Posted on 02/21/2011 7:41:52 AM PST by Mrs. Don-o
Christian leaders have launched a Twitter campaign to save Said Musa, an Afghan who is awaiting execution for converting to Christianity from Islam.
On Sunday Musa, 45, was told by a judge that he would be hanged within days unless he reconverts to Islam.
The Twitter buzz started with Denny Burk's appeal Saturday to President Obama to "to persuade the Afghan govt. not to execute our brother Said Musa." Burk is the Dean of Boyce College at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Then, John Piper tweeted a similar message, "Mr. President, speak wisely and boldly, in private if necessary, for Said Musa, imprisoned in Kabul."
His post included a link to a Compass News Direct report on a letter it received from Musa in late October, in which the Christian of eight years addressed Obama as a "brother" and pleaded with the international community for prayer and his release.
As media-saavy Christians re-tweeted Piper's message throughout Saturday and Sunday, other Christian leaders also joined the spontaneous campaign to tweet and re-tweet on behalf of the imprisoned physiotherapist and father of six.
On Sunday, Rick Warren, named as one of the top 20 Twitter celebrities by Forbes, brought attention to how the media has underreported Musa's story.
"Media CLAIM to champion free speech but if they really did, they'd report these stories everyday," Warren told his 245,653 Twitter followers.
The Saddleback Church pastor also linked a National Review Online article, "America Quiet on the Execution of Afghan Christian Said Musa," which questioned why Obama weighed in on the threat by Terry Jones to burn the Qu'ran but has not made a move on Musa's situation.
"If the actions of a Florida pastor who threatened to destroy a book holy to Muslims deserved public and presidential attention, then the actions of the Afghan government, ostensibly a ‘democratic’ ally, to destroy something holy to Christians, a human being made in the image of God, also deserve public and presidential attention," argued writer Paul Marshall.
Pastor Matt Chandler of The Village Church in Dallas was among the 100-plus people who re-tweeted a message from Christian Hip Hop artist Shai Linn that asked for prayers for Musa.
"Let us not be quiet," read a tweet Saturday by David Platt, author of the best-selling book Radical. "Pray/Plead for Said Musa…& unknown others who face death for confessing Christ."
Musa, a former Red Cross worker who lost his left leg in a landmine explosion, has been prison since last May, after he appeared in a video broadcasted by a local TV network that showed Afghan Christians being baptized by westerners. He was arrested when he attempted to seek asylum at the German Embassy.
He said that while in prison he has been sexually abused and beaten and spat on for his faith in Jesus Christ.
Despite facing a death sentence, Musa has refused to renounce his faith, telling the Sunday Times, “My body is theirs to do what they want with. Only God can decide if my spirit goes to hell.”
"No man should die b/c (because) he wants to change religion ," posted Ed Stetzer, president of LifeWay Research, in a re-tweeted message. He also put in a hash tag for "barackobama" and asked others to re-tweet.
Musa's case is the first case of apostasy, which is punishable by death under sharia law, that has led near execution since the fall of the Taliban in Afghanistan.
According to Afghan's Constitution, a case will be deferred to a judge's verdict under sharia law only if there is no clear verdict in the constitution. Officials have said Constitution does not mention converting to another religion.
However, Godfrey Yogarajah, executive director of the World Evangelical Alliance’s Religious Liberty Commission, argued that Musa's trial breaks at least three provisions of Afghanistan’s 2004 Constitution.
Human rights groups have also called on Afghanistan, a signatory of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, to honor religious freedom and the freedom to change religions as mandated by the document.
Since being detained Musa has been denied a fair trial and access to a lawyer. Some defense lawyers have refused to represent Musa unless he reconverts to Islam while others have dropped his case after being threatened.
His wife and six children have fled to Pakistan.
I've been praying for days; my husband and I have phoned the White House and our Senator. I don't know how to Tweet nor use the other social media/networks: nor do I know what is the best, most-likely-effective thing to do.
I'm sick over this.
I'll contact my Diocesan P&J guy (a decent guy, retired USMC Colonel, pro-lifer.
Any other ideas?
FRiend wmfights, to your pinglist, please...
This is the “liberated Afghanistan” for which our troops are dying?
Hell no. Screw them. Bomb the sh*t out of anything that moves in that hellhole and let’s get out.
how do we participate with this?
Why do we permit this when that government is only propped up by our army?
Need ideas on what we can do for this man.
There is nothing more powerful than prayer.............
Action ideas: what should we do?
Get on Twitter & retweet this matter posted by others - such as @JohnPiper
I just sent a petition to the Creator of the Universe.
Liberal ideas have taken over the top brass... they're probably being 'open minded' in the way only liberal elites can be ...
“Need ideas on what we can do for this man.”
Take care of his family. That’s what we can do.
I have no ideas other than prayer. The spread of Christianity was due to the example of the martyrs love of Christ.
My darker side says why would Obama lift a finger. This is the same guy that would not vote to give aid to a baby that survives a abortion. This guy supports infanticide at every level.
The Saddle back Church??? Broke Back Church might be more suitable, Dont get me started, this same Pastor Rick Warren was instrumental in getting Obama elected...I will never forget Rick Warrens...” I am pro life but...” I have ZERO respect for him.
But God Bless Said.
Sadly, there is not much that can be done other than prayer. He is an Afghan citizen in his home country.
how bout that....learn something new every day.
I don’t do those social media things either but someone on here must know how to start a Facebook campaign. As foreign to me as that is I understand those can be very effective. I wonder if our military is aware of this and if there is something they could do to intervene? I will pray for this man’s safety.
Post phone numbers to
White House and Congress.
BTTT
Pray for brother Said. A word or two for us might not be amiss. We may be joining him in this country.
If the mussies have their way, we may ALL be asked this question.
But, as for me, they can do with this old body as they will. But, this soul belongs to Jesus Christ!!
Note the tagline.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.