The NeoConservative Christian Right

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Leaders fear more violence against Christians

By Shamim Masih

Sent: 6/3/2013 2:03 PM

Lahore: Joseph Francis, International Director, CLAAS, said in a press conference here today that Pakistani Christians are in great fear to face more violence and torture during the next government of PML-N.

In the press conference at Lahore Press Club, Joseph Francis said that “we are afraid that during the PML-N rule, Pakistani Christians will face more violence as they have faced similar situation in the past during PML-N government. Gojra, Korian and Joseph Colony incidents were being planned by the fanatics and supported by PML-N leadership”, he alleged.

Talking to the media, Martin Javed Michel blamed that Joseph Colony incident was backed by PML-N leaders Malik Riaz, Chaudhry Shehbaz, Dr. Asad Ashraf, Ghazali Saleem Butt and Mushtaq Mughal and it was reported to the police as well. “But unfortunately, Premier Mian Nawaz Sharif and Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif have not taken any notice against them and the same leaders are in the ruling elite and will create more problems for Christians“. He said, “we are Pakistanis since our forefathers and have been faithful to the country but unluckily, since partition, we are being treated as second class citizen“. “If the situation remains same as it seems, then Pakistani Christians will be forced to leave the country as Hindu community left for India in the recent past“, he feared.

Joseph Francis, working for the victims for the last two decades has requested the foreign countries like Australia, Canada, America and European Union to open their gates for Pakistani Christians. He demanded the Christian countries to provide shelter for the Pakistani Christians as they are not safe in Pakistan. India opened their gates for Hindu fellows why can’t Christian counties do the same for Christians, he demanded. He demanded Chief Justice of Pakistan to form a Commission for fact finding of the Joseph Colony incident and culprits should be punished.

Be Blessed,

Shamim Masih

________________________

Intro: Leaders fear more violence against Christians

John R. Houk

© June 4, 2013

__________________________

Leaders fear more violence against Christians

Shamim Masih

Christian Rights Activist
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Posted in Christianity, Islamism, Persecution

Tags: Blasphemy Laws, Christian Persecution, CLAAS, Elections, Joseph Francis, Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan, PML-N, Refuge, Shamim Masih

No Compulsion of Religion in Islam – It’s Poppycock

May 18

Posted by oneway2day

John R. Houk

© May 18, 2013

Many a Muslim in defending the theopolitical cult of Islam will quote this phrase to emphasize the propaganda and false perception that Islam is peace: There is compulsion in religion.

The phrase is straight from the Quran which Muslims consider the infallible directs words of Allah passed onto Mohammed who then shared them with his adherents. It can be referenced as Quran 2:256 or as Al-Baqara 256.

Here are a few English translations of Quran 2:256:

Muhammad Asad

THERE SHALL BE no coercion in matters of faith. Distinct has now become the right way from [the way of] error: hence, he who rejects the powers of evil and believes in God has indeed taken hold of a support most unfailing, which shall never give way: for God is all-hearing, all-knowing.

Pickthall

There is no compulsion in religion. The right direction is henceforth distinct from error. And he who rejecteth false deities and believeth in Allah hath grasped a firm handhold which will never break. Allah is Hearer, Knower.

Al-Muntakhab

Compulsion is incompatible with religion, therefore let there be no compulsion in religion. Now the path of righteousness has been distinguished from the path of error and holiness distinguished from vindictiveness. Therefore, he who rejects false beliefs and turns his attention to Allah with a religious mind, will have firmly grasped the eternal, unchangeable and most secure handhold which shall never separate, nor shall it suffer a break, and Allah is Sami‘un and ‘Alimun.

** Read more translations from Islam Awakened

There are Muslim scholars of considerable weighty importance that have written the Quran 2:256 has been abrogated by Quran 9:29:

Sahih International: Fight those who do not believe in Allah or in the Last Day and who do not consider unlawful what Allah and His Messenger have made unlawful and who do not adopt the religion of truth from those who were given the Scripture – [fight] until they give the jizyah willingly while they are humbled.

Pickthall: Fight against such of those who have been given the Scripture as believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, and forbid not that which Allah hath forbidden by His messenger, and follow not the Religion of Truth, until they pay the tribute readily, being brought low.

Yusuf Ali: Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.

Shakir: Fight those who do not believe in Allah, nor in the latter day, nor do they prohibit what Allah and His Messenger have prohibited, nor follow the religion of truth, out of those who have been given the Book, until they pay the tax in acknowledgment of superiority and they are in a state of subjection.

Muhammad Sarwar: Fight against those People of the Book who have no faith in God or the Day of Judgment, who do not consider unlawful what God and His Messenger have made unlawful, and who do not believe in the true religion, until they humbly pay tax with their own hands.

Mohsin Khan: Fight against those who (1) believe not in Allah, (2) nor in the Last Day, (3) nor forbid that which has been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger (4) and those who acknowledge not the religion of truth (i.e. Islam) among the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians), until they pay the Jizyah with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.

Arberry: Fight those who believe not in God and the Last Day and do not forbid what God and His Messenger have forbidden — such men as practise not the religion of truth, being of those who have been given the Book — until they pay the tribute out of hand and have been humbled.

** From Quran Arabic Corpus

You can understand why many Muslim scholars claim Quran 9:29 abrogates (or nullifies) Quran 2:256’s “There is no compulsion in religion”. According to 9:29 Muslims are to fight non-believers in Islam and Mohammed’s version of the Last Day. The Last Day meaning all non-Muslims will be confined to the torments of hell. Thus if you believe in the Muslim way you are worthy of death. That sounds like compulsion to me!

Fascinatingly there are Muslim scholars that claim 9:29 does not abrogate 2:256. This Muslim thinking works something like this: The fight against unbelievers is not an invocation to kill but rather to submit to the Islamic theopolitical culture as subservient. A lack of subservience does mean brutal measures up to and including death. So thinking is not compelling one to convert to Islam but create a dhimmi class that pays the jizya tax (poll tax to stay alive) in humiliation so that the dhimmi knows their place in Muslim world. Breaking the dhimmi deal requires punish according to how Islam has been violated or insulted. Guess what the conquered people chose to do rather than suffer the humiliations of dhimmitude. If you guessed conversion to Islam you are the big winner!

In essence dhimmitude was the long term path to convince the conquered to convert to Islam. The plan might be long term but it still is compulsion in religion.

Here are some thoughts written more articulately on the issue of abrogation or non-abrogation of Quran 2:256 by Quran 9:29:

Immediately following is the famous statement that “there is no compulsion in religion” (v. 256). Islamic spokesmen in the West frequently quote it to disprove the contention that Islam spread by the sword, or even to claim that Islam is a religion of peace. According to an early Muslim, Mujahid ibn Jabr, this verse was abrogated by Qur’an 9:29, in which the Muslims are commanded to fight against the People of the Book. Others, however, according to the Islamic historian Tabari, say that 2:256 was never abrogated, but was revealed precisely in reference to the People of the Book. They are not to be forced to accept Islam, but may practice their religions as long as they pay the jizya (poll-tax) and “feel themselves subdued” (9:29).

Many see v. 256 as contradicting the Islamic imperative to wage jihad against unbelievers, but actually there is no contradiction because the aim of jihad is not the forced conversion of non-Muslims, but their subjugation within the Islamic social order. Says Asad: “All Islamic jurists (fuqahd’), without any exception, hold that forcible conversion is under all circumstances null and void, and that any attempt at coercing a non-believer to accept the faith of Islam is a grievous sin: a verdict which disposes of the widespread fallacy that Islam places before the unbelievers the alternative of ‘conversion or the sword.’” Quite so: the choice, as laid out by Muhammad himself, is conversion, subjugation as dhimmis, or the sword. Qutb accordingly denies that v. 256 contradicts the imperative to fight until “religion is for Allah” (v. 193), saying that “Islam has not used force to impose its beliefs.” Rather, jihad’s “main objective has been the establishment of a stable society in which all citizens, including followers of other religious creeds, may live in peace and security” – although not with equality of rights before the law, as 9:29 emphasizes. For Qutb, that “stable society” is the “Islamic social order,” the establishment of which is a chief objective of jihad.

In this light verses 256 and 193 go together without any trouble. Muslims must fight until “religion is for Allah,” but they don’t force anyone to accept Allah’s religion. They enforce subservience upon those who refuse to convert, such that many of them subsequently convert to Islam so as to escape the humiliating and discriminatory regulations of dhimmitude — but when they convert, they do so freely. Only at the end of the world will Jesus, the Prophet of Islam, return and Islamize the world, abolishing Christianity and thus the need for the jizya that is paid by the dhimmis. Then religion will be “for Allah,” and there will be no further need for jihad. (Excerpted from Blogging the Qur’an: Sura 2, “The Cow,” verses 222-286; By Robert Spencer; Hot Air; 7/15/07)

Now here is the reason I thought it important to understand the Islamic notion of there being no compulsion of religion. Raymond Ibrahim wrote a no holds barred expose on how Muslims indeed compelled Christians to convert or die throughout the centuries to this present day. Ibrahim describes some savage historical incidents in which Muslims butchered Christians for not converting to Islam. The essay is entitled “Islamic Forced Conversions — Past and Present”.

JRH 5/18/13

Posted in Islamism, Persecution, Terrorism

Tags: Christian Persecution, Dhimmitude, Forced Conversion, Islam, Quran, Raymond Ibrahim, Religion of Peace, Religion of Violence

Pakistan Blasphemy Laws Persecute Christians

Apr 30

Posted by oneway2day

John R. Houk

© April 30, 2013

I received an email from Shamim Masih regarding the Pakistani Christian Martha Bibi. She is scheduled for a court date in Lahore, Pakistan relating to – guess what? If you follow the persecution of Christians in Pakistan the answer is easy. Martha Bibi’s crime is blaspheming against Islam. Blasphemy is a death sentence in Pakistan. Blasphemy can be anything from insulting the religion of Islam, the prophet Mohammed, against Islam’s Allah, against the Quran and so on of ridiculous accusations that lead to a capital crime in Pakistan.

I had heard the name “Bibi” in one of the rare moments of the international press noticing how Muslims persecute Christians with often trumped up charges of Blasphemy. So when I went to double check on that name “Bibi” I discovered it was a different person from the news report from Shamim. The other person is Asia Bibi who has the notoriety of being the first woman convicted for a blasphemy charge with a sentence of death by hanging. Asia has been languishing in jail since November 2010 awaiting an appeal to be heard on her death sentence. I found out that Asia Bibi may get her day around the same time frame in Lahore, Pakistan as Martha Bibi.

There are a number of blasphemy legal issues facing Christians. Here are a few links that you probably will not see from Western MSM:

o PAKISTAN: YOUNIS MASIH AND MARTHA BIBI CASES IN COURT TODAY – February 27, 2013

o Prayers for blasphemy victim Christian women Asia and Martha Bibi in Bar Council – March 21, 2013

o Pakistan ‘Blasphemy’ Girl Facing Prison; Mother Death Sentence – March 23, 2013 (10:31 pm)

o Pakistan Overturns Death Sentence Of Christian; Younis Masih Released – April 3, 2013 (11:15 am)

Apparently many of the minority rights NGOs in Pakistan take turns using available money to provide legal aid to these persecuted Christians under Islamic Blasphemy Laws. Shamim points out that her current legal council is being handled by what Shamim calls World Vision in Pakistan or WVIP. I like to see what some of these NGOs do specifically because some of them may tend to slant to exploitation than actual legitimate help. I must interject that all the NGOs Shamim has been involved with appear to be on the legitimate side of the scale. Anyway, I could not find an NGO with the name World Vision in Pakistan. However, I did find an organization called World Vision in Progress (Foundation) using the same acronym WVIP. The NGO I found is focused on Pakistan so I am going to guess this is whom Shamim Masih is alluding.

Here is the email Shamim Masih has sent regarding Martha Bibi.

JRH 4/30/13

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WVIP to fight for the fate of Martha Bibi in Pakistani court

By Shamim Masih

Sent: 4/30/2013 10:23 AM

LAHORE (Shamim Masih): World Vision in Pakistan – WVIP has submitted the power of attorney in the court to defend Martha Bibi, accused of blasphemy case. A Pakistani court has fixed May 09, 2013 as the date of to hear the case of a Christian woman accused of blasphemy.

According to Lazar Allah Rakha, WVIP’s lawyer penal Salvance Jacob, Nadeem Hassan and Lazar Allah Rakha has filed the power of attorney to precede the case of Martha Bibi in Lahore today on 30^th April 2013.

Martha Bibi, 45, married with 6 children, accused of the blasphemy case and was arrested on January 22, 2007 under a blasphemy case registered on the application of a local Muslim, since then she is facing the trail court. Earlier CLAAS and LEAD family has been taking care of her case in the court.

She was arrested in early 2007 and later released from prison on bail, but the trial was pending in the Kasur session court. Her lawyer had moved an application for transference of her case to Lahore session court to avoid any misshape and Lahore High Court has accepted it and shifted it to Lahore court, said Allah Rakha.

The Christian human rights activist and lawyer said that WVIP has been extending “moral and financial support” to Martha and her family as well.

WVIP has urged Christian around the world to pray for “protection of Martha” and for “her deliverance from the blasphemy trial.”

Be Blessed,

Shamim Masih

______________________

Pakistan Blasphemy Laws Persecute Christians

John R. Houk

© April 30, 2013

_____________________

WVIP to fight for the fate of Martha Bibi in Pakistani

Christian Rights Activist
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Posted in Christianity, Persecution

Tags: Blasphemy Laws, Christian Persecution, Lahore High Court, Lazar Allah Rakha, Martha Bibi, Nadeem Hassan, Pakistan, Shamim Masih, WVIP

What are YOU Going to Do About Christians in Pakistan?

Mar 21

Posted by oneway2day

John R. Houk

© March 21, 2013

Shamim Masih writes this message that is dripping with the blood of helpless frustration for the lot of Christians in Muslim dominated Pakistan. Shamim’s description is that of the classic dhimmi status that non-Muslims must suffer through in Pakistan (and for that matter all Muslim dominated nations).

Shamim goes on to lament of the near ZERO support Western Christians provide Christian-Pakistanis when in fact Muslim NGOs and charities are flowing with cash via Western government programs. NONE of that aid flowing to Pakistan reaches Christian-Pakistanis.

At the very end of Shamim’s message he saves a sentence for Pastor Terry Jones and his supporters. For those who do not know who Pastor Terry Jones is; he is the person that has spearheaded such activities as International Burn the Quran Day, Trial of the Quran Day, promoted the sophomoric anti-Mohammed movie trailer Innocence of Muslims and various Counterjihad events. Jones is usually decried by Leftists, Conservatives and most Counterjihad writers all alike. Jones’ critics typically would name him as a Counterjihad activist but rather as an Anti-Islam bigoted activist.

Here is the thing though. I don’t care if Jones’ antics are viewed as bigotry because I view Islam as an Anti-Christ religion. On the other hand I understand Shamim’s criticism of Terry Jones as well. Jones has gotten a lot of national and international press attention even if that attention is disseminated by a Liberal Diversity Multicultural in a negative light. Jones’ attention eventually ends up on Muslim media. As you should know by now Islam wears its feelings like a chip on the shoulder and their religious leaders go nuts that a non-Muslim/kafir like Terry Jones would dare to insult their prophet, their Allah or their holiest book the Quran. They go so nuts that if they could they would grab Terry Jones and torture him with humiliation and chop his head off.

As Shamim Masih points out, in lieu of not murdering Terry Jones in humiliation, Muslims are stirred up to take out their wrath on whatever local Christians that can be found. AND that is the reason Shamim Masih mentions Terry Jones. The life of a dhimmi Christian in Pakistan is often similar to hell on earth. If one of us Christian-Americans were stuck in Pakistan during one of these death inflicting violent Islamic temper tantrums, you and I might think we missed the rapture and was stuck through the Tribulation.

AND SO if you are one that supports Terry Jones’ First Amendment Right to disrespect an Anti-Christ religion like Islam, we must consider the Christians stuck in dhimmi-like conditions in Muslim nations. We need to begin funneling money to Christian NGOs which often act as the only Human Rights organizations that put action to alleviating the second-class citizenship persecution that Christians receive on a regular basis in Pakistan (and for that matter all Muslim dominated nations).

Western support and I should say American support, is the point of Shamim Masih’s message I am posting below.

JRH 3/21/13

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Pakistani Christians and Western Interests

By Shamim Masih

Sent: 3/20/13 2:57 PM

ISLAMABAD PAKISTAN (SHAMIM MASIH): Its general perception among Pakistani Muslims that UN, USAID, British High Commission, American Embassy, Christian diplomats and other foreigners are helping Pakistani Christians, but the reality is different. Let me give you the actual situation.

On February 6, 1997, a religiously charged mob attacked village Shantinagar, district Khanewal in which about 800 houses including churches, hostels were torched. In November 2005, in Sangla Hill, about 100 Christian houses, schools, hostels, and Christian Clinic were burnt. On 1^st August 2009, Christians were attacked in Gujra and 8 persons of a family were burnt alive and about 130 houses were turned to ashes. On 30^th June, 2000, Christians were attacked in village Bahnamiwala, District Kasur in which about 102 houses were destroyed. On 21^st September, 2012, Church, school and Pastors residences were turned to ash. And more recently, on March 9, 2013, over 200 homes of the Christians community of Joseph Colony in Lahore were burnt.

Ironically none was punished under the law for such gory episode; these barbaric attacks have sent a grave message to the already marginalized Christians. The sense of insecurity has alarmingly grown beyond proportions. The blasphemy law has been repeatedly used for settling personal scores, religious persecution, professional rivalry and for land grabbling.

This is not the end; large numbers of Christians accused of Blasphemy cases getting their lives rusted in the jails for years and years and there is no future to their children or other family members.

I am freelance journalist, Christian by faith and a social activist working for a democratic, tolerant and progressive social order and for socio economic and political rights of religious minorities especially for the Christians of Pakistan. I have devotedly served in the field of human rights during the last decade and have been raising their issues, persecutions, and rights through my writings, without any support.

I feel very helpless and ashamed when I received phone calls and emails from Christians all around the country for help in employment, protection on threats from fundamentalists, help for their children educations etc but I can’t support them. I remain silent for hours on reading email/news of the blasphemy victims who are behind bars or acquitted from higher courts but living in hiding to save their lives. The news items of rape and enforced conversion of Christian women make me sad and silent. I went to Gojra and had travelled to Mardan, when the church burnt there and went to Karachi, when Ryan was accused of blasphemy case and have reported on Badami Bagh incident as well; I write for the people whom I have seen working on ground realities, for example, CLAAS has been working for years for the Christians persecution, WVIP is seen during the Ryan case and others as well, I have seen Sardar Mushtaq (chief of LEAD), working for persecution without any funds, Basharat Khokhar was seen during Rimsha case, and I appreciate his efforts in protecting her during the case proceedings and I have seen him struggling him for Christian rights, but there are so many other settling scores. I have seen the struggle of Albert David for unity among Pakistani Christians. I have seen Saleem Khokhar, sitting in provincial parliamentarian; he bears ground to earth personality. I am helpless when hear the reports of Muslim culprits of gang rape of Christian girls walking free from courts. (Even those were set free who killed Shahbaz Bhatti ex-minister).

Role of our churches, local and NGOs: It’s time to think twice that what NGOs under Christian supervision, Churches and political leadership are doing? Where all funds are going which Christian civil society, Churches have been receiving in the name of poor Christians. How many Christian institutions are facilitating Christian’s students? Why are Western governments denying visas to acquitted blasphemy victims? It caused me to think; is USAID for Muslims in Pakistan? When their slogan is “From the American People” is all American people sending for Muslims? If not, then why is the Christian youth not receiving (on the link scroll down to “Pakistan”) scholarships for education, funds for business, employment in their offices? Why there is no program for Christian youth? Why do Western Human Rights champions keep silent on rape and enforced conversion of Christian women? Why is it that a common Christian has no reach to embassies and if someone applies for visa, why is it refused, because, a poor Christian has no property and no strong background? Isn’t it? Why is UNO [United Nation Organization] silent on killing of Christians and the attacks on Christians worship places? A million Christians are crying in Pakistan against the blasphemy law, extrajudicial killings, wrongful confinements and discrimination but UNO remains silent.

It’s just an example: I worked for “People to People International” PTPI and didn’t receive even a single penny on the other hand a Muslim running a chapter “Punjab chapter” in Gujranwala Pakistan, have got thousands of dollars and have done nothing on the ground. He got visas dozens of times and has taken many Muslims with him to many countries dozens of times. I applied for a visa US in 2010 and was refused. Furthermore not only this visa denied but my “Islamabad Chapter” was revoked just because of the reason of the visa application. In all of the UN organization and USAID, there are 90% Muslims employed and 99% of them are Pathans.

No one dares to ask NGOs like ILAP [See Also HERE and HERE] governed under Christian supervision, how many Christian employees they have? No one bothers to pursue Christian institutions in Rawalpindi when they push out Christian students for not paying their fees. Are these institutions just for business purposes or is there any sense of security/realization for Christians students? How many Christian’s students are studying in Jesus and Mary Convent in Islamabad/Rawalpindi Pakistan? We don’t have the right to ask our Christian politicians what they have done for Pakistani Christians. These Christian politicians were selected ones and their selection didn’t come in through Christian votes but rather through paying huge funds (collected in poor Christians name) to Muslims Parties. This practice of [buying political positions] is still going on……. They are too many Christians looking for a gateway through paying funds to Muslim political parties.

Pakistani media normally do not highlight Christians’ issues. This is why there is no powerful electronic and print media for their rights. We don’t have a platform to print or give stories about the oppressed and persecuted Pakistani Christians. I usually write for the oppressed and persecuted Pakistani Christians and I am thankful to the Pakistan Christian Post, Salem-News, ANS, Global Christian Voice, John Houk, and Wilson Chaudhry, taking the pain for Pakistani Christians and they are highlighting their stories/issues.

During my writing work, I have been receiving threats from Muslims but I am also being hit by the people sent by imported so-called Christian Politicians, who have delivered nothing yet wanted to stop me from writing the facts.

It is observed during the said time period that all these institutions have their vested interests. It could be political, geographical, or whatsoever it is, but not for Pakistani Christians.

This is less a criticism and more an appeal to all Human Rights organizations to take notice of incidents of victimization of Christians and support them. Because when your “American” Terry Jones burns a Quran, you don’t suffer but we Pakistani Christians do.

Be Blessed,

Shamim Masih

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What are YOU Going to Do About Christians in Pakistan?

John R. Houk

© March 21, 2013

____________________________

Pakistani Christians and Western Interests

Edited by John R. Houk

Links added by Editor and brackets indicate an editorial guess for clarification

Shamim Masih

Christian Rights Activist
Freelance Journalist

President

REAP
Public Affairs coordinator

Shamim Masih’s Donate/Support info:

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Posted in Christian Politics, Christianity, Islamism, Persecution

Tags: Blasphemy Laws, Christian Organizations, Christian Persecution, Dhimmitude, Expose Islam, Human Rights, Islamic Supremacism, NGOs, Pakistan, Poor Christians, Rich Christians, Shamim Masih, Terry Jones, UN

Apex Court Proceeding Today

Mar 19

Posted by oneway2day

Shamim Masih (right) – Chaman Masih (center) father to Sawan

Shamim Masih has an update relating to what Pakistan Authorities are doing about the Joseph Colony pillaging by Muslims committed to Islamic Supremacism.

JRH 3/19/13

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Apex Court Proceeding Today

C J said that police had failed to protect the “property and dignity” of the Christians of Joseph Colony

By Shamim Masih

Sent: 3/18/2013 8:39 AM

ISLAMABAD PAKISTAN (Shamim Masih): The Supreme Court on Monday- three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry – declared that police had failed to protect the property and dignity of the Christians of the Joseph Colony, Lahore although no life was lost in the incident.

A three member bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice (CJ) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry heard the case over the arson attack on the Christians of Joseph Colony, Badami Bagh, Lahore. The CJ said that Punjab Police had failed to conduct an honest, thorough investigation into the Badami Bagh incident in which over 178 houses were ransacked and set alight by a charged mob over an alleged blasphemy incident.

The Court adjourned the hearing until March 25, 2013 on assurance by new CCPO Lahore Muhammad Amlish, who vowed before the bench that he would dig the truth. Earlier the Court rejected the report on the incident.

This is the very first time in the Pakistani history that the Supreme Court expressed deep frustration and anguish. CJ expressed the intention to take over the investigation. CJ was shocked and remarked over the contents of the FIR read out by the SSP investigation, he said, “it seems that the Courts will have to take charge of investigation too.”

Justice Gulzar Ahmad said, the incident has caused an element of trauma that will keep on lingering in the minds of minority Christians living across Pakistan.

A few of the human rights activists including Basharat Khokhar (Here and Here) and Joseph Francis was present in the court today. J Salik – ex-federal minister – showed his sympathy by attending today’s Court proceeding.

Be Blessed,

Shamim Masih

__________________________

Edited by John R. Houk

Source Links by JRH

© Shamim Masih

Christian Rights Activist
Freelance Journalist

President

REAP
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Posted in Christianity, Islamism, Persecution

Tags: Blasphemy Laws, Christian Persecution, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Joseph Colony, Muhammad Amlish, Muslims, Pakistan, Shamim Masih, Sharia Law

Pakistani-Christians Don’t have Right to Protest…

Mar 15

Posted by oneway2day

Shamim Masih is a Pakistani Christian that is both a journalist and Human Rights activist. He has been giving me an on the scene perspective of Islamic Supremacism in action in Pakistan of the crazy persecution of Christians at the hand of Muslims that erupted when a vengeful minded Muslim decided to take issue with his (I am guessing former) drinking companion with Christian roots. The Muslim former drinking buddy cried to a Muslim Cleric that Sawan Masih had blasphemed the Muslim Prophet Mohammed. The Cleric called for action that led to the massive destruction of Joseph Colony Christian homes and the Church at the Christian community.

Shamim has updated me that the Muslim Supremacism is continuing with Muslim agitators threatening Christian protesters with harm and murder if they continue to protest against Islamic Supremacist persecution of Christians.

JRH 3/15/13

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Pakistani-Christians Don’t have Right to Protest Against the Misuse of Blasphemy Law

By Shamim Masih

Sent: 3/14/2013 3:32 PM

Islamabad Pakistan (Shamim Masih): Hundreds Pakistani Christians become homeless in Badami Bagh, Lahore. 200 homes of Joseph Colony were turned to ashes and poor Christians are sitting in the streets, looking for food and their needs. Their children couldn’t attend their school and colleges since last Friday. They are helpless and unable to do anything for themselves, while Christians around the country stood to become their voice but were severely beaten by police in Youhanabad and Kot Lakhpat, Lahore. There were protests in Islamabad/Rawalpindi as well. But Muslims of Jhelam City threaten to burn the Christians home like Joseph Colony Lahore, when they went to protest to show solidarity with other Christians.

According to sources, on March 12, 2013, when Christians of Jhelam city went to protest against the violence in Joseph Colony, chanting slogans “Repeal Blasphemy Law” and “Blasphemy law is Black Law”. The Islamists announced in Mosque loudspeakers to gather to punish those Christians who called Blasphemy law to be a black law during the protest. The radical Muslims pressured area police station to lodge First Investigation Report – FIR under 295-C PPC under blasphemy law against Christians who chanted slogans against blasphemy law.

Basharat Khokhar, a human rights activist told that there were around 26 Christian families living among Muslim masses, Machine 2 mahallah since partition. The local Christians arranged a protest to show their solidarity with the Christians of Joseph Colony, Lahore. And Mr. George Masih led the protest rally. They got permission from the District Police Officer (DPO) who provided them security. There were 250 people in the protest rally. The next day, Muslims demanded the police to arrest George Masih and to register FIR against him. The situation became tense in the city but fortunately the administration involved both the religious leadership and Joseph Francis [CLAAS Profile] from CLAAS [Introduction Page] intervened to solve the issue.

There is another mishap, according to Pastor Naeem Bhadhar, a Presbyterian missionary living in a village KALASWALA, Pasroor Road, district Sialkot, 140 km away from Lahore city. He told me on the telephone that he had arranged a protest rally in their city but today on 14^th March, 2013, as he was travelling back to his village, a few radical Muslims from Jammat ut Dawa (a Muslim organization) [Background info HERE and HERE] had severely beaten him with sticks and broke his motor bike. He was injured and was taken to the hospital. There Pastor Bhadhar got 3 stitches on his left arm. They warned him if any one of the Christians came to protest they will kill them.

This is how peace loving Muslims treat Christians in Pakistan. It’s time to wake up and to raise a voice for the rights.

–

Be Blessed,

Shamim Masih

______________________

Edited by John R. Houk

Source Links by JRH

© Shamim Masih

Christian Rights Activist
Freelance Journalist

President

REAP
Public Affairs coordinator

UMJI

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Posted in Christianity, Islamism, Persecution, Terrorism

Tags: Basharat Khohkar, Blasphemy Laws, Christian Persecution, Christian Protestors, CLAAS, George Masih, Islam, Jammat ud Dawa, Joseph Colony, Joseph Francis, Muslim Rioting, Naeem Bhadhar, Pakistan, Sawan Masih

Initial Report on Badami Bagh

Mar 12

Posted by oneway2day

Sawan Masih Behind Bars

I have been following that depravity of Pakistan Muslims through the reporting of Shamim Masih concerning the religious persecution of Christians (HERE and HERE). In this recent case it involves yet another Blasphemy Law accusation as a means of manipulating the law for selfish Muslim reasons of vengeance and/or greed. A dispute between drinking buddies – one a Christian and another is a Muslim – led to the charge of blaspheming Mohammed and evolved to the pillaging of an entire Christian community by thousands of Muslims.

The drinking buddies were the Christian Sawan Masih and the Muslim Shahid Imran. I am guessing Sawan is not a holiness Pentecostal so drinking is acceptable at least in moderation (yeah right, I think I read Sawan owned the drinking establishment) and Shahid is specifically prohibited by Islamic Sharia to drink alcohol. I have to wonder the Islamic Clerics did not condemn Shahid for drinking and perhaps inciting blasphemous language that ensues from a drunken argument, right?

Anyway, here is the best report I have read so far on Sawan Masih and the pillaging violence executed on the Christian community Joseph Colony.

JRH 3/12/13

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Initial Report on Badami Bagh

By Shamim Masih

Sent: 3/11/2013 10:28 AM

I am really sad to share about an inimical incident of inhuman violence against Christians in Pakistan. I am speechless to share with you the story of inhuman violence. Anyhow I am sending you the initial report of Carnage of Joseph Colony:

Initial Report on Joseph Colony Massacre, Badami Bagh, Lahore:

Basic Information;

On March 08, 2013 around at 06:00 hours (PST), I was informed about an unpleasant alleged incident of blasphemy in the Christian vicinity of Joseph Colony, near General Bus Stand which is North of Lahore-Punjab, Pakistan. I was also informed about the registration of Blasphemy case FIR offence under section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) registered against a Christian. Keeping in view the sensitivity of the blasphemy incident the British Pakistani Christian Association sent its representative Shamim to Lahore for fact-finding, so he went there immediately and visited the place of the occurrence and noted down the following facts:

Background alleged accused of Blasphemy:

The alleged accused was identified as Sawan Masih used to be called Boodi, aged 35 son of Chaman Masih and resident of Joseph Colony; Noor Road; Badami Bagh, Lahore. He is a Sweeper (sanitary worker) by profession and is a father of three children. Before the alleged incident of blasphemy he was residing with his parents in a joint family system. His house is located at the front row of the vicinity of Joseph Colony and he was habitual drinker.

Sawan and the complainant Shahid Imran (barber by profession) were cordial with each other and their friendship was known to everyone in the locality. They were good friends for the last 8 years and both, together drinkers.

Background blasphemy incident:

On March 05, 2013 (Tuesday) around at 07:00 PM both Sawan Masih and Shahid Imran were drinking and all of sudden they started quarreling with each other and a scuffle took place between them on the trivial matter. When the neighboring Christians noticed their brawl and exchange of abusive language, they intervened and for the time being the uncertain quarrel was arbitrated by the fellow residents. Shahid Imran took grudge in his heart and became annoyed with Sawan Masih. The complainant Shahid Imran also felt ashamed that a Christian he insulted him and he threatened Sawan with dire consequences. The complainant Shahid Imran went to teach a lesson to Sawan Masih and in this connection he cunningly made a plan with Shafiq Ahmed to implicate Sawan Masih in the false case of blasphemy. Later Shafiq Ahmed and Shahid Imran informed the cleric of the area mosque Qari Saifullaha about the false & forged incident of blasphemy.

The first attack:

On March 08, 2013 (Friday) around at 04:00 PM the cleric announced through the loudspeakers of the mosque. The cleric alleged that the accused Sawan Masih has committed blasphemy against Prophet Muhammad. Following the broadcast, thousands of Muslims residents gathered and marched towards Joseph Colony chanting slogans and started throwing stones at the houses of Christians. Thousands protestors demanded immediate arrest of Sawan Masih and also attacked on the houses of Christians. The angry protesters also started looting and crushing the households of Christians. In the meanwhile the police reached the spot and the protesters escaped from the place of occurrence. The attack resulted in so many losses including the breakdown of a snooker table [As an American I was clueless about snooker tables. According to Wikipedia the sport of snooker table is similar to billiards and is a highly regarded sport in former British colonies of which Pakistan was once a part] and the burning and crushing of households etc. Secondly, the police warned the Christians to vacate their houses immediately. (This shows that the administration was aware of it [rapacious pillaging]). The innocent Christians including women and Children immediately evacuated their houses wearing single cloths, leavening behind their houses & possessions. However, many of the Christians were beaten badly. The vehicle of a local bishop Akram Gill was damaged inhumanly.

Registration of Blasphemy case FIR:

Later, the complainant filed an application and registered a blasphemy case FIR No. 112/13 offence 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) registered against Sawan Masih at the Police Station, Badami Bagh, Lahore. Shamim found that the alleged accused of blasphemy Sawan Masih was hiding himself from the violent attack whereas the police arrested his father Chaman Masih. The father was badly beaten by the police. His father totally denied the allegations and later released. Finally, the alleged accused of blasphemy Sawan Masih was handed over to the police.

The second attack:

On March 09, 2013 near about 09:30 a fully charged-up mob of almost 4,000 religious zealots gathered around Joseph Colony, led by Shafiq Ahmed, who was in search of the accused Sawan Masih. The heavy contingent of police was deployed near the colony and later, the mob in the presence of the police entered in the colony and started looting and above 200 hundred houses ravaged with fires. Two Churches along with a Chapel were vandalized and approximately 500 hundred Bibles were burnt, the furniture and other belonging of the school was also burnt. The Christian houses, eight shops, many motorcycles, auto rickshaws, electricity meters, gas meters, iron rods used in the roofs were melted down. On the floor, furniture, trunks, crockery and many more items were burnt totally.

The episode of unspeakable violence in the name of religion [Islamic religion that is] began at 09:30 in the morning and did not conclude till the afternoon. An interesting point was that the large numbers of police were present on the spot and did not avert the angry protesters from further damage. The protesters executed this exercise freely and without any fears for five hours and the police did not intervene nor stopped the violent mob. Some Christian youths saved themselves in the nick of time as they fled from the scene.

Whereas the police ensured us that unless the alleged accused is arrested – making clear to the Christian leadership – that the police will not be able to rescue the Christians. Despite all this, the protesters continued to claim that they would not let the Christian families return until Sawan’s arrest. It was clearly shown that the police failed to inform the protesters about Sawan’s arrest. And the police failed to tell the Muslims about the registration of a blasphemy case FIR against Sawan Masih.

I headed the fact-finding along with a few other people; Mr. Sardar Mushtaq Gill (Social Mobilizer), Mr. Yasoob Bhatti, a social rights activist.

Urgent needs

At present the victims immediately need food, clothing, crockery, beddings, clean water, tea, biscuits and medicines etc.

The Christians in Pakistan staged peaceful protest demonstration throughout Pakistan and at some places the police unjustly stopped the protesters and the clash resulted between police and the Christian protesters.

I am sharing this initial report and highlight the significant section of the incident and assuring you that within a few days I will be able to share the full report.

If you need further clarification please let me know.

We gravely need your prayers and support.

–

Be Blessed,

Shamim Masih

_______________________

Edited by John R. Houk

Brackets indicate an editor addition for clarity that is not a part of the original email.

© Shamim Masih

Shamim Masih

Christian Rights Activist
Freelance Journalist

President

REAP
Public Affairs coordinator

Shamim Masih’s Donate/Support info:

Top of Form

IBAN # pk80jsbl9530000000405227

Posted in Christianity, Counterjihad, Islamism, Persecution

Tags: Badami Bagh, Blasphemy Laws, Christian Persecution, Corrupt Police, Islam, Joseph Colony, Lahore, Muslim Pillaging, Pakistan, Qari Saifullaha, Sawan Masih, Shafiq Ahmed, Shahid Imran, Shamim Masih, Sharia

Protest in Islamabad

Mar 10

Posted by oneway2day

Here is an update from Shamim Masih relating to the Muslim rampage against Christians at Joseph Colony just outside Lahore, Pakistan. The rampage and pillaging of Joseph Colony was the result of Islamic intolerance of Sawan Masih saying something about Mohammed undoubtedly in a negative light. Or perhaps Sawan said nothing negatively about Mo and a Muslim or two decided to settle an argument by taking advantage of Pakistan’s Blasphemy Laws. Thank God I live in a nation in which the Constitution says I have Free Speech and that Congress cannot make a law in which one religion is superior to another religion.

JRH 3/10/13

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

Protest in Islamabad

By Shamim Masih

Sent: 3/9/2013 1:13 PM

Christians of Islamabad/Rawalpindi staged protest against Badami Bagh incident

Islamabad Pakistan (Shamim Masih): Christians of Islamabad/Rawalpindi, on receiving the news regarding Badami Bagh tragic incident, cancelled all their engagements and immediately convened an emergent meeting about this incident.

Later, Christians’ human rights activists, member civil society staged a protest at National Press Club, Islamabad. They were holding banners and shout slogans against on the attack on the poor Christians of Joseph Colony, Lahore.

Basharat Khokhar, a human rights activist said that the ugly fact is that the blasphemy law is an enabler of mob violence against vulnerable groups. As long as such laws remain on the books and the authorities remain unwilling or unable to rein in mobs playing judge, jury and executioner, Pakistan will remain plagued by abuse in the name of religion, he added.

Samuel Yaqoob urged the Punjab Government to investigate and prosecute as appropriate campaigns of intimidation, threats, and violence against Christian and other vulnerable groups.

Be Blessed,

Shamim Masih

________________________

Shamim Masih

Christian Rights Activist
Freelance Journalist

President

REAP
Public Affairs coordinator

Shamim Masih’s Donate/Support info:

Top of Form

IBAN # pk80jsbl9530000000405227

Posted in Christianity, Islamism, Persecution

Photos of Joseph Colony Lahore Pakistan Christian Persecution

Tags: Basharat Khokhar, Blasphemy Laws, Christian Persecution, Christian Protestors, Islamabad, Joseph Colony, Lahore, Muslim Pillaging, Pakistan, Rawalpindi, Samuel Yaqoob, Sawan Masih

Another Blasphemy Law Victim is Sawan Masih

Mar 9

Posted by oneway2day

Intro to ‘Another Blasphemy Law Victim is Sawan Masih’

Intro by John R. Houk

Shamim Masih has sent another update from his home nation of Pakistan writing that 3,000 enraged Muslims took the word of a Muslim Barber that one Sawan Masih was accused of Blaspheming old Mo. As is usually the case Sawan was falsely accused in an argument in which CNN reports two Muslims were getting back at Sawan over a dispute:

Masih says the three got into an argument while drinking and that the other two men threatened to publicly accuse him of blasphemy, according to Majid [Hafiz Majid – Senior Police Officer].

“The attack is yet another shameful incident against a vulnerable community and further confirmation of the slide toward extremism in society on the one hand and, on the other hand, the apathy and inaction that has become the norm among the police,” the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said in a statement.

The group accused police of arresting Christians in the incident “while those who went on a rampage and can easily be identified from television footage have gone scot-free.” (Dozens of Christian homes set on fire by Muslim mob, Pakistani authorities say; by Nasir Habib; CNN, updated 2:18 PM EST, Sat March 9, 2013 – READ ENTIRE ARTICLE)

Pakistan’s Muslim majority is letting the world know that the concept of oppressive dhimmitude and the jizya tax is still enforced via humiliation regardless of what Muslim Apologists lie about to duped Westerners. Dhimmi (nonMuslim – kafir/unbeliever humbled to honor Islam) status and the jizya tax that dhimmis are forced to pay may not officially be on the legal books in Pakistan and other Muslim nations but the authorities do nothing to stop Muslims incited by Clerics and Sharia Experts.

Other Sources to Check Out:

o NY Times: Attack on Christians Follows Claim of Blasphemy in Pakistan

o Shoebat.com: Rescue Christians Exclusive: Original Photos / on-the-ground report about Mob Attacks in Pakistan

o Pakistan Christian Post: CLAAS issues report of brutal attack of Muslims on Christian

o TheNews: Badami Bagh tragedy: 42 perpetrators nabbed

o TheNews: Clerics condemn Joseph Colony incident

JRH 3/9/13

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

Another Blasphemy Law Victim is Sawan Masih

Case Registered in Lahore Pakistan

By Shamim Masih

Sent: March 9, 2013

Islamabad Pakistan (Shamim Masih): Sawan Masih resident of Joseph Colony became another victim of blasphemy law in Lahore Pakistan.

According to the Daily Jang [Written in Urdu] Lahore, on March 8, 2013, Mr. Shahid Imran a barber of Badami Bagh Lahore alleged that Sawan Masih, resident of Joseph Colony has disrespected the prophet Muhammad. The local police registered the case against Sawan Masih under the legal code PP 295-C in PS Badami Bagh and arrested his father Chaman Masih in Lahore.

Later he (Shahid Imran) called his people and a Muslim mob attacked the residents of the area. The angry mob attacked his house and set it into fire, and burned the car of the local priest. The local police officer told that preliminary investigation revealed that Imran has falsely accused Sawan of blasphemy but the police were forced to register a case against the Christian guy to placate the furious mob who was pelting stones at the Christians’ houses.

It is clearly seen that it’s the recipe to destroy the life of any minority member to accuse him/her of blasphemy. The police are compelled to register the case, the accused sent behind the bars and most likely killed in jail or in the court premises. Meanwhile they enjoy the revenge exacted; take possession of the disputed property; exploit the women of the family of the accused; or ask for a huge sum in return for reconciliation or so. Moreover the other Christian residents of that vicinity suffer as well; they sometimes are compelled to leave the area or they face severe threats. Their children were barred to the schools.

Be Blessed,

Shamim Masih

_____________________

Edited by John R. Houk

Source Links by JRH

Shamim Masih

Christian Rights Activist
Freelance Journalist

President

REAP
Public Affairs coordinator

UMJI

Shamim Masih’s Donate/Support info:

Top of Form

IBAN # pk80jsbl9530000000405227

Posted in Christianity, Islamism, Persecution, Terrorism

Tags: Blasphemy Laws, Christian Persecution, Church Desecration, Dhimmitude, Hafiz Majid, Joseph Colony, Lahore, Muslim Mobs, Pakistan, Property Destruction, Sawan Masih, Shahid Imran, Shamim Masih, Sharia

Can Christians Achieve Political Equality in a Muslim Nation?

Jan 12

Posted by oneway2day

John R. Houk

Shamim is a Christian, a Pakistani and a journalist. He has involved himself in the political process of Muslim Pakistan with the goal of bringing political equality to Christians with the overwhelming Muslim Pakistanis. As such Shamim is journalistically through press support for the Pakistan Christian Congress (PCC).

Shamim writes in the article below that Christian-Pakistanis are very patriotic to their nation. I have indeed found this to be true. When I was a supporter of the cause of Free Hector Aleem, the administrator of that cause would often cheer for Pakistan causes whether in sports or for national prestige. The administrator is also the daughter of Hector Aleem. I was mystified about the reasons of such patriotic support for the nation of Pakistan. In recent years Christians in Pakistan have been on the receiving end of outlandish persecution at the hands of Muslim-Pakistanis both unofficially and officially. Christian Churches and neighborhoods have been vandalized while Christians themselves experienced violence from violent rioters. I asked Hector’s daughter why she was so pro-Pakistan while facing these circumstances including the way her father was being treated in jail. Her reply was simply that was a Christian by faith and a Pakistani by national origin.

Shamim Masih appears to have same kind of national love for his birth nation of Pakistan. In the Shamim article you will read below will discover how Christians are treated in Pakistan. Although Shamim does not mention this, treatment of Christians is the ancient Islamic practice of dhimmitude. This treatment is deplorable because Islam commands the treatment of non-Muslims to be insulting, derogatory and humiliation. Here is a description of a dhimmi from dhimmitude.org:

The concept of toleration is linked to a number of discriminatory obligations in the economic, religious and social fields, imposed by the shari’a on the dhimmis. The transgression by the dhimmis of some of these obligations, abolished their protection, and threaten them with death or slavery. Dhimmis suffered many legal disabilities intended to reduce them to a condition of humiliation, segregation and discrimination. These rules, established from the eight to nine centuries by the founders of the four schools of Islamic law, set the pattern of the Muslim’s community’s social behavior toward dhimmis. (Really you should read the complete details on dhimmitude on this web page)

Even though it is encoded into Islam to treat Christians horrifically Shamim and the PCC ideologically believe they can achieve political equality with all Pakistan citizens. Over 95% of Pakistanis are Muslim in 2012.

JRH 1/12/13