Salmaan Taseer, the Governor of the Province of Punjab is assassinated by the man who was supposed to protect him and whilst the police call for justice many others see him as a hero and celebrate him (whilst others still, through fear of reprisal, stay silent). The Minister for minorities, Shahbaz Bhatti, dies in a hail of bullets - the response to an appeal against the blasphemy laws.
Qamar David, a Christian, dies in prison whilst being held on claims that he'd insulted the prophet Muhammad.
And today we have the news that a mentally impaired fourteen year old girl, Rimsha Masih, who has been in custody for two weeks now on charges of blasphemny appears to have been set up by Iman, Khalid Chishti! Witnesses have come forward to say that Chishti planted the remains of burnt pages of the Koran in her bag, persumably because she was from a Christian family.
Can I ask my Muslim friends and colleagues how Taseer, Bhatti, David, Rimsha Masih and the many others who have suffered death, or been abused, honours the prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) or does anything to show Islam in a positive light? How can those who believe other than them or have the courage to stand and speak out for justice (and mercy) be so sorely treated?
In the same vein perhaps is the fact that this week three British people are appealing to the European courts over their apparent loss of the right to choose and act as their faith demands. Integrity, honesty and tolerance are at a premium everywhere it appears - how sad :-(
Pax
Showing posts with label Shahbaz Bhatti. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Shahbaz Bhatti. Show all posts
Sunday, 2 September 2012
Wednesday, 2 March 2011
The Cost of Integrity
Today all of the sane world will be mourning the loss of Shahbaz Bhatti, the only Christian member of the Pakistan government and minister for religious minorities who was apparently assassinated for opposing Pakistan's blasphemy. This man, a brother in Christ knew that he faced danger and yet knew that he could do nothing but stand.
Don't read my words, but hear his:
One of my friends pointed out that the in the Islamic calendar we are in 1432. When the Christian world was in 1492 it too was in an age that was both bloody and brutal, for this was the bloody and awful Middle Ages, a time when war was waged by fundamentalists and life was cheap, but at lease we didn't have nuclear weapons!
Those who wish for peace, for truth and for justice should spare a thought for Shahbaz's family and for the nation of Pakistan as he joins the governor of Pakistan's Punjab province, Salman Taseer, as another martyr for the cause of truth and justice.
For those who see the death of these men as honouring god, might I suggest that they look to Surah 5, Ayat 32:
“To cause the death of one innocent – it is as if he had slain mankind entirely.
Whoever saves one life – it is as if he had saved mankind entirely.”
For those of other faiths, or no faith, might I point you to the words of Micah 6: 6 - 8:
"What does God want from you? Not money, not sacrifice. What He desires is that one lives in humility and exerts justice for all and shows mercy to those who are condemned or downtrodden!"
Listen to the music and as you do, offer up prayers for those who stand, for those nations who are subject to the actions of wicked men, for those who are wrongly accused and for those who mourn.
And for Shahbaz Bhatti - dona eis requiem [grant him rest eternal]
Pax
Don't read my words, but hear his:
One of my friends pointed out that the in the Islamic calendar we are in 1432. When the Christian world was in 1492 it too was in an age that was both bloody and brutal, for this was the bloody and awful Middle Ages, a time when war was waged by fundamentalists and life was cheap, but at lease we didn't have nuclear weapons!
Those who wish for peace, for truth and for justice should spare a thought for Shahbaz's family and for the nation of Pakistan as he joins the governor of Pakistan's Punjab province, Salman Taseer, as another martyr for the cause of truth and justice.
For those who see the death of these men as honouring god, might I suggest that they look to Surah 5, Ayat 32:
“To cause the death of one innocent – it is as if he had slain mankind entirely.
Whoever saves one life – it is as if he had saved mankind entirely.”
For those of other faiths, or no faith, might I point you to the words of Micah 6: 6 - 8:
"What does God want from you? Not money, not sacrifice. What He desires is that one lives in humility and exerts justice for all and shows mercy to those who are condemned or downtrodden!"
Listen to the music and as you do, offer up prayers for those who stand, for those nations who are subject to the actions of wicked men, for those who are wrongly accused and for those who mourn.
And for Shahbaz Bhatti - dona eis requiem [grant him rest eternal]
Pax
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