Arshed Masih - Age 38
Eternal rest grant unto him, Lord.
Posted on 03/26/2010 8:24:34 AM PDT by NYer
The silence from Pakistani authorities is deafening. An update on this story. "Punjab: Christian burned alive dies, Christian community calls for justice," by Fareed Khan for Asia News, March 23:
Islamabad (AsiaNews) - Arshed Masih died last night in hospital from the serious injuries - burns covering 80% of his body - which the 38 year old Pakistani Christian suffered when he was set on fire because he refused to convert to Islam. The funeral of man, who died after three days of agony, should take place in the late afternoon, but the family has asked that "before an autopsy is performed." The Christian community of Pakistan condemns "with firmness" the latest episode of violence and denounces the "slowness" of the federal and provincial government to punish those responsible.
On March 19 a group of Islamic extremists burned alive Arshed Masih, a driver employed by a wealthy Muslim businessman in Rawalpindi. His wife worked as a maid in the same estate, situated in front of a police station. Recently disagreements had arisen between the employer, Sheikh Mohammad Sultan, and the couple because of their Christian faith. The couple had suffered threats and intimidation to force them to convert to Islam.
Arshed Masih died last night at 7.45 local time after three days of agony and suffering at the Holy Family Hospital in Rawalpindi, Punjab province. His wife Martha Arshed was raped by police en she sought to denounce the violence inflicted on her husband. The couple's three children - ages 7 to 12 years - were forced "to witness the torture inflicted on their parents.
Since 2005 Arshed Masih and his wife had worked and lived on the estate of the late Sheikh Mohammad Sultan. The pressure on them to renounce Christianity had lately become incessant. The owner had come so far as to threaten "dire consequences", to persuade them to embrace Islam. The couple were also accused of a recent theft by the owner who has promised to drop the complaint for their conversion.
Arshed Masih's funeral should be held in the late afternoon, although tension remains high in the area. Local witnesses tell AsiaNews that "the whole family is in shock and I s demanding an autopsy is carried out before burial." Several Christian associations and human rights activists - including Life for All, Christian Progressive Movement, Pakistan Christian Congress and Protect Foundation Pakistan - "protests are being stepped up outside the hospital."
Peter Jacob, executive secretary of the Justice and Peace Commission of the Catholic Church of Pakistan (NCJP), expresses to AsiaNews his "strongest condemnation" for the crime against the man and the rape of women perpetrated by police who should protect law and order . The Catholic organization has been active to ensure protection to the woman and children, of whom there are no immediate reports.
The Catholic activist notes with regret the silence of the Federal Minister for Minorities, the Catholic Shahbaz Bhatti, and denounces "the slow pace and the inaction of the federal and provincial government. "The executive - said Peter Jacob - has not yet taken concrete steps to prevent violence and abuse on minorities and punish the guilty."
The site BosNewsLife.com adds that yesterday the provincial government of Punjab blocked a protest march of Christians, under the pretext of "terrorist threat". The local community wanted to demonstrate against the "refusal" of the police to arrest the perpetrators of the crime.
Arshed Masih - Age 38
Eternal rest grant unto him, Lord.
Oh, it's coming. One way or the other.
sweet Jesus, please comfort this mother and her children and bring Your light to the Muslim world. Help Mrs. Masih find a way to take care of her children and may they come to America where they will be free. In Jesus Name. Amen
My saying it means nothing....but "Well done, good and faithful servant."
This poor man. He exhibited a strength and bravery that many of us could not match. I don’t understand how human beings can be so cruel.
He is a Martyr in the same rank as the Martyrs who died in Rome at the Colliseum. he will receive his reward in Heaven and I pray God will look out for his family.
Islam.
(e-mail worth repeating, ROP)
Barack OBAMA, in his Cairo speech, said: “I know, too, that Islam has always been a part of America ‘s story.”
Dear Mr. Obama:
Were those Muslims that were in America when the Pilgrims first landed? Funny, I thought they were Native American Indians.
Were those Muslims that celebrated the first Thanksgiving day? Sorry again, those were Pilgrims and Native American Indians.
Can you show me one Muslim signature on the United StatesConstitution?
Declaration of Independence?
Bill of Rights?
Didn’t think so.
Did Muslims fight for this country’s freedom from England ? No.
Did Muslims fight during the Civil War to free the slaves in America ? No, they did not. In fact, Muslims to this day are still the largest traffickers in human slavery. Your own half brother, a devout Muslim, still advocates slavery himself, even though Muslims of Arabic descent refer to black Muslims as “pug nosed slaves.” Says a lot of what the Muslim world really thinks of your family’s “rich Islamic heritage,” doesn’t it Mr. Obama?
Where were Muslims during the Civil Rights era of this country? Not present.
There are no pictures or media accounts of Muslims walking side by side with Martin Luther King, Jr. or helping to advance the cause of Civil Rights.
Where were Muslims during this country’s Woman’s Suffrage era? Again, not present. In fact, devout Muslims demand that women are subservient to men in the Islamic culture. So much so, that often they are beaten for not wearing the ‘hajib’ or for talking to a man who is not a direct family member or their husband. Yep, the Muslims are all for women’s rights, aren’t they?
Where were Muslims during World War II? They were aligned withAdolf Hitler. The Muslim grand mufti himself met with Adolf Hitler, reviewed the troops and accepted support from the Nazi’s in killing Jews.
Finally, Mr. Obama, where were Muslims on Sept. 11th, 2001? If they weren’t flying planes into the World Trade Center , the Pentagon or a field in Pennsylvania killing nearly 3,000 people on our own soil, they were rejoicing in the Middle East . No one can dispute the pictures shown from all parts of the Muslim world celebrating on CNN,Fox News, MSNBC and other cable news networks that day. Strangely, the very “moderate” Muslims who’s asses you bent over backwards to kiss in Cairo , Egypt on June 4th were stone cold silent post 9-11. To many Americans, their silence has meant approval for the acts of that day.
And THAT, Mr. Obama, is the “rich heritage” Muslims have here in America.
Oh, I’m sorry, I forgot to mention the Barbary Pirates. They were Muslim.
And now we can add November 5, 2009 - the slaughter of American soldiers at Fort Hood by a Muslim major who is a doctor and a psychiatrist who was supposed to be counseling soldiers returning from battle in Iraq and Afghanistan.
That, is the “Muslim heritage” in America.
Thank God we have a Christian President to lead us.
This is what a real martyr looks like, not some psychopath who kills a bunch of innocent people and himself with a bomb.
Amen.
Help Mrs. Masih find a way to take care of her children and may they come to America where they will be free. In Jesus Name. Amen
While we are free, for now, we won’t be for long.
Then of course, we’ll ALL be FREE.
Thank you - I just sent that via whitehouse.gov.
You are upset by the silence of the Pakistani government? How about the silence of the US government, NBC,ABC,CNN, the UN, the European Union, the Church, the so-called US media, and the rest of those who have studiously ignored the slaughter of hundreds of Christians in Africa last week?
There was a movie...The Silence of the Lambs.
I think that is what we are NOW hearing.
it's not this guy, but it fits.it's only 42 seconds for you, for them, it's a lifetime... burnt offerings http://videogaleri.hurriyet.com.tr/Video.aspx?s=5&vid=2107
You are so right. This is martyrdom, much lik ...
Fr. Ragheed Ganni, 35, the pastor of the Church of the Holy Spirit in the Nur district of Mosul, Iraq, and Subdeacon Basman Yousef Daud, Subdeacon Gassan Isam Bidawed, and Subdeacon Wahid Hanna Isho were forced out of their car, shot, and killed outside the Church of the Holy Spirit after celebrating Mass on Sunday, June 3, 2007. Subdeacon Gassan Isam Bidawed's wife was also pulled out of the car, but she was separated from the victims and witnessed the martyrdoms. The gunmen then placed bombs in the car, and because of safety fears, the bodies lay unrecovered until the police bomb squad arrived at 10:00 P. M.
Funeral Procession of Procession of Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho. Archbishop Rahho was kidnapped on Feb. 29, 2008. His body was found in March 2008 after his apparent kidnappers contacted the church and his relatives requesting ransom for his release.
Amir Khamis stands with her three children. Her husband was shot while tending sheep in August 2006. Shortly after the attack, he died from the gunshot wounds. The identity of the killer is known yet justice has not prevailed.
And this is just the tip of the iceberg. These attacks are being carried out in India, Africa, Turkey, Egypt ... all over the world. Until it hits the US, most Americans will ignore it.
Yes. Exactly right.
Thank you for that excellent post and reminder of our true heritage.
This man, his family, and so many of our brothers and sisters in Christ are experiencing extreme suffering and tribulation. We here in America are so spoiled and pampered. We think it’s “persecution” if someone rolls their eyes at us. I wonder if I would have the courage of Arshed and his wife Martha if I faced what they have faced.
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