CAN Goes to London to Stand Against Islamic Anti-Blasphemy Laws

On March 3, 2012, the President of the Christian Action Network, Martin Mawyer, will be in London to stand with other leaders in condemning the anti-blasphemy laws in the Islamic world used to persecute non-Muslims, especially those who leave Islam. Mawyer was invited to speak by the British-Pakistani Christian Association at the Trafalgar Square Peace Concert.

The event is being held on the one-year anniversary of the murder of Shahbaz Bhatti, the only Christian member of Pakistan's Federal Government. He was killed after he publicly spoke out against the blasphemy laws of the country.

"Shahbaz Bhatti is a hero, whose extraordinary bravery cost him his life, but almost no one knows his name," said Mawyer.

CAN is working closely with other organizations to have resolutions against the blasphemy simultaneously introduced on March 2. So far, officials in the U.S., U.K., Canada, Ireland and the Netherlands are supporting potential resolutions. In the U.K., a motion will be read in the House of Commons by MP Andrew Stephenson.

"The purpose of the motion is to see peace delivered to the suffering Christians and other minorities of Pakistan during a pivotal year for Britain, when we carry the Olympic Torch of Peace," said Wilson Chowdhry, chairman of the British-Pakistani Christian Association.

The motion that will be read will make the case that the blasphemy laws directly violate freedom of speech and religion, specifically Articles 18 and 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It also will point out that taxpayer money from citizens in the West goes to Pakistan despite this oppression.

The Christian Action Network hopes to bring attention to the case of Asia Bibi, a Pakistani mother who converted to Christianity from Islam and has been sentenced to death. She has already been in prison for two years for allegedly criticizing Islam and its founders. The organization refers to her as "the Rosa Parks of the Islamic world."

Learn more about our protest and peace concert here:

http://britishpakistanichristian.blogspot.com/2011/11/protest-march-and-trafalgar-square.html