Muslim police state
Two years ago the Government of Pakistan enacted a so-called "anti-blasphemy law," that was intended to ensure that noone makes any negative or insulting remarks about the prophet Muhammed or Islam, as they consider was done in Europe. It was made a capital offense to do so! In theory this law applies to any religion recognized by the State, but in practice the law has gradually become the basis of what amounts to a Muslim police state. Such a law is in conformity with Muslim sharia law.
Not only is it impossible to say anything about Islam without fearing being accused of blasphemy, but these laws have been used to settle scores between people who have had arguments or have political differences. For example, an argument between a Christian and a Muslim over financial matters is easily settled, the Muslim goes to the police and accuses the Christian of blasphemy. The Christian is arrested and jailed. Then there is a peremptory trial in which the Muslim's testimony is accepted over that of the Christian, and the Christian is executed! This has happened many times in Pakistan, and the few Christians that remain there are cowed and afraid. SImilarly, under sharia law the testimony of a Muslim is accepted over that of a Jew.
A Christian woman Asia Bibi (45) was accused of blasphemy against Islam, and was arrested, tried and sentenced to death. Two leading politicians supported her case and called for the annulment of these discriminatory laws. One was the only Christian Minister, the Minister of Minorities in the Government, Shahbaz Bahtti, and the other was the Governor of Punjab province, Shalman Taseer. Both were recently assassinated. The murderer of the Governor was his bodyguard, Mumtaz Qadri, who when he was arrested confessed that he killed the Governor because of his opposition to the blasphemy law.
Foreign journalists have found a situation of extreme fear in Pakistan. People will not talk about the blasphemy law for fear of being overheard talking to a foreigner about it. They will only do so in the privacy of their homes and under conditions of extreme secrecy. In fact, foreign journalists are also in extreme danger, since any questions about the blasphemy law can be interpreted as opposition to it and could lead to either arrest and/or attack. In Pakistan mobs do not stop to determine the legitimacy of any accusation regarding blasphemy, they assume any foreigner is automatically guilty of criticizing Mohammed and Islam. So Christians, those few that remain, are once again leaving Pakistan. If similar laws are promulgated in other Muslim countries, the possibility of civilized communication between Islam and the West, already greatly limited, will be precluded.
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Note: The killing of Osma bin Laden in Pakistan has just been announced by Pres. Obama. More on this later.
Not only is it impossible to say anything about Islam without fearing being accused of blasphemy, but these laws have been used to settle scores between people who have had arguments or have political differences. For example, an argument between a Christian and a Muslim over financial matters is easily settled, the Muslim goes to the police and accuses the Christian of blasphemy. The Christian is arrested and jailed. Then there is a peremptory trial in which the Muslim's testimony is accepted over that of the Christian, and the Christian is executed! This has happened many times in Pakistan, and the few Christians that remain there are cowed and afraid. SImilarly, under sharia law the testimony of a Muslim is accepted over that of a Jew.
A Christian woman Asia Bibi (45) was accused of blasphemy against Islam, and was arrested, tried and sentenced to death. Two leading politicians supported her case and called for the annulment of these discriminatory laws. One was the only Christian Minister, the Minister of Minorities in the Government, Shahbaz Bahtti, and the other was the Governor of Punjab province, Shalman Taseer. Both were recently assassinated. The murderer of the Governor was his bodyguard, Mumtaz Qadri, who when he was arrested confessed that he killed the Governor because of his opposition to the blasphemy law.
Foreign journalists have found a situation of extreme fear in Pakistan. People will not talk about the blasphemy law for fear of being overheard talking to a foreigner about it. They will only do so in the privacy of their homes and under conditions of extreme secrecy. In fact, foreign journalists are also in extreme danger, since any questions about the blasphemy law can be interpreted as opposition to it and could lead to either arrest and/or attack. In Pakistan mobs do not stop to determine the legitimacy of any accusation regarding blasphemy, they assume any foreigner is automatically guilty of criticizing Mohammed and Islam. So Christians, those few that remain, are once again leaving Pakistan. If similar laws are promulgated in other Muslim countries, the possibility of civilized communication between Islam and the West, already greatly limited, will be precluded.
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Note: The killing of Osma bin Laden in Pakistan has just been announced by Pres. Obama. More on this later.
posted by Jack Cohen at 6:42 PM
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