Asia Bibi spent about nine years on a Pakistani prison death
row convicted under Islamic Supremacist Blasphemy laws. Only because some
Muslim accusers couldn’t get their story straight, the Pakistan Supreme Court set aside her
conviction. Her accused crime: Refreshing her
thirst at a Muslim well (which irritated
Muslims anyway) in which an argument with Muslim co-workers over who was
better person – Jesus or Muhammad (Undoubtedly
giving the Islamic Supremacists the excuse to cause harm to the Christian Asia
Bibi – aka Aasiya
Noreen).
Asia Bibi is out of prison yet STILL stashed away by the Pakistan government
hoping a nation will step up against Islamic Supremacism and grant her and her
family asylum. A CFI article has a story that some prestigious Pakistan Muslim
scholars are condemning the violence aimed at Asia Bibi. I’m still not reading
an asylum promise.
JRH 1/11/19
Your generosity is always appreciated:
********************
Surprising New Allies for Asia Bibi?
January 11, 2019
Pakistan Muslim Clerics Denounce Violence
Over 500 Muslim scholars gathered in Pakistan to condemn
terrorism and extremism. They signed a declaration rejecting violence and
murder committed “under the pretext of religious belief” and criticized the use
of fatwas (edicts) by radical clerics.
They also called Asia Bibi’s case an absolute “priority”.
The Christian mother was acquitted of blasphemy after 9 years in jail but lives
in hiding from violent mobs organized by extremist Islamist leaders. Pakistan’s Supreme Court called
the case a “feast of falsehoods” and her accusers were guilty of insulting her
Christian beliefs.
Christians in Pakistan and other Muslim-majority countries
live in constant fear of rising radicalism. “Refugees tell us that the spread
of Islamist ideology turns life-long neighbors into terrorists,” said Wendy
Wright with Christian Freedom International.
The Pakistan Ulema Council signed the declaration in
Islamabad on January 6, 2018. Muslim scholars formed the group to be a voice
for peace, stability and religious harmony in the county. They declared 2019 a
“Year to annihilate terrorism, extremism and sectarian violence from Pakistan”
and stated, “non-Muslim citizens must enjoy the same rights as everyone else.”
“We tried to issue a similar declaration in 2002,” the
chairman of Pakistan Ulema Council told ucanews.com, “but the
government ignored such efforts. People were afraid to speak about harmony
between sects and other faiths.”
The declaration states all citizens, regardless of religion
“have the constitutional right to live in the country following their cultural
and religious principles”. The government must “ensure the protection of the
life and property of non-Muslims living in Pakistan.” Murder in the name
of religion “is contrary to the teachings of Islam”.
The clerics affirmed the right for religious groups to meet
and organize and asks authorities to ban “any material (books, pamphlets,
audio) that incites religious hatred” and to punish anyone that threatens “the
sacred places of non-Muslims”.
The resolution also criticizes fatwas against public
servants.
The Pakistan Ulema Council plans to keep a check on
non-Islamic decrees beginning in late March. Over 5,000 religious scholars and
clerics will meet in Islamabad in March for “The 4th International
Message of Islam Conference”.
Radical Islamists killed two government officials who
defended Asia Bibi, and threatened to murder Pakistan justices who acquitted
Asia Bibi.
“Too many leaders – religious and government – fear
criticizing radical Islamists. This declaration is a step toward countering
Islamists’ murderous hatred and promoting respect and rights for Christians,”
said Wendy Wright.
This article was compiled from reports from Asia News,
Zenit and UCANews
___________________
To God be the Glory
Our Mission
The mission of Christian Freedom International is to help
Christians who are persecuted and suffering for their faith in Jesus Christ. We
are a non-denominational human rights organization providing real solutions to
conditions of oppression and misery caused by religious persecution. We reach
the part of the persecuted Church that is the most repressed, most at risk, and
most isolated. In areas of disaster, we provide immediate relief to Christians,
and their communities, who are ignored by conventional aid organizations.
It is our privilege to minister to the Persecuted through
Bible distribution, medical aid, resettlement assistance, advocacy, asylum
case-work, and aid to the disabled; to sponsor schools, vocational training,
and self-help initiatives; to provide these services at no charge by CFI staff
and volunteers. It is our goal to work together with Christians at home to ease
the burdens of our struggling brethren around the world.
Our History
Since 1998, Christian Freedom International has been on
the forefront in the battle for the rights of persecuted Christians around the
world. CFI has come to the aid of thousands of suffering men, women, and
children through the distribution of food, water, medicine, clothing, Bibles,
and other basic supplies in countries where persecution is most intense. CFI
has built field hospitals, schools in refugee camps, Bible Schools, and Centers
to aid disabled Christians. But CFI’s work is not limited to the distribution
of relief aid. Over the years, CFI has consistently remained active as a “voice
for the voiceless” in Washington, DC, providing political advocacy and
practical grassroots action on behalf of the millions of Christians who
routinely suffer for their faith.
CFI Logo
The CFI logo is of a lone CFI Backpack medic delivering
aid to Christians in the war-zones of Burma. In 1998, CFI pioneered the
backpack medic program and the lifesaving work has continued ever since.
No comments:
Post a Comment