Posted on 05/16/2007 12:16:16 PM PDT by presidio9
Christians in Charsadda, a town in North-West Frontier Province in Pakistan, have been warned that if they do not convert to Islam by 17 May they will face “dire consequences and bomb explosions”, Christian Today has learned.
The threats were made in a letter circulated last week to the town’s Christian population, according to the All Pakistan Minorities Alliance.
They come as Pakistan’s National Assembly overwhelmingly rejected proposed amendments to the blasphemy laws, which were tabled by a minority representative Member of Parliament, Mr Bhandara. On 8 May, the Government led the movement in the National Assembly to defeat the reforms.
Under the existing blasphemy laws, anyone convicted of blasphemy against the Prophet Mohammad faces life imprisonment or the death penalty, according to section 295C of the Pakistan Penal Code.
Mr Bhandara, a Parsi, proposed a bill which would amend the penalty for blasphemy against the Prophet Mohammad to a five year prison sentence and a fine. He also proposed applying the law to other religions, not only Islam.
His proposals were greeted with cries of “shame” from Government and opposition benches and were rejected by the Parliamentary Affairs Minister as un-Islamic. “Islam is our religion and such bills hurt our feelings. This is not a secular state but the Islamic Republic of Pakistan,” the Minister said according to Christian Solidarity Worldwide.
In a statement, APMA said: “Christians and other religious minorities are being roped into false cases under the blasphemy law. They are being murdered by zealots … This law is proving to be a sword hanging on the heads of non-Muslims and secular-minded people.
“The blasphemy law needs to be amended, if not altogether repealed, because of its great misuse. The law has created an atmosphere of bigotry and intolerance …a sense of insecurity and harassment.”
Commenting on the threats made to Christians in North-West Frontier Province, APMA said: “The Christians of Pakistan are already facing victimisation and discrimination. Many innocent Christians are incarcerated and killed.
“Attacks on churches, Christian schools and other institutions have been experienced by the Christians of Pakistan in the past few years, and now the rise of vigilante groups and threats have aggravated the situation.”
Stuart Windsor, Christian Solidarity Worldwide’s National Director, said: “We are deeply concerned about the rise of extremism in Pakistan, and the threats made to Christians in North-West Frontier Province.
“We urge the Pakistani authorities to do everything possible to create an atmosphere of religious tolerance and freedom and to protect religious minorities who are facing threats and ultimatums. We urge the Government of Pakistan to recognise the gross misuse of the blasphemy laws and the urgent need for their reform, or repeal.”
What are the odds this turns into a second Rwanda or Night of Bartholomeus (French Catholics slaughtering Protestants in the 16th Century)?
Afghanistan?
Iraq?
I thought Harry Reid was the only one to give such deadlines. Is this Harry’s deadline?
There must be some mistake. I'm pretty sure my President told me Islam is a religion of peace.
For those who don’t know, a Parsi is a practising Zoroastrian whose ancestors migrated from Persia to the Subcontinent.
How about blowing up the Whabbi schools instead? Thats where this is a comin from!
The religion of peace raises it's snake-like head and spews it's venom again.
A trully FALSE religion based upon Jewish history and Abrahams mistake with his bond-servant. The promise to Abraham that his seed would be as the stars of the heavens... also applied to his son by his bond women (Hagar).
And they have been fighting ever since.
England and France will be next.
Pray for our brothers and sister in Christ.
There seems to be essentially no information about the Night of Batholomeus or even the "nuit de Bartholomé" on the Internet. Does it have another name?
You’re right, it must be a mistake. We’re supposed to believe that only a small percentage of fanatics believe and act this way.
How pathetic. These people are so insecure in their beliefs that they feel they must kill anyone who lives outside the Muslim faith. Barbarians.
Woah! Woah! Woah! I thought Mohammed was a prophet and not God. How can one commit blasphemy against Mohammed?
Interesting new ad on radio here in St.Pete area....Speaks of 40 countries where Christians are killed/persecuted etc etc ....Bout time we heard about it on a daily basis frankly!
Fount it under St. Bartholomew’s Day massacre (Massacre de la Saint-Barthélemy in French)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Bartholomew%27s_Day_Massacre
We ought to treat Muslims in America exactly like Muslims treat non Muslims in Muslim countries like Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
There aren’t enough Christians in Pakistan to make it comparable.
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