Gunned Down for Defending Christians (Salman Taseer)

National Catholic Register ^ | 1/4/2011 | Anto Akkara

[markomalley]

Archbishop Lawrence Saldanha, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Pakistan, has joined the mourners paying tributes to Salman Taseer, the governor of Punjab province who was assassinated today for his opposition to the Islamic blasphemy law.

Taseer, 66, was shot by his security guard when he emerged from lunch at a restaurant in Lahore, the capital of Punjab province.

After pumping nine bullets into the governor, Malik Mumtaz Hussain Qadri lay down his gun, claiming that he carried it out to avenge his stand on the controversial blasphemy law.

“I killed the governor because he termed the blasphemy law as kala kanoon (black law),” Qadri told the police later.

“This is very shocking. We have lost a great friend and a bold crusader against the blasphemy law,” Archbishop Saldanha said from his office in Lahore.

The blasphemy law makes insulting the Quran an offense punishable by life imprisonment, while being found guilty of insulting the prophet Mohammed brings an automatic death sentence. The Catholic Commission has repeatedly said the controversial law is often misused against Christians and others to settle property and personal disputes.

Taseer had become the target of Islamic fundamentalists in recent weeks after he took a bold stand on the law. This happened after Asia Bibi, a 45-year old Christian mother of five, was sentenced to death by a trial court on a blasphemy charge Nov. 7.

Bibi had a quarrel with her Muslim neighbor on the flow of drain water from their houses at Itanwalli village in Punjab.

[Twinkie]

One thing I can say for Christians; they want to emulate Christ, who was worthy of emulation. They also do not set up “anti blasphemy” laws for those who speak against Christ. (Christ could take stuff spoken against himself.) They also do not outlaw anyone else having places of worship other than Christian. Call me when that happens in the Muslim countries.

[wendy1946]

Apparently a big part of the problem with Pakistan is genetic i.e. more than 50% of the people are inbred. Average IQ isn’t high enough for the place to function as a modern country.

[agere_contra]

True! Also a shocking 1.8% of the population have full-blown schizophrenia.

Not ‘mild’, not ‘a form of’. Full schizophrenia.

This is your brain on Islam (as well as the effect of inbreeding of course).

[LibLieSlayer]

Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
with the cross of Jesus going on before.
Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe;
forward into battle see his banners go!
Refrain:
Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
with the cross of Jesus going on before.

2. At the sign of triumph Satan’s host doth flee;
on then, Christian soldiers, on to victory!
Hell’s foundations quiver at the shout of praise;
brothers, lift your voices, loud your anthems raise.
(Refrain)

3. Like a mighty army moves the church of God;
brothers, we are treading where the saints have trod.
We are not divided, all one body we,
one in hope and doctrine, one in charity.
(Refrain)

4. Crowns and thrones may perish, kingdoms rise and wane,
but the church of Jesus constant will remain.
Gates of hell can never gainst that church prevail;
we have Christ’s own promise, and that cannot fail.
(Refrain)

5. Onward then, ye people, join our happy throng,
blend with ours your voices in the triumph song.
Glory, laud, and honor unto Christ the King,
this through countless ages men and angels sing.

[wbarmy]

Another point worth noting. Disrespect of the Quran is life imprisonment, disrespect of Mohammed is death. And the Islamists keep arguing that they DO NOT worship Mohammed. I beg to differ.

[King Moonracer]

I think our street gangs have more sense than these muzzies.

[hal ogen]

religion of peace? Feh! These cromagnon blood-lusters can’’t get enough of shedding blood.