’s religious faith in the national identity cards. Christians and other minorities in the community thought that the new identity card system would lead to further victimisation of religious minorities in Pakistan. The second nationwide protest was in 1994 against the murder of Manzoor Masih, a Christian tried on blasphemy, outside the court right after the court hearing on 5 April 1994.

On 20 March 1998, Bishop John Joseph led … (Excerpted from: PAKISTAN: Bishop John Joseph's Protest Against Victimisation of Minorities; Human Rights Solidarity; 8/24/01)

Fourteen years ago, around the time young Rimsha Masih, now in jail under Pakistan's blasphemy law, was born, a Roman Catholic bishop walked into a courthouse in Sahiwal, quite close to my hometown in Central Punjab. The Right Rev John Joseph was no ordinary clergyman; he was the first native bishop in Pakistan and the first ever Punjabi bishop anywhere in the world. He was also a brilliant and celebrated community organiser, the kind of man oppressed communities look up to as a role model. Joseph walked in alone, asking a junior priest to wait outside the courthouse. Inside the court, he took out a handgun and shot himself in the head. The bullet in his head was his protest against the court's decision to sentence a fellow Christian, Ayub Masih, to death for committing blasphemy. Masih had been charged with arguing with a Muslim co-worker over religious matters. The exact content of the conversation cannot be repeated here because that would be blasphemous. The bishop had campaigned long and hard to get the blasphemy law repealed without any luck. He wrote prior to his death: "I shall count myself extremely fortunate if in this mission of breaking the barriers, our Lord accepts the sacrifice of my blood for the benefit of his people." (Excerpted from: How to commit blasphemy in Pakistan; By Mohammed Hanif; The Guardian; 9/15/12 15.00 EDT)

Nawaz Masih and James Masih

Nawaz Masih and James Masih were the first Christian Martyrs of modern Pakistan - they were killed by Police in Rawalpindi who opened fire on a peaceful protest procession of Christians protesting against the nationalization of missionary Schools, Hospitals and Colleges during the ZA Bhutto government in 1972. This protest procession went out from Gordon College Rawalpindi and marched towards Governor House to present a memorandum against the nationalization of Christian institutions.

Like Martyr Feroz Masih, Martyr Nawaz Masih and Martyr James Masih were also not Bishops or high profile Christian leaders but common laymen who had a love for the Christian people in Pakistan. The families of Nawaz Masih and James Masih were not supported by any Christian political groups or indeed the Bishops, who had been enjoying benefits of Christian institutions and living like feudal lords. It is very unfortunate that no Christian clergy or associations have ever celebrated or marked anniversary of these Martyrs. (Excerpted from: In memory of Pakistan's martyrs; By Nazir Bhatti; British Pakistani Christian Association; 5/22/12)  

Shahbaz Bhatti

Today, March 2, is the one-year anniversary of the murder in Pakistan of 42-year-old Shahbaz Bhatti. Still no one has been charged with the crime, much less tried and held accountable.

On March 2, 2011, Bhatti, the minister of minorities affairs, and the only Christian member of Pakistan’s cabinet, was ambushed and assassinated by gunmen as he sat in a car outside his mother’s house before leaving for work.

Bhatti’s work, his life’s work, was to struggle for equality under the law for Pakistan’s various religious minorities. He had often expressed his opposition to Pakistan’s notorious blasphemy laws and persistently sought to reform them. Like Punjab’s governor Salman Taseer — who had been murdered in January 2011 — he had championed the case of Asia Bibi, the mother of five sentenced to death for blaspheming Islam’s prophet, a charge brought by other villagers with whom she had a property dispute.

He had waged a strong campaign for the repeal of the blasphemy laws, both in the government and as the longtime head of the All Pakistan Minorities Alliance, a non-governmental organization. He saw the blasphemy laws – which only protect Islam — as potently divisive to Pakistan’s society. They are used as a platform within the society for extremists to determine which ideas can be expressed and which cannot, and they are used by ordinary citizens to pursue vendettas and personal grievances.

The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for Bhatti’s killing. Two weeks ago, Interpol agents arrested, in Dubai, Zia-ur-Rehman, and a few days later Pakistani police took custody of Abid Malik, two Pakistani suspects in the murder. But the case is far from solved. Dubai has already released Rehman. An Islamabad police official, who requested anonymity, told Pakistan’s Tribune:

“To treat them [the two] as prime suspects would be wrong. We have no evidence to suggest that they were involved in the murder even though they could have certain issues with him,” said the police official . . . They had differences with Bhatti over property issues, “but they were not capable of carrying out such a high-profile assassination,” said the official. “Investigations regarding the case were muddy and not carried out in a proper manner, some evidence points towards sectarian or militant violence,” he added.

Meanwhile, Shahbaz Bhatti’s old post of Minority Affairs has been abolished, Asia Bibi languishes on death row, and Pakistan sinks ever deeper into radical Sunni Islam. And, the blasphemy arrests continue apace: … (Excerpted from: Pakistan’s Honorable Shahbaz Bhatti, Murdered with Impunity One Year Ago; By Nina Shea; National Review Online; 3/2/12 12:08 PM)

…

A Bishop from Pakistan has called on his country’s government to catch the killers of Christian human rights campaigner Shahbaz Bhatti.

Bishop Sebastian Shaw, Apostolic Administrator of Lahore, told Aid to the Church in Need that almost two years on no one had been tried for his murder – and gave his blessing to a 2 March event in London commemorating Mr Bhatti’s life and work.

Bishop Shaw said: “Nothing has happened yet, but we ask the government of Pakistan that the killers be arrested and brought to justice.”

Mr Bhatti, federal minister for minority affairs, was murdered in Islamabad on 2 March 2011 after calling for clemency for Asia Bibi, the first woman to be sentenced to death under the country’s blasphemy laws.

Abid Malik, who was arrested on suspicion of Mr Bhatti’s murder, was cleared of the charge in February 2012.

Bishop Shaw said that a few months ago the press in Pakistan suggested his killer may have been from outside the country.

He added: “We are very sad for what has happened to Shahbaz Bhatti, who was martyred.

… (Excerpted from: PAKISTAN: Still no justice for Shahbaz Bhatti; By John Newton; Aid to the Church in Need; 2/18/13)

Shamim Masih has brought our attention to the cruelty that Christians experience in the Muslim nation of Pakistan. Pakistan treats Christians in the classic style of dhimmitude which is a policy to humiliate non-Muslims to the point that the life of Christians is miserable and also ends in death for the glory of Allah. The Human and Civil Rights of Christians are nearly non-existent in the face of Islamic Supremacism.

JRH 2/28/13

Please Support SlantRight 2.0 With Your Contribution.

________________________

Memorial Day for Martyrs Day

Edited by John R. Houk

Shamim Masih

Christian Rights Activist
Freelance Journalist 

President

REAP
Public Affairs coordinator

UMJI

Shamim Masih’s Donate/Support info:

FOR USD TRANSFER.
Intermediary Bank :                         MASHREQ BANK, NEW YORK
Intermediary Bank SWIFT BIC :         MSHQUS33
Beneficiary Bank :                         JS BANK LIMITED
Beneficiary Bank SWIFT BIC :                 JSBLPKKA
Bank A/c # at Intermediary bank :         70008227
Title Of a/c                                Shamim Masih
Beneficiary Account Number :                 405527

Top of Form

IBAN #                                        pk80jsbl9530000000405227


FOR GBP TRANSFER.
Intermediary Bank :                         MASHREQ BANK, LONDON
Intermediary Bank SWIFT BIC :         MSHQGB2L
Beneficiary Bank :                         JS BANK LIMITED
Beneficiary Bank SWIFT BIC :                 JSBLPKKA
Bank A/c # at Intermediary bank :         00010855
Title Of a/c                                Shamim Masih
Beneficiary Account Number :                 405527
IBAN #                                        pk80jsbl9530000000405227



FOR EURO TRANSFER.
Intermediary Bank :                         MASHREQ BANK, LONDON
Intermediary Bank SWIFT BIC :         MSHQGB2L
Beneficiary Bank :                         JS BANK LIMITED
Beneficiary Bank SWIFT BIC :                 JSBLPKKA
Bank A/c # at Intermediary bank :         10847
Title Of a/c                                Shamim Masih
Beneficiary Account Number :                 405527
IBAN #                                        pk80jsbl9530000000405227

_______________________

Here are some more thoughts on the Martyrs listed above.

Research by John R. Houk

February 28, 2013

ALERT: Draft Allen West for Congress

I am a HUGE supporter of former Rep. Allen West (R-FL). I don’t live in Florida so you can understand that West lost a razor thin election under dubious circumstances in the 2012 election.

I am extremely gratified to learn via email that there is a draft West campaign for Congress to rerun in his Florida District because the Dem Patrick Murphy appears to be a weak candidate.

Drafting Allen West to rerun works for me. It is obvious West was the victim of Dem conspiracy fraud.

JRH 2/27/13

Please Support SlantRight 2.0 With Your Contribution.

***************************

ALERT: Draft Allen West for Congress

                                                     

By Todd Cefaratti

Sent: 2/26/2013 7:01 PM

Sent by: Tea Party Leadership Fund

Dear Friend,

Months ago, we emailed you with news of our involvement in the razor-tight recount between Allen West and his opponent. Unfortunately, despite a herculean effort, Allen lost that battle, but recent developments have shown an impending opportunity to win the next one.
Please let me explain:

After November's recount, Allen's opponent, Patrick Murphy, has never been more vulnerable. In fact, just weeks ago, Larry Sabato (a respected political pollster at the University of Virginia) ranked Murphy as the single most vulnerable Democrat in Congress!

With such a weak alternative, conservatives across America have been calling for Allen to run again for his seat. But, as of the time I pressed send on this letter, Allen has not announced any firm intentions to run again.

That's why, today, I'm launching a "Draft Allen West" petition to show him how united Tea Party conservatives are behind him and give him the support he needs to run again for his former seat.
Will you visit this link and sign the petition immediately? Just remember what sort of leader Allen was when he was speaking for us in Washington:

- An unapologetic opponent of Barack Obama and his agenda, leading the opposition to Obamacare from the very beginning.

- A leader against amnesty before it became a hot issue.

- As a former military officer, a leader and an authority on second amendment issues, coining the phrase "An armed man is a citizen. A disarmed man is a subject."

Your signature on our petition will mean more than just a name on the internet. Every single petition signature to get Allen West back in Congress will be hand delivered to him, so that he knows just how loud the call is by We the People to have his voice back in our service.

In the last election, Allen got knocked down by a smear-campaign of lies and untruths coupled with sketchy happenings at the ballot box. But, as an American hero, we know he has the capacity to get back up, and we want him to know that we'll be behind him when he does.
So will you visit this link and add your signature to our Draft Allen West Petition?

After signing the petition, you'll have the opportunity to make a contribution to ensure that, should Allen decide to run again, we would have the financial resources to back him 100% through direct donations, paid advertising, and on the ground support.
Please visit this link, sign our petition, and consider making a contribution of $25, $50, $100, or any amount that you can afford towards supporting a future with Allen West in Congress.
Thank you for your continuous support.

Sincerely,

Todd Cefaratti
Freedom Organizer

__________________________

ABOUT THE TEA PARTY LEADERSHIP FUND

The Tea Party Leadership Fund is a leader in this freedom movement putting your nationwide support into local action. Learn more.

Paid for by The Tea Party Leadership Fund PAC.

Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. Contributions from foreign nationals or entities are prohibited. Contributions are not tax deductible for federal income tax purposes.

 
www.TheTeaPartyLeadershipFund.com

Flag Draped Coffins

“As I recall Obama and Clinton meeting flag-draped coffins of four brave Americans in feigned respect, I am ashamed of a people who could reelect such a thing to the Office of the President. A president should always strive for more than "adequate," because to be merely adequate is meeting only a bare minimum of requirements” (Justin O. Smith; Flag Draped Coffins; 2/25/13)

Justin Smith properly castigates President Barack Hussein Obama and his Administration over Benghazigate. The above quote is there to wet the thirst of your curiosity.

JRH 2/26/13

Please Support SlantRight 2.0 With Your Contribution.

*******************************

Flag Draped Coffins

By Justin O. Smith

February 25, 2013 at 2:27pm

Smith Facebook Notes

While I understand the current mission of the U.S. African Command to counter, stop and destroy Islamist militants and to fight terrorism without being drawn into a major conflict, the lack of preparation and the ignored warnings prior to the 9/11 attacks on the U.S. facilities at Benghazi are inexcusable and indefensible; repeatedly we have heard Obama and everyone associated with his administration declare that the U.S. response to these attacks was "adequate." But more than this, as more facts are uncovered, no doubt is left that this administration is incompetent, and it is engaged in a cover-up of mammoth proportions.

Many Democrats call any criticism concerning the events surrounding the Benghazi slaughter "GOP political pandering," but whatever your party affiliation, it is incomprehensible and beyond incompetence that Gen. Carter Ham did not request any additional forces to be on hand on the anniversary of the attacks on September 11, 2001, despite his belief that the intelligence did not indicate an imminent attack. Ham must have been struck deaf, dumb and blind, because nothing else explains such a casual dismissal of, at the very least, ten months of communiqués and memos from the Benghazi Consulate that indicated a dire and increasingly dangerous situation looming on the horizon. And on that same note, one must wonder, as heads of the State Department's Accountability Review Board (ARB), what bribe or coercion influenced retired Admiral Mike Mullen and retired Ambassador Thomas Pickering to find the Obama administration's response to these attacks "adequate."

I also wonder if Obama himself or Hillary Clinton has explained to the families of Christopher Stevens, Sean Smith, Tyrone Woods and Glenn Dogherty just how "adequate" the response really was? I'll bet Tyrone Woods thought the response was "adequate" as he painted the terrorists' mortar armed position with a laser and waited for it to be bombed by a drone or jet fighter from Aviano Airbase (Italy)... right up until he cursed Obama with his last dying gasp.

In conjunction with Glenn Dogherty's Libyan mission to recover advanced weapons systems, such as SA-7 missiles from the hands of the Islamists, Ambassador Stevens was negotiating a weapons transfer and removal of SA-7s from the hands of Libyan extremists on the night of 9/11; FoxNews recently reported that the Libyan vessel 'Al Entisar' arrived in the Turkish port of Iskenderun, just 35 miles from the Syrian border, on September 6 with a cargo of RPGs, shoulder launched missiles and surface-to-air anti-aircraft missiles. Add to this Stevens' meeting with Turkish Consul General Ali Sait Akin the night Stevens was murdered, and it is not far-fetched, rather highly likely, that the Obama administration has been running weapons through Turkey to the rebels in Syria, mostly comprised of Islamists and Al Qaeda and enemies of the U.S.

Although Clinton stated before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, "I am determined to leave the State Dept and our country safer, stronger and more secure," her determination on 9/11/12 was focused on joining in the spinning of the story, the obfuscation and outright lies originating with Obama. Clinton was actually notified of the attacks around 4PM and about an hour before Obama was notified by Leon Panetta. Apparently they sat on their thumbs and spun afterwards, despite Clinton's claim that "we kept talking with everyone through the night." But through a response garnered by Senator Lindsey Graham's efforts in blocking Chuck Hagel's nomination for Secretary of Defense, we know neither Clinton nor Obama attempted to contact government officials in Libya to help rescue our U.S. citizens that night, if time and logistics really were the problem; however, Obama did call Clinton at 10PM, and it was "about 10PM" when the State Dept released Clinton's statement (FactCheck.org) entitled 'Statement on the Attack in Benghazi', which linked the attacks to an anti-Islamic video.

While the attacks were still ongoing, a lot of time was wasted simply doing nothing and fretting about political futures rather than saving American lives. When asked about Panetta's and Gen. Dempsey's Senate testimony that they weren't in touch with the White House after their meeting ended at 5:30PM, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney stated, "They said they hadn't spoken with the president. The president has a National Security Advisor... He has a Deputy National Security Advisor and remember he had already spoken with... the Secretary of Defense, with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs." And with pin-point accuracy, Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) February 7th questioning of Panetta before the Armed Services Committee exposes Carney's lie: "Did you communicate with anyone else at the White House that night?" Panetta answered, "No."

After Senator Ron Johnson (R-Wisc) placed Hillary Clinton on the spot regarding the fact that no protest existed prior to the attack, Clinton angrily retorted, "What difference... does it make?" The difference it makes is this, Mrs Clinton: Your outright lying and collaboration with Obama in this matter created a delay that cost Tyrone Woods and Glenn Dogherty their lives; no good reason can be given for not having ordered an airstrike on the terrorists' position. And for fear of forced retirement and other curious reasons, some of the upper echelon military ranks have lost their spine, as they support the Democratic Party line, Obama's position and the delusive findings of the ARB!

As I recall Obama and Clinton meeting flag-draped coffins of four brave Americans in feigned respect, I am ashamed of a people who could reelect such a thing to the Office of the President. A president should always strive for more than "adequate," because to be merely adequate is meeting only a bare minimum of requirements; while Jay Carney quotes page 37 of the ARB report, "the safe evacuation of all U.S. government personnel from Benghazi twelve hours after the initial attack... was the result of exceptional... military response...," an immense number of accomplished military minds such as Lt. Col. Tony Schaffer and Gen. William Boykin, ex-Commander of U.S. Special Forces, have refuted this analysis, which leaves dozens of unanswered questions: Why haven't Americans heard from the surviving diplomatic security officer, who saw the attack begin and alerted the U.S. Embassy in Tripoli that they were under siege? ... Why haven't we heard the testimony of the thirty-two survivors, who Gen. C.K. Hyde confirms were evacuated to Ramstein Airbase (Germany)? ... Why didn't the Turkish Consul General warn Ambassador Stevens about the Al Qaeda checkpoints after he left at 8:35 PM Benghazi time? It doesn't matter that protocol and standard operating procedures were followed and the response was "adequate." Whatever happened to initiative and rising above and beyond the call of duty? No doubt remains that Tyrone Woods and Glenn Dogherty's deaths were unnecessary, preventable and lay on Obama's head!

"Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more; or close the wall up with our American dead. In peace there's nothing so becomes a man as modest stillness and humility: But when the blast of war blows in our ears, then imitate the action of the tiger; stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood, disguise fair nature with hard-favour'd rage." -literary license taken with Shakespeare's 'Henry the Fifth'

Justin O. Smith

__________________________

Edited by John R. Houk

Explanatory links are provided by the editor.

© Justin O. Smith

Don’t bury your head in the sand

Shamim Masih writes about Islamic Supremacist prejudice in education in Pakistan.

JRH 2/26/13

Please Support SlantRight 2.0 With Your Contribution.

***********************

Don’t bury your head in the sand

Memorize the Quran for twenty extra marks; educational bias

By Shamim Masih

Sent: 2/26/13 5:42 AM

Islamabad Pakistan (Shamim Masih): In the month of January, the news was printed in “Daily Nai Baat” Islamabad/Rawalpindi that forty three (43) Christian students [were] compelled from the examination hall [to memorize the Quran for educational marks] in 4 different Christian schools, Sainte Marry Cambridge School (8), Sainte Patrick School (16), and Sainte Teresa’s Girls High School (19) in a just Rawalpindi city.

Haroon Arif, a student from DG Khan in Punjab, couldn’t get high enough marks to get into medical school, which [he] missed the grade by less than 0.1%, would have earned 20 extra marks if he was Hafiz-e-Quran [SlantRight Editor: this is a reference to one who has memorized the Quran]. He tried to claim his knowledge of the Bible was equivalent, but this made no impact.

This is a standard situation for many young Pakistani Christian students. When you can’t afford private school and Christian’s schools do not own you, tell me where shall we go?

Christian minority believed to be much more than the estimated figures of 13% (http://www.pakistanchristianpost.com/vieweditorial.php?editorialid=18) of Pakistan’s 180 million populations. However Pakistani census internationally keeps minority figures low to deny them greater representation. The unabated killings and persecution of religious minorities and smaller sects of Islam raise questions about Pakistan’s regressive direction. The audacity of the killers and state inaction are even more worrying. Many Christian girls were kidnapped, raped and converted to Islam by force and even killed.

Recent statistics about education facilities and its status is alarming. It said that Pakistani Christians are the least educated Pakistanis:

a)     6% have a primary education

b)     4% have a high school education

c)      1% has a college education

d)     0.5 have a professional education

If we use these statistics as a benchmark to get some perspective on the seriousness of the problem and make a few further calculations the conclusions are mind blowing. If we assume that 2.5% of the total population is Christian there are about 4.5 million Pakistani Christians in total. Taking the statistics given 11.5% or five hundred thousands have some kind of education which means that 4 million Christians do not have any kind of education what so ever. That’s more people than the population of many countries and requires urgent attention:

http://www.pehchaanfoundation.com/index.php/dr-jordan-patrick/

In the present scenario, we a group of likeminded people [have] taken initiative to provide books, stationary, school bags and uniforms to the deserving Christian student of the area. Before starting the new term (new classes) in Rawalpindi/Islamabad, we have selected 25 Christian colonies in and around the twin city. In each colony quite a number of Christian students [are] willing to go to school but due to the lack of resources the drop [out] rate [is] becoming higher and higher, parents do not have proper source of earnings and can’t afford high school fees and [the] feel burden on buying books for their kids.

They usually engage their kids to add in earnings instead [of] sending them to school and colleges. Existing institutions Christians [are] following [are] adding classes [for the socially] rich in their schools and thus discouraging the poor Christian students; this situation is not only creating inferiority complex in their minds but also pushes them to go for some unethical activities like drugs etc.

So I request the Christians in the world to support the Pakistani Christian Students for their better future.

_______________________

Edited by John R. Houk

Bracketed words indicate the editor’s thoughts on greater clarity for American readers.

Shamim Masih

Christian Rights Activist
Freelance Journalist 

President

REAP
Public Affairs coordinator

UMJI

Shamim Masih’s Donate/Support info:

FOR USD TRANSFER
Intermediary Bank :                         MASHREQ BANK, NEW YORK
Intermediary Bank SWIFT BIC :         MSHQUS33
Beneficiary Bank :                         JS BANK LIMITED
Beneficiary Bank SWIFT BIC :                 JSBLPKKA
Bank A/c # at Intermediary bank :         70008227
Title Of a/c                                Shamim Masih
Beneficiary Account Number :                 405527

Top of Form

IBAN #                                        pk80jsbl9530000000405227


FOR GBP TRANSFER.
Intermediary Bank :                         MASHREQ BANK, LONDON
Intermediary Bank SWIFT BIC :         MSHQGB2L
Beneficiary Bank :                         JS BANK LIMITED
Beneficiary Bank SWIFT BIC :                 JSBLPKKA
Bank A/c # at Intermediary bank :         00010855
Title Of a/c                                Shamim Masih
Beneficiary Account Number :                 405527
IBAN #                                        pk80jsbl9530000000405227



FOR EURO TRANSFER.
Intermediary Bank :                         MASHREQ BANK, LONDON
Intermediary Bank SWIFT BIC :         MSHQGB2L
Beneficiary Bank :                         JS BANK LIMITED
Beneficiary Bank SWIFT BIC :                 JSBLPKKA
Bank A/c # at Intermediary bank :         10847
Title Of a/c                                Shamim Masih
Beneficiary Account Number :                 405527
IBAN #                                        pk80jsbl9530000000405227

Prophecy: What Lies Ahead

Here is an alternative Bible Prophecy thought for you. The USA will remain the most powerful military on Earth and will enhance its military position by embracing nationalism to a greater degree. Turkey will supersede Iran as the Islamic regional power. Hamas will look to Turkey as an arbiter of destiny. Israel and Hamas will reconcile with Hamas becoming the dominant organization over Arabs that call themselves Palestinians. Turkey’s Islamic domination will lead Muslims away from Arab nationalism to a kind of Islamic Universalism leading to the reestablishment of the Caliphate under Turkish auspices.

These are just some of the predictions from Walid Shoebat that seems to be the prophetic theme of a new book “The Case for Islamophobia: America’s Final Warning.”

I am guessing the prophetic essay “Prophecy: What Lies Ahead” is a preview of what is in Walid’s book. The essay goes against the grain of recent Biblical prophecy pundits and theologians with an emphasis that the book series “Left Behind” has it wrong.

I am certain Walid’s predictions will be criticized by both geopolitists and Biblical oriented prophetic writers. Nevertheless, the case is well presented and the only real critic will be the progression of time.

JRH 2/25/13 (Hat Tip: Diana Fatouros – Closed Facebook Group 1683 AD)

Please Support SlantRight 2.0 With Your Contribution.

***********************************

Prophecy: What Lies Ahead

By Walid Shoebat

February 23, 2013

Shoebat Foundation

The U.S. and Israel are concerned about Iran’s Uranium Enrichment; Iran experiments with Duetrium, Brillium and Tritium – agents that are only used to detonate a Nuclear bomb. They have no waste facilities and it’s like the 9/11 hijackers learning how to take off but have no interest in learning how to land.

However, Israel and the U.S. cannot afford attacking Iran who will blockade the Hormuz. I was right all along; no attack happened and Iran will possess a nuclear weapon.

Iran is returning to it’s original historic state.

Eventually, the United States will fight against the Islamist nations. The good news (unlike what the modern prophecy buffs have taught) is that the U.S. will continue to be the strongest military power and will stand against Turkey in the end.

The U.S. is “the strongest of fortresses” (Daniel 11:39) which will eventually destroy the Islamic alliance:

“Behold, therefore I will bring strangers upon thee, the terrible of the nations: and they shall draw their swords against the beauty of thy wisdom, and they shall defile thy brightness. They shall bring thee down to the pit, and thou shalt die the deaths of [them that are] slain in the midst of the seas”. (Ezekiel 28:7-8)

The naval armada of the U.S., Italy, Greece, Spain and others will crush the Islamic alliance in the sea.

The use of the phrase, “Terrible of the nations” does not mean awful or ugly but “terrible in battle”, as in “the most powerful nations on earth”.

Antichrist does not rule the entire globe as is commonly thought, nor is he the ruler of the most powerful nation on earth.

Just read your Bible and not the Left Behind series.

This is the U.S. alongside other allies that will wake up in the end.

Christians need to stop heeding the warnings of fatalists who warn of the utter doom of America. Instead, they must pursue their nationalist aspirations – which stem from the Bible – against the universalists of Satan.

This defeatist mentality is hardly Christian; God ordained nationalism and has set up America for His purpose, to destroy tyrannies as it has always done.

I can already hear my critics but may I remind them that for years, they said Turkey was secular and that because that nation was an ally of Israel, our prophetic model would be far-fetched at best.

Where are these critics today?

Today, we do not see Europeans threatening Israel but we find Turkey parking it’s naval fleet on the Mediterranean, threatening Israeli and Greek oil exploration.

Today, Erdogan of Turkey has emerged as the hero of the Muslim world.

Erdogan was able gain admiration of the Muslim world when he walked out on Perez at the Davos debate and even regained Perez’s admiration later.

While the U.S., the E.U. and the U.N. begged Hamas to release Gilad Shalit, it was Erdogan of Turkey who finally brokered a deal, ordering Hamas to release him which portrayed the Turkish Prime Minister as the perfect broker between Islamists and Israel.

In Libya, Tunisia and Turkey are rising Islamist regimes that speak about entering Jerusalem triumphant. It is why Erdogan tells the more than 50 Muslim states O.I.C (Organization of Islamic Cooperation)…

“Jerusalem is the apple of the eye of every Muslim.”

                                                               

Even if Israel gives up the Golan Heights, it will be used by such regimes to advance on Israel’s Adam’s apple. It’s not a Palestinian land issue but the issue of an existence of Jews within Muslim lands.

I have been saying it for years… “Hamas will recognize Israel” and become the dominant Palestinian force.

Today, this is becoming reality. Hamas today is courting Israel for a peace deal and while the recent elections in Israel saw the re-election of Netanyahu, election results seemed to indicate a lurch toward the middle in Israeli government and the further left that government moves, the more open it will be to signing treaties with Islamists.Ha

Al-Quds al-Arabi has reported that Mashaal, who is expected to retire from being head of Hamas’s political bureau, has his eye on the Palestine Liberation Organization’s top position, aiming to replace Mahmoud Abbas as head of the PLO’s Executive Committee.

After the PA’s successful bid to upgrade its status at the UN, Hamas is moving closer than ever to play the same political game Yasser Arafat played even though many within Hamas deny it.

Take Hamas legislator Salah Bardaweel, who denied that his movement was prepared to accept the two-state solution.

But if you look at his answer closely: “Hamas’s political program can’t change overnight,” he said that there was a difference between accepting a Palestinian state based on the 1967 territories and recognizing Israel’s right to exist – something which he added, “Hamas would never do.”

It’s a contradiction. In other words, “We accept two states, but we don’t.” Translation: we will never accept Israel’s right to exist.

The change of position is fueled by Hamas’s interest in replacing Mahmoud Abbas as the head of the PLO. King Abdullah, an outspoken advocate of the two-state solution, is backing Meshal’s bid.

Hamas has solid support in Palestine and could conceivably replace Fatah.

They are all jumping on the bandwagon to make a deal. Saeb Erekat and Deputy Foreign Minister Ghazi Hamad supported the motion.

Even the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine’s (PFLP) Kayed Al-Ghul calls it “political adaptation” in order to gain International recognition. Saleh Zeedan of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) also welcomes the move.

This is why they are currently going to Egypt for reconciliation between the PLO and Hamas. Egypt will be where this peace-deal will happen. (Isaiah 28:14-15)

Hamas insists on arranging elections in order to basically take over the Palestinian arena, especially since the European Union shows much support for establishing a Palestinian state as has been seen in the United Nations recently. Of course, the only way to jump on the bandwagon is to accept a two-state solution.

Couple this with latest boost of Islamic success in the Arab Spring. Egypt, for example, is the most powerful Arab country and will see to it that Hamas follows its mother – the Muslim Brotherhood. If Hamas wants to have a Hudna, it must first get the approval of the Muslim Brotherhood. This is why I had always stated that the Camp David Accords will not be broken soon. In fact, it will be reconfirmed until the strength of Islam takes root in the global arena.

Egypt is in economic collapse. Israel knows that Egypt needs help from the West and that the latter wants to bank on this to keep peace with Israel.

Mahmoud Zahar visited Iran recently, so it’s an Iranian strategy to push this peace initiative in order to divert attention from its nuclear program and to halt any Israeli attacks on Iran. This will thwart Israel’s efforts (Iran supplied Fajr 5 to Hamas) and isolate it further within the region.

But who will broker this deal?

Even European leaders like former French President Sarkozy confess that Turkey and not the E.U. is the perfect government that will broker any peace deals with Israel in the Middle East.

What has been coming to pass is not what many modern prophecy buffs have been saying for the last several decades but what we have gleaned from the scholars of the past. Hilaire Belloc, Bishop Fulton Sheen, Gregory Palamus of Thessalonica, Vernon Richards, Sir Robert Anderson, Cyril of Jerusalem, Sophronius the Patriarch of Jerusalem (560-638), Maximus The Confessor (580-662), John of Damascus (676-749), Eulogius of Cordova, Paul Alvarus, the Martyrs of Cordova, John Calvin and Jonathan Edwards the great American Revivalist all saw Islam as playing the major roll (sic) in the End-Times. These and many others simply focused on the literal proclamations in the Bible – as we have done for several years in our book God’s War on Terror; Islam Prophecy and the Bible.

So where are my critics today?

What I have written fifteen years ago in Why I Left Jihad is coming to pass. Today, Turkey, North Africa (Libya, Tunisia), Egypt will all elect to be ruled by Islamic Sharia.

Some might view this as a sense of pride.

Hardly.

Do they prefer we be wrong rather than right?

 

Is it a good thing to be afflicted with Islamophobia? Pre-order the new book from Walid Shoebat, The Case FOR ISLAMOPHOBIA: Jihad by the Word; America’s Final Warning.

Indeed, “set times and set laws” are changing throughout the Middle East and this revived law is Islamic Sharia. The Gog of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan succeeded as we have been saying for years in establishing himself permanently by concocting the Ergenekon Conspiracy, thwarting the Generals and the judges. Erdogan does not “honor the desire of women” (Daniel 11:37) and prohibits them entry into the government while he promoted the Hijabization of women.

It is not any European leader that is setting his eyes on Jerusalem, but Erdogan of Turkey who declared during his speech to the most important Islamist body in the Muslim world – the O.I.C Organization of Islamic Council, saying that “Jerusalem is the apple of the eye of every Muslim”.

No French, Italian or German European Union leader made such proclamations. And as we predicted, Turkey failed entry into the European Union since the beast is the body of a Leopard (Revelation 13:2) (The Greco-Roman) and not European. With its feet of the Bear (Iran) and its mouth of the Lion (Babylonia).

Today, Turkey is courting Russia and China to join the Shaghai-5 and not the E.U.

The biblical prophecies are accurate but misunderstood.

Daniel 7 and 8 are not about ancient historic events dealing with the Babylonian Empire exclusively but there are parallels: Lion standing on feet, bear rising on one side, leopard coming up in the end.

Iraq (The Babylonian Empire) was the major power in the Middle East when Saddam was in charge; its wings were clipped, then plucked before being humbled by the U.S. Iran rose (bear on one side without Media-Kurdistan) and today we have the Shia-Crescent – the Persian Bear – rising.

This term “Shia-Crescent” was coined by Abdullah II, king of Jordan, after which it became popular in political debates. References to the Shia Crescent are often made with the belief that the common religion gives good potential for cooperation.

The countries included in this are Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Azerbaijan.

Now we have Turkey coming out exactly where Greece used to be. Ever wonder why Zechariah 9 (Ionia/Greece) is one of the four Grecian kingdoms?

But perhaps the Ottoman was intended as well, which was broken into 4 and out of one of them will arise the last one. Mehmed II made Constantinople (present-day Istanbul) the new capital of the Ottoman Empire, and he assumed the title of Kayser-i Rûm (Caesar Romanus = Roman Emperor).

Mehmed II wanted to gain control over the Western capital, Rome, and Ottoman forces occupied parts of the Italian peninsula. After Mehmed II’s death on 3 May 1481, the campaign in Italy was cancelled and Ottoman forces retreated.

Today, the contest between Iran (the bear) and Turkey (the Leopard) will see Turkey emerge victorious. As a result, Iraq will continue to weaken after being gobbled up by Iran following America’s exit.

By this, Turkey will control the Suez and the Bosporus while Iran controls the Hormuz. This will undermine the U.S. naval hegemony in the region, which eventually will use its military armada alongside other allied European nations to fight in the Middle East.

With the end of Arab Nationalism, we have a void to be filled with the Turkish Model; that model is ‘moderate Islam’. The fall of Arab Nationalism will cause the Arab world to be looking for a protector and a guard – “be a guard unto them”. (Ezekiel 38:7)

Who?

Gog (Antichrist) will be the guardian of Libya, Persia and Somalia/Sudan (Cush).

You might ask, how will Iran accept him as guardian?

Well…

1.     In March 2011, Muqtada Sadr (Shia) welcomed Erdogan in Iraq.

2.     The Shia religious institution in Persia are Azeri Turks, not Persians.

3.     Iran and Sadr would like Turkey to mediate in Bahrain, which is majority Shia. Turkey—During Erdogan’s trip to Cairo, Tunis and Tripoli, he told rapt audiences that Islam and democracy can co-exist. This is part of the stealth (Muruna) Islam can adapt to times until it gains its goals. Part of his fame comes from an economic explosion. Erdogan has embraced the free market and overseen a near tripling of per capita income since taking power a decade ago. Last year, the economy grew at 8.9 percent, one of the highest rates in the world. Today, Turkey boasts one of the fastest growing middle classes in the Middle East. The beast is constructed of strong and weak nations.

Today, the West will welcome Turkey as a better option to replace Iran’s revolution. In the Western view this will moderate Hamas and Syria, which will take it’s orders from Turkey instead of Iran. It will also give Saudi Arabia security being an ally with Sunni Turkey protecting it from Iran. Turkey appeased the U.S. by allowing it to place the RADAR system in Turkey.

Mustafa Aykol, a Turkish newspaper columnist and frequent Erdogan defender, said his Justice and Development Party, known by its Turkish initials, AKP, is a model for Islamist parties in Egypt, Tunisia and Libya. In a new book, Islam Without Extremes: A Muslim Case for Liberty, Aykol told Rueters (sic) that there can be liberalism within Islam and challenges the authoritarian interpretations of Iran, Saudi Arabia and militant groups.

The prudent in the western Church will begin to realize that the Antichrist system will not be the European Union – as modern prophecy buffs have stated for years – but an Islamic Union led by Turkey. In Zechariah 9:13, the Lord declares:

“I will rouse your sons, O Zion, against your sons, O Yavan.”

In this passage, Israel is seen fighting against Ionia or Yavan, not the European Union. In several Bibles, this word is translated as “Greece” but Ionia/Yavan was simply a province that was located on the western coast of modern Turkey. This is crucial because the clear context of this battle is the return of Christ: “Then Jehovah will appear over them” and fight on their behalf. So in the End-Times, at the time when Jesus returns, the Jews (Zion) will be engaged in a war with Turkey (Yavan).

As we predicted several years ago, Egypt has fallen. We stated that Egypt will end up in civil war between secularists and Salafists / Muslim Brotherhood with the Christians of Egypt slaughtered in the process.

All this is spelled out in Isaiah 19. Egypt – in the coming years – will be weakened to the point that the Turks (Iron) will take over the weakened clay nations of Egypt, Tunisia and Libya (Daniel 11:42). These just opted for the fad of Sharia over western secularism exactly as we stated long ago.

The Babylon of the end-times is not Iraq, which is soon to be gobbled up by Iran. While modern prophecy buffs predicted the revival of Iraq’s Babylon by Saddam, their predictions are in the garbage bin of history.

They failed to examine Scripture closely and isolated verses from their own pre-conceived context. The Bible in end-time prophecy never even mentions ancient cities of Babylon; in every verse in the Bible where a region or city within this predicted Babylon is mentioned, that region or city is in Arabia, not Iraq (Isaiah 21, Jeremiah 49). It is Kedar, Dumah and Arabia; there is no mention of Babel, Sumer, Accad, Erech, Calneh in any of these verses.

Arabia is the mouthpiece (mouth of a lion), which Islam emanates from. It is the Harlot from the desert Island (Revelation 17:3) that sits on many waters, the “desert of the sea” (Isaiah 21) which John saw.

The Antichrist is said to rule from Pergamum (Revelation 2:12-13), which Christ proclaimed would be the future seat of Satan. This is on the sides of the northern lands (Asia Minor / Turkey).

Riyadh reacted with intense anger after the US revealed a plot laid by a secret Iranian military unit, the Quds force, to assassinate the Saudi ambassador to Washington. The attempted assassination of Adel Al-Jubeir, Saudi Ambassador to the U.S., caused Iranians to cancel the Haj. The rift between Iran and Saudi Arabia will cause Iran to nuke Arabia (Isaiah 21) “Arise O Elam” against Babylon of Arabia.

What is left for 2013 and beyond is for Turkey to spread its tentacles into the Muslim nations and eventually Egyptians, Libyans, Tunisians, Algerians, Moroccans, Mauritanians, Sudanese, Somalis, Syrians, Pakistanis, Azerbaijanis, Uzbeks, and Turkmens will all be looking at Turkey’s Islamist model while pledging allegiance to the New Ottomans.

We have said for years that the Ottoman Empire will be revived. Lo and behold, here we are. While many of these nations speak Arabic, they are hardly Arab. Arab Nationalism is out and Islamist Universalism is in. Just look at every Muslim country on earth.

A Caliphate will arise out of Turkey and the Gog of Turkey will portray himself as the re-incarnation of Muhammad, Saladin and the Ottoman Sulaiman Al-Qanuni (Solomon the law-giver).

Islam being controlled by non-Arabs will eventually put Saudi Arabia at risk of destruction by Iran (Isaiah 21); Arabia, the source of Islam, will be no more (Isaiah 34, Ezekiel 25:13); and the oil of the Arabs will burn forever (Isaiah 34:9). All this will happen despite the U.S. effort to arm Arabia to the teeth.

Unlike western media, which is in collective denial, I read the Arabic and the “Turkish Model” today is a household name in the Muslim political arena; millions in the Muslim world are calling for Erdogan to lead them with his modernistic Islamist model. With the Turkish model, Turkey and the Muslims will snooker the West into thinking that at least “moderate” Islam is better than fundamentalist Islam. Peaceful Islam will be the talk for the next few years to come and…

“by peace he [Antichrist] will deceive many” (Daniel 8:25).

The West will enter another Neville Chamberlain era, buying into the “peace in our time” mantra.

In so doing, it will fulfill more Biblical truths:

“just when they say peace and safety sudden destruction will come…” 1 Thessalonians 5:3

At this point, the West will find out in the end that “Secular Islam” and “Fundamentalist Islam” are two faces of the same coin.

You heard it here first… again.

______________________________

About Shoebat Foundation

Born in Bethlehem of Judea, Walid's grandfather was the Muslim Mukhtar (chieftain) of Beit Sahour-Bethlehem (The Shepherd's Fields) and a friend of Haj-Ameen Al-Husseni, the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem and notorious friend of Adolf Hitler. Walid's great grandfather, Abdullah Ali Awad-Allah, was also a fighter and close associate of both Abdul Qader and Haj Amin Al-Husseini, who led the Palestinians against Israel. Walid lived through and witnessed Israel’s Six Day War while living in Jericho. As a young man, he became a member of the Palestinian Liberation Organization, and participated in acts of terror and violence against Israel, and was later imprisoned in the Russian Compound, Jerusalem's central prison for incitement and violence against Israel. After his release, he continued his life of violence and rioting in Bethlehem and the Temple Mount. After entering the U.S, he worked as a counselor for the Arab Student Organization at Loop College in Chicago and continued his anti-Israel activities. In 1993, Walid studied the Tanach (Jewish Bible) in a challenge to convert his wife to Islam. Six months later, after intense study, Walid realized that everything he had been taught about Jews was a lie. Convinced he was on the side of evil, he became an advocate for his former enemy. Driven by a deep passion to heal his own soul, and to bring the truth about the Jews and Israel to the world, Walid shed his former life and his work as a software engineer and set out to tirelessly bring the cause of Israel to tens of thousands of people throughout the world: churches and synagogues, civic groups, government leaders and media.

View all posts by Shoebat Foundation →

© 2013 Walid Shoebat. All Rights Reserved.