Jude Julius another victim of Pakistan's blasphemy law

 

 

 We have received this personal account of a blasphemy law attack and post it prima facie:

 

 I am Jude Julius and am born in a catholic christian family in Karachi Pakistan, and now along with my friend (Brian Nadeem) who tried to help me are charged 

under a false blasphemy case on accusation of burning pages of Holy Quran without any investigation of high ranking police officer on January 19, 2011, in Korangi Industrial Area 

Karachi province of Sindh Pakistan,

I Jude Julius aged 32, was a factory worker, I was working at Usmania Paper Mill PLOT NO 32 SECTOR 27 KORANGI INDUSTRIAL AREA, Karachi in packing department,  

with other Muslims in paper factory to finish packing, after finishing work my supervisor  asked me to collect the trash and set it on fire you are well aware that Muslims feel 

ashamed to touch any sort of trash or garbage  and leave such jobs on us Christians to do ,that’s why I was forced to collect trash and clean the workplace, 

when I was burning papers and hardboards the factory owner Mohammad Qudus arrived and saw some pages in Arabic language were in fire, Mohammad Qudus instead of 

 

blaming other Muslim laborers accused me of defiling Holy Quran and started beating me my other Muslim workers also joined Mohammad Qudus on beating me and started 

 

shouting that Jude is a blasphemer on which other Muslim laborers came out of the factory and attacked me, I begged  that I never realized what I was burning but they were not

 

ready to know or  investigate that what other Muslim workers were doing at that time and why they did not took out pages of Holy Quran from trash,but some how I managed to 

 

escape the angry Muslim mob,but  could not return back to home as I was aware that they will torture or may be even kill me,so I went to one of my christian friend Brian Nadeems 

 

home in Korangi Industrial Area but one of the muslim worker knew about my friends home so the very next day they came to the area where I was hiding in my friends home,

 

and then gathered the Imam & other Muslim of the area and started shouting that a Christian has committed act of blasphemy by intentionally burning pages of Holy Quran and is 

 

hiding in his friend Brians home and then Muslims of the area gathered they entered my friends home and beat me and rahil almost to death his family tried to help but they were helpless 

 

in front of them his family kept  asking why are you beating them ? they were shouting that they I and my friend  is also a blashmer because he tried to protect a blashmer,  

 

when the area police was going to arrive they they left us tortured and bloodied Brians family took both of us to the near by hospital they broke my right leg and hurt my eye,

 

and Brians both hands and left leg is broken,and then in the evening Brians father came to the hospital and informed us that that he fears that the Muslims of the area are very furious and 

that he has heard that they are coming again towards to the hospital to attack us but somehow both of us managed to leave the hospital and save our lives,and then with the help of a 

 

local priest we contacted human rights organization and after investigating the case they came to know that my elder brother Mr. Trevor Clive and his family are also facing a Blasphemy 

 

case against them in Pakistan due to which they had to flee from Pakistan to save their lives and they are also wanted by police in a Blasphemy case against them and now on pressure 

 

of the factory owner angry Muslims of the area and relatives of factory owner have announced Fatwa against us and they have also registered a false Blasphemy case against us in 

 

police station of Korangi Industrial area Sindh Karachi and we fear that if we are arrested or produced before city Magistrate for police remand we will face anger of Muslims 

 

and assault in courthouse or even be killed as there have been many broad daylight incidents of murder  in Pakistan with Christians accused of Blasphemy, now we are 

hiding in the premises of a church but now the priest is being transferred to another city so he says its difficult for us to stay here, also the human rights organizaton are trying to 

help us to leave Pakistan as we cant stay in this country anymore so please pray for us.

please remember us in prayers it is the only way we can be saved.

Live in peace

Jude Julius 

PAKISTAN Paul Bhatti: minority social reawakening in the name of Shabbaz - Asia News

Rome (AsiaNews) - Persecuted religious minorities and communities saw in Shahbaz Bhatti a "leader willing to protect them", a "courageous and determined" politician who found in the "Christian faith" the strength to meet challenges. This is how Paul Bhatti remembers his brother, Minority Affairs minister, a Catholic, who was killed on 2 March 2011 by extremists. 

A year after his death, AsiaNews has interviewed his brother who is perpetuating Shabbaz's political and spiritual legacy. As special adviser to Prime Minister Gilani on minority affairs, "I am trying to fill a void," Paul said. Initially, he took on the task with "concern" followed by awareness and determination.


Pakistan's various communities-Christians, Muslims, Hindus, etc-are getting ready to honour Shabbaz's memory with Masses, a torchlight procession and prayer vigils on 2 March and with an important political and interfaith conference on 6 March, in the capital.
Here is the interview Paul Bhatti (pictured with Benedict XVI and the imam of Lahore) gave AsiaNews:


Paul Bhatti, what is Shabbaz's legacy?
My brother left a big void that I am trying to fill. People feel the lack of a leader, someone who can protect them. Minorities that they could on his protection. They knew that he would act in case of discrimination and injustice at the national and international level. He was a great presence and support. With his death, the community felt abandoned, rudderless. We have tried to pick up from where he left off to continue his mission. Personally, I am happy to do it. At the beginning, I did not think I could and I was very concerned. Now, concerns are slowly fading away and I am increasingly aware of the importance of this vocation.

A year later, is his memory still alive?
Yes. I feel it at all levels, political, social and institutional. He had a special personality. He was popular, not only among Christians but also among Muslims and Hindus. Wherever I go, people remember him fondly and sorely miss him. They talk about him as someone worthy of "honour and respect". For this reason, we have organised a series of events to honour his memory the best we can. On 2 March, Christian communities across Pakistan will celebrate Masses and prayers in the country's churches. In addition, on the morning of the anniversary, there will be a Mass, followed by a prayer on his tomb in his birthplace of Khushpur (Punjab). In the evening, there will be a torchlight procession and a prayer in Islamabad where he was killed. On 6 March, also in the capital, we have a conference with the participation of President Zardari, Prime Minister Gilani, cabinet ministers, foreign diplomats and important Christian, Muslim and Hindu religious dignitaries, as well as representatives of other religious minorities. I can confirm that the Muslim community will participate actively in celebrating Shabbaz.
There is still a lot of confusion in the investigation.


We believe that this act was the work of extremists and terrorist organisations. For years, Shahbaz had been threatened by organisations that have complex structures and professional killers hired to murder, who can terrorise judges so that they will not convict them. Benazir Bhutto's assassination is also unsolved and the real culprits are still at large. The issue is very complex, but we continue to work for peace in Pakistan and the protection of the oppressed.

What memories do you have of your brother?
I will always remember his serenity and tolerance even after many disappointments and acts of discrimination, his courage and determination, his tireless desire to work and his incredible energy. More specifically, I remember that the Christian faith was a source of strength and help in his mission. He had the capacity of convincing even the more stubborn person. For this reason, we set up a foundation that bears his name and carry on his ideals.

What objectives motivate the Shababz Bhatti Foundation?
We want to fight poverty, promote education and contribute to interfaith dialogue. For these initiatives, we have the support of certain organisations and associations. A vocational school bearing his name is in the works, so is a great university that will guarantee minority students access to education. It will be an opportunity for development and high-level education.
Why is education important?


The country can advance only through education. This is one of our ideals and goals. We are trying to launch Bangladesh-style micro-credits to help Christians and other communities start up small businesses and promote self-employment. For this reason, we call upon the international community to support our initiatives and contribute to education and development, economic growth and interfaith dialogue. We want to promote for man's dignity, and are asking for help from Christians around the world.
Finally, a thought about Asia Bibi. Shabbaz died a "martyr" for defending her . . .


We are waiting for the appeal ruling. The sooner it comes, the better. In the past, we have not been able to defend her, as we would have liked because of the anti-Bibi campaign promoted by extremists who are responsible for my brother's fate. For this reason, we have tried to defuse tensions working behind the scene in order to arrive at a sentence at the best moment. Our hope is that she will be released and expect all the protection the case deserves. Without too much fanfare or show, we want to work in silence.

Exciting new Website for BPCA 10th March 2012 Protest and Concert

A new and dynamic website has just gone live, one designed to make it easy to promote and share our March and Concert on March 10th.

Go to www.h4pc.com - check it out and pass it on. Under the 'spread the word' section, there are posters and flyers you can print out to put on church noticeboards, fliers you can hand out, and letters you can use as templates to promote the event to MP's, church leaders and groups, as well as those from other faiths. We encourage you to use them, and point people to this website. Most pages have buttons that you can press to share it on multiple social works, especially Facebook and Twitter. Please use them!

We are aware that, inevitably, there are a few broken links, and things that don't work. We will be working on them asap, but if you find something that needs fixed please email Nasarani.

Ireland - Church in Chains Topical Issue to be discussed just after Anniversary of Shahbaz Bhatti's Martyrdom

David Turner from Church in Chains confirms date of 6th March for the collaborative attempt for Global Parliamentary debate on Pakistan to honour Shahbaz Bhatti:

Hi Wilson,

Glad to hear of involvement of Canada, Holland and USA as well as UK.

The procedure for Topical Issues in the Dáil (Irish parliament) is that any member can submit a  topical issue to the Ceann  Comhairle (Speaker) on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday. Typically, at least 20 issues are submitted. The Ceann Comhairle then selects 4 topics for discussion on the floor of the Dáil. We are aiming for Tuesday 6 March (the first sitting day after the anniversary of Shabhaz’s killing).

Attached is a copy of the text that we’ve suggested to our TDs.

In fellowship,

David

TOPICAL ISSUE

The need for reform of the blasphemy law in Pakistan

To be submitted on Tuesday 6 March

This is the first sitting day of the Dáil since the first anniversary of the murder of Shabhaz Bhatti, Pakistani Federal Minister for Minorities, on 2 March 2011. Minister Bhatti was a brave man, an outspoken critic of the misuse of Pakistan’s blasphemy laws and a courageous advocate of reform.

Shabhaz Bhatti, like Governor Salman Taseer who was murdered in January 2011, had been a prominent supporter of Asia Bibi, the Christian mother of five sentenced to death under the blasphemy law in November 2010 and who remains in solitary confinement (for her own safety) in a Pakistani jail as she waits for her appeal to be heard.

I would like the House to mark the anniversary by the reiterating our support for Articles 18 and 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which acknowledge the rights of freedom of religion and freedom of speech.

I consider that recognition of a crime of blasphemy offends the basic human rights of freedom of religion and speech and believe that all governments have a duty to protect their citizens from violent religious extremists – and, indeed, to protect their own officials who support freedom of religion, such as the assassinated Shabhaz Bhatti and Salman Taseer.

I urge the Minister to call on the government of Pakistan to reform its blasphemy law, in line with the proposals brought by Minister Bhatti.

Cardinal pays tribute to “a truly remarkable hero”

Cardinal Keith Patrick O'Brien sends send message to be read at BPCA protest and peace concert via Aid to the Church in Need.

By John Pontifex Aid to the Church in Need:

SCOTLAND’S top Catholic prelate has paid a moving tribute to murdered Pakistan politician and human rights campaigner Shahbaz Bhatti – calling on people to take up his cause in defence of religious freedom.

Cardinal Keith Patrick O’Brien, the Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh, made the comments in a message which will be read out at a peace concert and rally in London on Saturday 10^th March, commemorating the first anniversary of Mr Bhatti’s death.

In his message the cardinal praised Mr Bhatti’s human rights work and drew attention to the Pope’s admiration for his commitment to social justice. He said: “Shahbaz Bhatti was a truly remarkable hero whose legacy must live on in our own lives.

“The call of religious freedom was one he made his own and anyone who cares about the dignity of the human person will listen to his words.” He also said: 

 “Pope Benedict XVI has paid tribute to what he described as Shahbaz Bhatti’s ‘untiring battle for the rights of minorities [that] ended in his tragic death’.”

Mr Bhatti, Pakistan’s first federal minister for minority affairs, was shot dead while travelling to work in Islamabad. The cabinet-rank politician and Catholic was killed after campaigning on behalf of Asia Bibi, Pakistan’s first woman to be sentenced to death under the blasphemy laws.

In his message, the cardinal drew attention to the last interview Mr Bhatti made before his death, in which he spoke of the death threats he had received for campaigning against the blasphemy laws and about his own faith.

Mr Bhatti said: “I want to share that I believe in Jesus Christ, who has given his own life for us. I know what is the meaning of [the] cross, and I am following the cross, and I am ready to die for a cause.”

Reflecting on his words, Cardinal O’Brien said: “His witness is a remarkable one that has lessons for us all.

“First of all, he embraces the cross – the centre of the Christian Faith – and he was faithful to the example of Jesus Christ, following in his steps. Secondly he is prepared to live out that faith, standing up not just for the Christian community but for all religious minorities who experience persecution on the pretext of blasphemy.”

Cardinal O’Brien has spoken out frequently in defence of religious freedom, drawing on his travels to many parts of the world where Christians are oppressed and persecuted.

He highlighted the plight of Christians in Pakistan at the March 2011 launch of Persecuted and Forgotten? A Report on Christians oppressed for their Faith, produced by Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need.

The March 10^th peace rally and concert commemorating the life and work of Mr Bhatti – where the cardinal’s statement will be read out – will call for changes to Pakistan’s blasphemy laws, which impose sentences including execution and life imprisonment for offences against Islam.

The peace rally, organised by the British Pakistani Christian Association in conjunction Aid to the Church in Need and others, will start at 11am with a protest outside the Pakistan High Commission, Lowndes Square, London.

Following the submission of a petition to 10 Downing Street at 2pm there will be a concert in Trafalgar Square starting at 3pm.

Further details on the protest can be found by clicking the link below:

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

Christian teacher accused of blasphemy in Lahore

On 23rd February 2012, A mob stormed the school where Saira Khokhar teaches in an attempt to abduct her after she was accused of burning a copy of the Qur'an. 


 Little is known of the affair, but police had to take the woman into custody even though no formal charges have yet been laid. Paul Bhatti and other Christian activists have come to her defence.  Jibran Khan for Asia News wrote;


Lahore (AsiaNews) - After Asia Bibi, another Christian woman has been targeted by Muslim fundamentalists because of allegations of blasphemy. Saira Khokhar, who teaches at the City Foundation School in Lahore, is accused of burning a copy of the Qur'an. However, the case is still shrouded in mystery.
Police took Ms Khokhar into custody and launched an informal investigation. No First Information Report (FIR) has been filed yet, but Christian activists and organisation along with the special adviser to the prime minister on minority affairs, Paul Bhatti, are closely monitoring developments to ensure her safety and rights.

Local sources told AsiaNews that at 9 am a mob from a village not far from the school burst into the building accusing Saira Khokhar of burning Islam's holy book. The school is run by a Christian NGO, City Foundation. The attackers seized the woman but police prevented them from taking her away.
The local police chief took the Christian teacher into custody to examine whether the case warranted a First Information Report.

If you are appalled by this story join our protest and peace concert 10th March 2012:

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

Yet another 'blasphemy' mob riot, Christian woman arrested

We received the following report from Pakistan, from Peter Bhatti.

Dear friends,

International Christian Voice strongly condemns the blasphemy allegations against a Christian woman named Saira Khokar in Lahore. Saira Khokhar is the principal of City Foundation school in the village of Rorhan wala, lidhar pind near Lahore. Today, on Feb. 23, 2012, when she went to school, a few local people accused her of tearing the Quran. She denied and the accusers got really upset and called some more local people to join them and in minutes there was a heavy mob outside the school. They were chanting against Saira and they stoned the building.


Najami Saleem APMA MPA from Punjab received the news and reached there immediately along with other APMA workers. They tried to calm the mob but they started firing outside the school. At that, the police arrived and took Saira to the local police station. Mobs followed her to the Police Station and were demanding that she be handed over to them.

Najmi Saleem contacted Dr. Paul Bhatti Chairman APMA and Advisor to Prime Minister on interfaith and harmony and briefed him on the situation. Dr. Paul contacted the Prime Minister immediately and urged him to take necessary actions for the safety of Saira. Prime Minister Gilani contacted Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif and asked him to ensure the safety of Saira.

We are thankful to the Prime Minister of Pakistan Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, the chief Minister of Punjab Shahbaz Sharif, the advisor to the Prime Minister on interfaith and harmony Dr. Paul Bhatti, MPA from Punjab Najami Saleem and other APMA members for intervening in this matter, and saving the life of Saira Khokhar and her family.

Please pray for the Christians and other religious minorities of Pakistan. May God continue to protect them from such incidents which they encounter on a daily basis. May they be able to live in their country without fear and any type of discrimination.

No Shanti in Shanti Nagar - Asian Sunday revisits the infamous attack!

An Article from this weekend's Asian Sunday revisits the persecution event at Shant Nagar and highlights the ongoing extremism in Pakistan.

Read the full article by clicking on the image above to enlarge or simply flick to page 26 using the link below:

http://content.yudu.com/Library/A1vos6/AsianSundayNewspaper/resources/index.htm?referrerUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fl.php%3Fu%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fcontent.yudu.com%252FLibrary%252FA1vos6%252FAsianSundayNewspaper%252F%26h%3DiAQGWX3fOAQHAO0Zzta0j4wWDi9OBpbXgEkUoMZ6yc8iVGw

Why Did God Let Paul Become a Murderer?

This article is encouraging because it reveals God whose thoughts are totally above ours. He allows evil to happen to His children but He is also able to convert the most evil person on the face of this earth. As He reminds us in the bible in Romans 3:23:"All have sinned  and fall short of the glory of God."

by John Piper | February 21, 2012

We know that before Paul was born God had set him apart for his apostleship.

He who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles. (Galatians 1:15–16).

And we know that Paul became a Christian-hating (Acts 9:1), Christ-persecuting (Acts 9:5), zealot (Philippians 3:6; Galatians 1:14) before  he was converted. Forever after he would call himself “the chief of sinners” because of these wicked days (1 Timothy 1:15; 1 Corinthians 15:9).
We also know that God broke into Paul’s life dramatically and decisively to bring him to faith (Acts 9:3–19). Which means that he could have planned the Damascus Road encounter before Paul imprisoned and murdered Christians. But he didn’t.
His purpose, therefore, was to allow Paul to become the “chief of sinners” and then save him, and make him the apostle who would write thirteen books of the New Testament.
Why? Why do it this way? Why choose him before birth to be an apostle? Then let him sink into wicked and violent opposition to Christ? And then save him dramatically and decisively on the Damascus road? Why.
Here are six reasons. The first two are explicit in the biblical text. The last four are clear inferences from the first two. God did it this way…

1. To put the perfect patience of Christ on display.

“I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience.” (1 Timothy 1:16)

2. To encourage those who think they are too sinful to have hope.

“I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.” (1 Timothy 1:16)

3. To show that God saves hardened haters of Christ, who have even murdered Christians.
4. To show that God permits his much-loved elect to sink into flagrant wickedness.
5. To show that God can make the chief of sinners the chief of missionaries.
6. To show a powerless, persecuted, marginalized church that they can triumph by the supernatural conversion of their most powerful foes.

Shahbaz Bhatti one year after his brutal Assassination, what to make of his sacrificial life and the treatment of minorities in Pakistan.

Lord Alton has sent us this revealing article:

On March 2^nd, 2011, aged 42, Clement Shahbaz Bhatti, Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Minorities, was brutally murdered. His assassination not only robbed Pakistan’s National Assembly of a dedicated, honest, and able politician but his death also threw into sharp relief the plight of Pakistan’s minorities, whose fearless champion he had become.  

On this, the first anniversary of his killing – and after the detention, this week, in Dubai of a possible suspect involved in the murder - it is worth reflecting on the life of this singularly virtuous man while considering the continuing suffering of the people on whose behalf he sacrificed his life.  


One of five children, Bhatti was born in 1968 in Lahore to Catholic parents. They originated from a village near Faisalabad. His father, Jacob, after army service, became a teacher and then chairman of the board of the churches in Khushpur. The family were observant Catholics whose faith was central to their identity and lives.   


Unsurprisingly, as he was growing up, Bhatti   became acutely aware of what it was like to stand out as different.


In a population of over 172 million people, only about 1.5% (3 million) is Christians (half Catholic, half Protestant).


In part, the Catholic Church has its roots in the Irish presence within the British Army during colonial rule and the significant Goan community which the British established in Karachi.


There are other minorities: in 2011 the Pakistan Hindu Council put the number of Hindus at some 7 million people. Pakistan’s cruelly treated Ahmadiyya community is 4 million strong. There are also small numbers of Sikhs, Buddhists, Bahais and Zoroastrians – all of whom have faced relentless violence and profound discrimination.  Along with those Muslims caught up in the sectarian violence between Sunni and Shi’a, the minorities have suffered grievously Terrorism and instability have led to over 35,000 deaths since 2003 and 2,522 fatalities in one recent six month period alone.


In 1947, at the time of partition, Muhammad Ali Jinnah gave a speech to the New Delhi Press Club, setting out the basis on which the new State of Pakistan was to be founded. In it, he forcefully defended the right of minorities to be protected and to have their beliefs respected:


“Minorities, to whichever community they may belong, will be safeguarded. Their religion, faith or belief will be secure. There will be no interference of any kind with their freedom of worship. They will have their protection with regard to their religion, faith, their life and their culture. They will be, in all respects, the citizens of Pakistan without any distinction of caste and creed.”


These words became a forgotten aspiration when, in 1956, Pakistan became an Islamic Republic – although, even then, the Constitution guaranteed equal citizenship to all its citizens and guaranteed freedom of religion. Notable Christians, such as Mr. Justice A.R.Cornelius became Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and others became celebrated members of the Pakistan Air Force and the professions.


But, as Bhatti was growing up a campaign of discrimination, intimidation and violence against the country’s Christian minorities had begun to disfigure the ideals of Muhammad Ali Jinnah and by the 1990s attacks had become routine. The world slowly began to wake up to the enormity of the suffering when, in 1998, Bishop John Joseph, the Catholic bishop of Faisalabad, shockingly, as a protest against the cruelty perpetrated against his flock, took his own life. 


Following Bishop Joseph’s suicide, Shahbaz Bhatti founded the All Pakistan Minorities Alliance and in 2002 was unanimously elected as APMA’s chairman. In the same year he became a member of Benazir Bhutto’s Pakistan People’s Party. Although the authorities placed him on their Exit Control List his name was removed and, in 2008, he was both made a Minister and, remarkably, given Cabinet rank - the only Christian in Pakistan’s Cabinet.


At the time of his appointment, Bhatti singled out the country’s Blasphemy Law as the principal instrument which had been used to vexatiously prosecute and harass minorities. He said it should be amended and he proposed a law to ban hate speech, changes to the school curriculum, representation for minorities in government and parliament, and eight months before his death, a National Interfaith Consultation out of which the country’s religious leaders issued a declaration against terrorism.


 In doing all this, he knew that his outspokenness and singularity would make him a primary target for Pakistan’s radical Islamists and sensed the almost inevitable consequence of his courageous words and actions.  However, he said that his stand would “send a message of hope to the people living a life of disappointment, disillusionment and despair” adding that his life was dedicated to “the oppressed, the down-trodden and the marginalised” and to “the struggle for human equality, social justice, religious freedom and the empowerment of religious minorities’ communities.”


 Perhaps the greatest tragedy of Bhatti’s murder is that his countrymen overwhelmingly share his ideals.


In a survey of Pakistan opinion, 90% cited religious extremism as the greatest threat to their country. Presumably the overwhelming majority of the UK’s 1.2 million British citizens of Pakistani descent must also contrast the tolerance of their adopted home, and the protection which minorities receive, with the truly shocking intolerance of their homeland.


That Bhatti’s life would be in danger became very clear in January 2011 when the Governor of the Punjab, Salman Taseer, was murdered for seeking clemency for a Christian woman sentenced to death under the Blasphemy Laws. One year later, in Pakistan’s climate of impunity, demonstrators gathered to shower rose petals on his assassin.


Two months after Taseer’s death Shahbaz Bhatti would follow him to the grave.
On leaving his Islamabad home he was gunned down by self described Taliban assassins.  He had accurately predicted his own death – knowing that the cause he had embraced – Jinnah’s cause – would ultimately cost him his life. His murderers scattered pamphlets describing him as a “Christian infidel”. The leaflets were signed “Taliban al-Qaida Punjab.”


The Prime Minister, David Cameron, called the murder “absolutely brutal and unacceptable” but Cardinal Keith O’Brien sharply contrasted the rhetoric with the reality: "To increase aid to the Pakistan government when religious freedom is not upheld and those who speak up for religious freedom are gunned down is tantamount to an anti-Christian foreign policy."


At the beginning of this year, Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, Chairman of the Conservative Party, visited Pakistan and in the Lords told me that “ the assassinations of Salman Taseer and Shahbaz Bhatti were tragic for both Pakistan and the rest of the world. They were a personal tragedy for me because of my personal relationship with Shahbaz Bhatti.” She made a point of visiting the Catholic Archbishop of Karachi and said that the local Christian community “is doing well, despite its challenges”. She defended British aid to Pakistan – which can end up in the hands of radicals and rarely reaches the minorities.

Christians who are not “doing well” continue to face prosecution, discrimination, forced conversions to Islam, rape, and forced marriage. This denial of civil rights and the failure to protect minorities are all directly attributable to the rise of the Taliban and the failure of the civil and security forces.

Shahbaz Bhatti was a brave advocate of reform of the country’s Blasphemy Law. But he was more than this.
His was a sacrificial and exemplary life and his life was given for the common good.


 By definition, a martyr is a witness and an example to the Christian community of how to behave – and Bhatti was certainly a witness for truth and for justice. He stands in a long tradition – from Beckett to More, Kolbe to Romero – of men willing to sacrifice their lives as the price for upholding their beliefs.


After his death, in Bhatti’s diocese of Faisalabad, local Catholics fasted, prayed and processed, venerating his legacy. His bishop, Archbishop Saldanha of Lahore subsequently announced that the Pakistan Bishops Conference have written to Pope Benedict asking that Bhatti’s name be recognised as a name to be listed among the martyrs of the faith.

On the anniversary of Bhatti’s death recall the words of Pope Benedict last year: “I ask the Lord Jesus that the moving sacrifice of the life of the Pakistani minister Shahbaz Bhatti may arouse in people’s consciences the courage and commitment to defend the religious freedom of all men and, in this way, to promote their equal dignity.” 

Who better, then, to now raise to the altars and, in these disturbed and dangerous times, to entrust with the cause of religious freedom – for which there is no patron saint – than Shahbaz Bhatti? 

CHILLING MUSIC VIDEO.... OOBERFUSE SHOCKING TRIBUTE TO PAKISTAN MARTYR

A chilling and shocking music video will be released on 2^nd March 2012 to mark the 1^st anniversary of Pakistan’s Minister For Minorities, Shahbaz Bhatti’s, brutal and cold-blooded assassination at  the hands of militant Islamists. The video was created in association with the British Pakistani Christian Alliance (BPCA), to accompany London Band ooberfuse’s song Blood Cries Out, written specifically for a Trafalgar Square peace rally on 10^th March to commemorate Shahbaz’s life.

Hal, from ooberfuse says : ‘it is one thing to musically depict the conflicting emotions Shahbaz’s murder arouses. It is quite another to reflect these complex emotions in images and pictures. There is nothing very pretty about a car riddled with 80 bullets and a back-seat drenched in the blood of an innocent God-fearing man. The music video does not shy away from these shocking and chilling images.”

Cherrie, also from ooberfuse adds : “much of the filming was done from a bath tub. Part submerged in a blood-red fluid I sang the verses. The film-director’s idea was to visually portray a blood-bath.    Later on in the video all the characters, including children, turn to the camera as tears of blood stream from eyes down their cheeks. The images are intended to portray artistically the gruesome reality of martyrdom and in particular Shahbaz’s brutal assassination.’

Shahbaz’s neice, who lives in Canada, and is the first to see the video commented : ‘Thank you so much for making a song inspired by my uncle, it honestly means a lot to us, and it speaks so much truth...Wow, the video is incredible. Really moving...I am so touched and honoured by your love. May God bless you and ooberfuse to continue working for His glory.’

   

Blood Cries Out music video will be released 2nd March 2012 to coincide with the 1st anniversary of Shahbaz Bhatti’s assassination. The video can be previewed at :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABOIQfhyh1g

2nd March 2012 Memorials to Shahbaz Bhatti take your pick!

We are a ware of three memorials to assassinated Federal Minister of Minorities Shahbaz Bhatti  we list them for members who may wish to attend:

North England:

Prayer and Fasting For The persecuted Christians in Pakistan

All Welcome

Remembering those who have lost their lives, suffering persecution for their faith and also those who are in prison.

1.   Friday, 2^nd March, The Stations of the Cross (English) at 7 pm at Christ Church, Carr Road, Nelson

2.   Saturday, 3^rd March, Holy Rosary (English and Urdu) at 12pm, St. John Southworth, Vaughn street, Nelson

3. Sunday, 4^th March:

Memorial Mass for Shahbaz Bhatti Time: 3 pm at Christ Church, Carr Road, Nelson. BB9 7EN.

Mr. Ashiq Ghulam; 07707157119

Mr. Akmal Zahid: 07886235634

Mr. Vincent Masih 07515928288

Mr. Bernard Variyam 07739387986

London: 

Tribute to Martyred Shahbaz Bhatti 

Organised by Christian Social Link

6:00pm until 8:00pm

• HOLY TRINITY CHURCH PARK VIEW ROAD, SOUTHALL , MIDDLESEX UB1 3HJ ITALY: IL RICORDO DI SHAHBAZ BHATTI PRIMO ANNIVERSARIO DELLA MORTE DEL MINISTRO FEDERALE DELLE MINORANZE RELIGIOSE DEL PAKISTAN 2 marzo 2012 PONTIFICIA UNIVERSITÀ LATERANENSE PIAZZA S. GIOVANNI IN LATERANO, 4 00120 CITTÀ DEL VATICANO SALA PAOLO VI PROGRAMMA 15:00 Indirizzo di saluti S. E. Enrico Dal Covolo (Rettore Magnifico della Pontificia Università Lateranense) S. E. Tehmina Janjua (Ambasciatore del Pakistan presso l’Italia) Mint. Plen. Gabriele Checchia (Consigliere Diplomatico del Ministro della Difesa, già Inviato speciale per Pakistan/Afghanistan) 15:30 presiede Prof. Mons. Gianfranco Basti (Decano della Facoltà di Filosofia, PUL) S. E. Arcivescovo Mikhael al Jamil (Procuratore Patriarcale della Chiesa di Antiochia dei Siri presso la Santa Sede) On. Rocco Buttiglione (Vice-presidente della Camera dei Deputati) On. Luisa Capitanio Santolini (Presidente dell’Ass. Parlamentare Amici del Pakistan) On. Olga D’Antona (Camera dei Deputati) On. Renato Farina (Commissione Esteri della Camera dei Deputati) On. Massimo Polledri (Presidente Ass. di cooperazione internazionale Italia/Pakistan, ISIAMED) Don Federico Corrubolo (Parroco Dio Padre Misericordioso) Prof. Shahid Mobeen (Pontificia Università Lateranense) 17:00 conclude Dott.ssa Francesca Milano (autrice e giornalista de Il Sole 24 ore

Bangladeshi Christian Girl kidnapped, raped and forced into Islamic Marriage!

Bangladesh Minority Watch (BDMW) received an appeal submitted by destitute father and mother of victim girl - Ms.Priya Das requesting us to accord legal assistance for rescue of their daughter from the Muslim perpetrators who was admittedly kidnapped on 24.03.2011 while Ms. Priya was going to attend her classes at about 13.00 hours at Bakalia Government Laboratory School -Chittagong.

Md. Al-Farhad @ Jonny, son of A.K.M. Fazlul Hoque residing at K.B. Aman Ali Road,Chittgagong kidnapped Ms.Priya Das (14) student of Class VI. on 24.03.2011. Md. Al-Farhat forcefully married her and converted her to Islam.

Mr. Mridul Kanti Das - father of victim lodged first information report (FIR) at Bakalia Police station at Chittagong on 26.03.2011 against 1) Al-Farhad (Jonny) son of A.K. Fazlull Hoque of K.B. Amlan Ali road, College Gate, Saleh Monjeel, Chittagong. As per FIR lodged it is alleged that while Ms.Priya Das used to attend her classes every day this accused Al-Farhad Jonny usued to eve-tease their daughter.

1. Name of Victim :  Ms. Priya Das (14) student of Class VI

2. Name of father :  Mr. Mridul Kanti Das

3. Name of mother : Mrs. Bilashi Rani Das

3. Date of birth of victim : 26.10.1997

4. Date of kidnapping : 24.03.2011 at about 13.00 hours.

5. Name of perpetrator : Al-Farhad @ Jonny son of A.K.M. Fazlul Karim

6. Religion of the victim : Hindu

7. Permanent Address of the victim : Village and P.O. : Bailtali, Union 21, P.s. Chandanaish, District : Chittagong.

As soon as the case started against this perpetrator (Bakolia P.S. Case Number - 22 dated 24.03.2011 ) Police arrested the perpetrator and recovered the victim girl, but at that time the victim girl was repeatedly raped by Md. Al-Farhad and became pregnant. As per medical report dated 30.06.2011 positive sign of sexual intercourse were present.

Mr.M.R.Al-Azad - Tribunal Judge by his judgment and order dated 27.10.2011 most illegally allowed custody of the minor girl to Mrs. Nasima Begum, mother of the perpetrator instead of giving custody to legal guardian - father and mother despite written application for custody was filed before the Tribunal.  The Tribunal Judge was of the opinion that as the minor is pregnant she might have custody of safer place. But the Tribunal Judge forgotten to realize that minor got father and mother who looked after and took care up to 14 years. 

Mr. Sharif Mostafa Karim- Tribunal Judge in Charge of Women and Children Repression Court-Chittagong also by another order dated 01.12.2011 most illegally granted bail of the perpetrator despite vehement protest  from the side of father and mother of the victim. Mr. Sharif Mostafa Karim was of the opinion that as the perpetrator has been in jail custody since long and the minor girl has been converted to Islam and the perpetrator should live with his wife - Ms.Priya Das.

Bangladesh Minority Watch (BDMW) on behalf of mother and father filed an appeal before the High Court Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh ( Criminal appeal Number 175 of 2012 and Criminal Revision No. 2478 of 2012) against the aforesaid orders of the Tribunal Judges made on 27.10.2011 and 01.12.2011.

Their Lordships Mr.Justice Sayed Mohammad Dastagir Hossain and Mr. Justice Govinda Chandra Thakur by their order dated 24.01.2012 directed Mrs.Nasima Begum to produce the victim girl before the High court on 14.02.2012. As per order of the court Mrs. Nasima Begum produced the victim girl along with a baby of two months for consideration. But the Division Bench of the High Court retained custody of the victim girl along with baby in the possession of Mrs. Nasima Begum but cancelled the order of bail granted by Mr. Sharif Mostafa Karim and directed the accused Al-Farhad Jonny and directed him to surrender before the court.

As per order of the High Court Division the accused has not yet surrendered before the trial court.

As per Majority Act the minor can not give any consent as per law in BANGLADESH.

This is a critical situation as the minor Hindu victim gave birth to a child aged about 2 months. Bangladesh Minority Watch prayed for independent custody of the victim girl as well as the baby, but the High Court Division did not consider our prayer; rather allowed the father and mother of the victim to see their daughter at the house of perpetrator.

Bangladesh Minority Watch (BDMW) is expecting good judgments from the superior courts.

Muslim reformist condemns silence over minority persecution in Pakistan!

Guest speaker at our 10th March 2012 protest Kasim Hafeez a Muslim reformer has written a message of peace and hope for minorities suffering in Pakistan.  If you would like to hear more from him please attend our 10th March 2012 protest and peace concert:

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

To the Minorities of Pakistan,

Asalam o alikum, I'm writing today because although these are words, they carry intent and sorrow for the lack of action that has been taken in the 64 years by the Muslim majority for the miserable state you find yourself in Pakistan.

You fought shoulder to shoulder with Muslims for a sovereign state, you stood with our founder Muhammed Ali Jinnah, the great leader, as he went about creating a Muslim state he wanted you to be free to go to your temples, you churches or whatever be your place of worship, he envisaged a democratic, secular, forward thinking Muslim nation, and you fought for the dream, the white strip on the flag of Pakistan a testament to your contribution in the founding of a new nation, your nation making  a difficult choice and staying to build the new nation.  As Abdus Salam trail blazed in Science representing the Ahmeddiya community and bring Pakistan only noble prize and Cecil Chaudhry defending Pakistan's airspace from all enemies, fighter pilot, Pakistan and a Christian. You made your mark in all facets of society, you fought for Pakistan, bled for Pakistan and bestowed honour on Pakistan all over the world.

Yet when you needed us, when you needed the majority to stand by you and say no stop this madness, we did not show the steadfast loyalty to you as you had shown to the Muslim nation. When Hindus were openly discriminated against we remained silent for we fell for the conspiracies of them being agents of India. As we became intoxicated with the rhetoric of Bhutto, the elected dictator opened the door to the Islamist extremists, Islam becam star religion, you're electoral rights separated and the oppression of the Ahmedyas became law, the were no longer allowed to be called Muslim. The rot had gotten a whole lot worse but yet we did not raise our voices in support of you.

Then came Zia, and Islamicisation process, the gates thrown open to Whabbi imperialism, to crush Pakistan Sufi Islam and enforce the harsh extremist interpretation all over the land. Still we said nothing, washed away in religious fervour we turned on you, Hadood ordinances and the grand atrocity the blasphemy law, a tool to legally attack all religious minorities. Did we raise our hands in protest? Did we go these are our Pakistani brothers and sisters, the were there in 47 they stood and fought with us for Pakistan?.........no we remained silent, and today Hindu, Christian, Sikh and Ahmediya have become the victims of Pakistan, the same men who called for the slaughter of your communities are now the same men who direct children to blow themselves up in Karachi, who spill blood as a matter of course. And yet still we remain silent, the murders, the property seizures, the rapes and forced conversions and I can go on for volumes charting your suffering.

We closed our eyes and ears to your suffering and now all of Pakistan bleeds, we stayed silent to your suffering hoping the Saudi inspired death cult would leave us be, but now its clear, submit to their way or your life is forfeit.  We have failed you, for all you sacrifices for Pakistan, as the proudest Pakistanis we have not stood by you in these dark years, we have not fought for your rights, we have not kept Jinnah's promise. I don't speak for the Muslims community, I speak for myself, and I'm sorry, that we have not shown the loyalty to you my brothers and sisters as you have shown to Pakistan.  But I say this now, you are not alone, and your voice will be heard, this is not about religion or race, it's about right and wrong and you have been truly wronged.  The world ignores your cries, but no longer will I stay silent, as a Muslim, as someone of Pakistani origin and a human being, we must fight for your rights in every city till the world makes Pakistan's leaders listen.

Peace
A friend and brother

Blasphemous double standards, dirty drinks, discriminatory laws and lawyers

You've heard of Asia Bibi right? A poor Christian farm labourer from an obscure village, persecuted and attacked for her faith, then accused of blasphemy under the notorious 'Hudood code' blasphemy laws and sentenced to death. But have you heard of Aamir Liaquat? Not some obscure poor rural woman, but a religious scholar with his own TV show in Pakistan and a former State Minister for Religious Affairs. When videos emerged of outtakes from his show where he laughed at a woman caller who asked questions about rape and suicide, swore - a lot, and making comments deemed as blaspheming against the companions of Islam's prophet, he claimed that it was all a fake, a conspiracy, that the tapes had been tampered with. Eventually though, he made a tearful public repentance, and fellow religious scholars issued statements that his repentance complied with all sharia requirements. He got away scott free, and continued his show on TV, even though the same Hudood laws used to condemn to death the innocent Asia Bibi required a 3 year prison term and / or a fine for such an offence. Go figure. This exemplifies the reality of the situation in Pakistan.

Oh, what a wonderful law!

Talking of this set of laws, they also impose similar sentences on any of the Muslim Ahmadi sect (deemed as not really Muslims) who referred to themselves as Muslims, called their place of worship a mosque, etc, etc. To guage some idea of the hostility and religious equivalent to racism in Pakistan, we only need to look at a recent event where the Lahore Bar Association voted, apparently unanimously, to ban any 'Shezan' brand drinks in courts and prosecute anyone selling them on court premises. Why? Because they are produced by an Ahmadhi owned company. The lawyers plan to ban all other products from the same firm. Naturally the Ahmahdi lawyers and canteen owners are not happy.

The incident with Aasia Bibi started when she was deemed to have polluted water just by being a Christian, these drinks are banned by bigots just because they are made by Ahmahdi's - no doubt polluted too. Let's call this for what it is. The religious equivalent of racism and apartheid, and it is enforced and enabled by these wicked laws, laws that violate basic human rights and UN human rights declarations. It's time to take a stand. If you want to stand up for the rights of freedom of religion and speech in Pakistan for Christians and other minorities, come and join us on the morning of 10th of March to protest and petition outside the Pakistani embassy and 10 Downing Street, and join us to press for peace with music at our Peace Concert in Trafalgar Square in the afternoon.

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

Sources

http://tribune.com.pk/story/334757/barred-lawyers-ban-drink-on-court-complex/

http://kashifmd.com/2012/01/11/aamir-and-aasia-a-tale-of-two-blasphemies/