Pakistani leader moves to form new government

(Cover photo: Nawaz Sharif's election symbol. Story photo:
 Pakistani voter (Images courtesy Olaf Kellerhoff,
Creative Commons, Flickr)

Pakistan (MNN) ― Despite claims of vote rigging, Pakistan's Nawar Sharif is setting an aggressive agenda for his term as Prime Minister.

He's the first to be a three-term Prime Minister, his last period in office ending 14 years ago in a military coup. Sharif inherits a government fraught with challenges: economy, terrorism, and foreign relations with the West. Spokesman for the Voice of the Martyrs USA Todd Nettleton says at first blush, "The good news here is that a duly-elected government of Pakistan is about to hand over power to another duly-elected civilian government in Pakistan. That's the first time that that has happened."

Additionally, initial results show that the Muslim League (Nawaz), of which Sharif is head, leads in 114 constituencies out of 272. Sharif is seen as a fiscal conservative, leaning heavily toward free market economics and deregulation. However, Nettleton suggests that as far as religious freedom goes, things aren't likely to change much. "It's hard to see a situation where there is just a huge dramatic change on the issue of religious freedom, on the issue of the blasphemy laws there just because he's been in power before. If he wanted those kinds of changes, you would have thought that he would have made some moves toward them when he was in power last time."

Elections in Egypt ushered in the Muslim Brotherhood, which introduced a more Sharia-friendly government--much to the dismay of believers. With the Muslim League apparently coming into power, the comparison between Egypt's changes and Pakistan's upcoming adjustments seem obvious. However, on that point, Nettleton demurs. "I don't think it's as overtly Islamic as the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, but it's hard to say, once they get into power, who's making the decisions. Those will be things that we'll be watching."

One thing does seem unlikely: changes to the blasphemy law that has given Christians no end of trouble, says Nettleton. "It's hard to imagine a government there who would anger the radical elements within Pakistani society by really making a concerted effort to change the blasphemy law or even to modify it."

In 1860, offenses relating to religion were first codified by India's British rulers. They were then expanded in 1927. Pakistan inherited these laws after the partition of India in 1947, and they remain firmly entrenched in the penal code.

Despite its infringement of the constitution, Sharia law is increasingly applied, even to Christians and Hindus--especially in areas where Islamist groups have control or influence. Many Pakistani Christians have been falsely accused under the Blasphemy Law, or Law 295. Law 295a, blaspheming Islam, and Law 295b, blaspheming the Qur'an, are criminal offenses. Law 295c makes blaspheming Mohammed a crime punishable by death.

Accordingly, "Christians in Pakistan are such a tiny minority that they always watch with a lot of caution what the government is doing and what direction things are going," says Nettleton, and with good reason: Pakistan ranks 14th on the Open Doors World Watch List. It's a compendium of the top 50 countries in the world known for their persecution of Christians.

Pray that Christians in Pakistan will have a bold testimony to those around them. Pray for protection for Christians facing intimidation and threats. One more thing, adds Nettleton: "I think we need to pray for this new government as well. We need to pray that they will stand for minority rights, that they will stand for religious freedom and will protect the rights of Christians and the rights of others to be a part of Pakistani society."

Bangladesh Islamists push for blasphemy law

(Images courtesy Uncultured/Creative Commons/Flickr)

Bangladesh (MNN) ― At least 27 people died in clashes between police and Islamic hardliners in Bangladesh's capital city Monday. 

Demonstrators were demanding that the government enact an anti-blasphemy law. We spoke with the national co-director ofAsian Access(A2)/Bangladesh, Rev. Peter Mazumder, who also serves as director of IFES-Bangladesh (International Fellowship of Evangelical Students). He explains, [sic] "Jamaat-e-Islami want to pressure that Bangladesh should have this blasphemy law, which is totally denied by the government of Bangladesh. And also, the concerned people from Bangladesh, they don't accept that one." 

Essentially, that means the government of the Muslim-majority nation has rejected the demand, insisting that Bangladesh is governed by secular law. 

However, Jamaat-e-Islami was joined by Hefajat-e-Islam, the islamist group behind the demand, and the main opposition party, the Bangladesh National Party (BNP). Hefajat-e-Islam attracted little public attention until recently. Mazumder says its mission is stated in its name: ‘Hefajat-e-Islam' translates to ‘protecting islam'. 

With the three groups together, that advanced the number of protestors exponentially. It was a tinder box situation. Mazumder says, [Sic] "We don't like the violence. The fundamental groups are so dangerous, that they are breaking all the cars and everything, and all of the sudden, lots of riots is coming up, and it's not safe."

The opposition has sponsored a series of recent general strikes demanding that the next general election due in early 2014 be supervised by a neutral caretaker administration.

Paying attention to the political makeup of the government is particularly important because for a ministry like Asian Access, Bangladesh is the first Muslim country where they've set up operations. 

In 2011, A2 launched its first leader development session in Bangladesh. Mazumder notes that Class 1 is in session this week, and only a few participants have been late or unable to come because of the protest strikes. It means that their work is largely undisrupted despite the upheaval. [Sic] "We are having our A2 seminars, and we are now completing the seventh seminar semester; in September, we're having our graduation."

Notably, the national strikes have impacted the last three previous sessions, (Sep, Nov, and Feb). A2 notes that sometimes the session needs to end early, in order to allow enough time for the pastors to make it back to their home churches in time to preach on Sunday.

The situation created a unique and unifying opportunity for Christians in Bangladesh, says Mazumder. [Sic]"The last few days many churches came together, and we prayed God may transform this situation and change the situation. We'd like to see a peaceful country like that, so you can pray for that."

The accord between these Christians is proof that A2's approach to church leadership training and discipleship training works. Essentially, it boils down to this idea: If you want to plant a church, you must first grow a leader. Careful selection of a select group of emerging leaders is key. The Asian Access leadership training has been recognized as one of the most creative and fruitful leadership training programs in Asia. 

Continue to pray for the safety of the students and leaders. Ask God to intervene on behalf of believers in Bangladesh. Pray for peace to be restored. If you want to see more about the leadership training model, click here. 

Teen accused of blasphemy will leave jail, but can’t go home, lawyer says

Reunion with parents is likely, but safety is uncertain

By Murad Khan

Lahore, Pakistan, August 30 (Open Doors News) — Rimsha Masih is likely to be cleared of the blasphemy charge against her, but never will be able to return home, her lawyer says.

Tahir Naveed Chaudhry, who has taken up the defense of the young Christian girl whose case has renewed international debate about Pakistan’s notorious anti-blasphemy laws, said he is confident Rimsha will qualify for release on bail this week. The government, however, may ask the court to keep her in custody until tensions ease.

Naveed, a member of Pakistan’s Punjab provincial assembly, also hinted that the blasphemy accusations against Rimsha may have been motivated partly by overtures toward her older sister being rebuffed.

“I am quite hopeful of securing Rimsha’s release on bail,” Naveed told Open Doors News. “A medical board has certified that she is 14, although her church record claims it to be around 11.”

Under Section 7 of Pakistan’s Juvenile Justice Ordinance, he said, Rimsha is not an adult and her case should be transferred to a juvenile court. Nor does she have the maturity to understand the concept of blasphemy, he said.

“The medical report has also supported our contention that her mental age is not compatible with her physical age,” Naveed said. “Both official findings will help us in proving that the charges against her have been wrongly framed and she should be set free on bail immediately.”

Rimsha, a resident of a poor Christian pocket of Islamabad, was reported to authorities Aug. 17 on the testimony of neighboring Muslims who accused her of carrying burned pages of Quranic verses. Little is known about how the girl came to be carrying burned religious texts. Even so, police have said they placed the girl in jail both to placate angry demonstrators and to keep Rimsha safe from attack. Her parents likewise were removed to protective custody, while hundreds of Christian neighbors fled to the relative safety of more distant Islamabad sectors. Pakistan’s president, Asif Ali Zardari, stepped into the matter, warning against vigilantism and ordering the interior ministry to investigate.

Click here to read original coverage of Rimsha's arrest

The accusations against the girl have renewed international condemnation of Pakistan’s anti-blasphemy laws, which carry the potential of a life sentence for desecrating the Quran, and the death penalty for insulting the prophet Muhammad. Inside Pakistan, the laws enjoy widespread popular support, and prominent government officials who have advocated they be repealed have been killed.

Rimsha’s defense, her lawyer said, pivots on the legal requirement that “willful desecration of the Quran” must be proved. In this case, Rimsha is both too young, and too mentally incapable, to carry out intentional defamation.

“The law clearly does not apply on her,” Naveed said. “There was no willful desecration on her part. There is no way the poor child could have known what she is being accused of having done.”

A medical board constituted by an “additional district magistrate” had found Rimsha’s age to be around 14. On Tuesday, the judge instructed Naveed to file a fresh application requesting the court to order a new medical exam, this time by a medical board convened by a more senior district magistrate. The judge observed that the first medical board had been constituted by the order of a lesser magistrate, and not by the court.

“I filed a fresh application as per the court’s orders and requested the setting up of a medical board to determine Rimsha’s age,” Naveed said. “The court accepted my application and directed the district magistrate to constitute the board which will present its findings on Aug. 30.”

The complaint against Rimsha was registered under the name of Malik Ammad, who Naveed said is the son-in-law of the man who owns the house in Meherabad in Islamabad’s Sector G-12, where the girl lived with her family.

“Ammad does not enjoy a good repute in the locality,” the lawyer said. “Rimsha’s family shared with me that he had made several attempts to ‘befriend’ Rimsha’s older sister but had been unsuccessful. This could be one of the reasons besides the discriminatory attitude of some of the locality’s Muslims.”

He said about 50 Christian families had been living among 500 Muslim families in the area for the last 15 years.

“Most of the Christians are laborers and their women work as maids in the nearby bungalows, while the Muslims have businesses in the area and own almost all property in the locality,” he said. “Soon after the incident, a large number of Christians fled the area fearing violence as the Muslims threatened to burn down their homes but now the situation was improving and several families had returned to their residences.”

Though he said he is hopeful the court will release Rimsha on bail and that she would soon be united with her family, Naveed said he is equally certain the family will face more upheaval.

“As with every blasphemy accused, Rimsha and her family won’t be able to return to their home as it may put their lives at risk,” he said.

A government source told Open Doors News that intelligence agencies had warned authorities that setting Rimsha free at this stage could stoke religious tension.

“The agencies have advised the government to oppose Rimsha’s bail and keep her in custody until the matter cools down,” the source said, asking not to be named because of the sensitivity of the situation.

Regardless, Naveed said, “the government should release her and ensure the security of all Christians living in the area.”

Rimsha has found some support from Muslim quarters as well, with the leader of a prominent Islamist group calling for the release of the girl, if found innocent, and punishment for the persons responsible for leveling the false accusation.

END

**********

Copyright 2012 Open Doors News

Open Doors News is distributed to raise awareness of Christians worldwide who are persecuted for their faith.

Pakistan blasphemy case girl examined by doctors

By Dan Wooding
Founder of ASSIST Ministries

PAKISTAN (ANS) -- Doctors in Pakistan have examined a young Christian girl imprisoned on blasphemy charges to determine her age and mental capacity, with the results due to be presented in court tomorrow.

According to the BBC, her lawyer says the girl, called Rimsha, is 11 or 12 years old and appears to have Down’s syndrome.

“She is being held in a maximum security prison after an angry mob accused her of desecrating pages of the Koran. But her supporters say she has been wrongly accused,” said the BBC.

“Police say the girl was arrested last week in a Christian area of the capital Islamabad, after a crowd of people demanded that she be punished for allegedly desecrating pages of the Muslim holy book.

“It is not clear whether she burned pages of the Koran or was found to be carrying them in her bag.

Attack fears

The doctors' report will be presented at a bail hearing in Islamabad on Tuesday.

Christian leaders say she is as young as 11 but police quoted in some media reports say she may be older and that she had no mental impairments.

Pakistan's Minister for National Harmony, Paul Bhatti, has said she is innocent and should be released.

He told the BBC earlier: “The police were initially reluctant to arrest her, but they came under a lot of pressure from a very large crowd who were threatening to burn down Christian homes.”

According to the BBC's Orla Guerin in Islamabad, Rimsha’s lawyer said that when he saw her in jail over the weekend she wept and begged to be released.

Her parents have been taken into protective custody following threats, and many other Christian families are reported to have fled the neighborhood.

“There are fears that even if she is released, Rimsha’s family will not be safe in Pakistan. 

Others accused of blasphemy have been killed by vigilante mobs in the recent past,” concluded the BBC story.

Kurdistan blasphemy law considered

Kuridstan Parliament ,Church in Kurdistan. (Photos by SL James)

Iraq (MNN) ― It appears that a segment of Iraq is considering a blasphemy law.

At one time, the region of Northwestern Iraq was a haven for Christians in the troubled Middle East. Reports two years ago showed that as Christians fled Baghdad, they sometimes headed for Kurdistan.

Today, that could be changing. It seems that as the exodus continued out of Iraq, conditions have also steadily deteriorated in Kurdistan due to Islamic extremism.

Kurdistan is autonomous in Iraq and has its own regional government. Parliamentarians in Iraq's Kurdish region hope to end religious violence by banning insults to what "all religions" have in common.

Paul Estabrooks, minister-at-large for Open Doors explains, "They have not mentioned any specific religion in the law, but the common aspects are 'God,' The Prophet, and 'Holy Book.' They're trying to develop something that will cut off these kinds of challenges that occur repeatedly."

The draft bill calls for up to 10 years in prison and closing a publication for vaguely worded offenses such as "portraying the prophets inappropriately." It is expected to be voted on in the near future.  

The legislation came about after the publication of an article in May 2010 that was an imaginary discussion with God that included profanity. Outrage over the article boiled into rioting that caused property damage and led to arrests and injuries.

Because it was an apparent response to a free speech issue, there were concerns that the bill would also limit free speech. Estabrooks says, "Basher Hadad, the head of the committee that's drafting this bill in Iraq, has told different news services that this is not going to be any kind of censorship," but he believes that's a total front.

By the vague nature of the bill's wording, it will do exactly that, even though people are assured that they will still be free to criticize mullahs, scholars, Islam, or the history of Islam. Estabrooks says, "The real issue, of course, is that fine line between 'criticism' and  'insult.' Any kind of criticism is also perceived as 'insult.'"  

Government officials say the law will protect Christians and Muslims. However, Estabrooks is doubtful. "There's no track record yet of any of these blasphemy laws benefiting Christians. Usually, it's just the opposite."

The atmosphere has decidedly cooled toward believers in the region. Right now, says Estabrooks, "Christians have had some opportunity to function as Christians without restrictions, at least from the government." Change is coming, he says. "Whether the government can protect them from what will become challenges of blasphemy remains to be seen."

Estabrooks thinks it won't be long before the impact on Gospel work will also be evident. "Christians are going to be a little more hesitant to be outspoken, or to be able to share anything because of the concern of it being interpreted as an insult and therefore, blasphemy."

It's not time to panic. You can pray that the bill would not pass. "Pray that God will enable the Christians to be the good citizens of this country and to be able maintain the freedom they have at this point to share the Gospel."

Eighth grader expelled, almost charged for 'blasphemy' in Pakistan

Pakistan (MNN) ― An eighth-grade student in Pakistan was expelled from school and narrowly missed a blasphemy charge--punishable by death--for misspelling an Urdu word in school, according to Compass Direct News.


Read more...

Christian Pastor in Iran freed from prison, most likely faces a trial for blasphemy against Islam

By Michael Ireland
Senior Correspondent, ASSIST News Service


RASHT, IRAN (ANS) -- ASSIST News Service has learned that Pastor Matthias Haghnejad has been released from prison on bail today, Saturday August 27.

Jason Demars of Present Truth Ministries (www.presenttruthmn.com ) told ANS: "A family member pledged their property so that he could get out of prison. Thank you for praying for him and for all who helped make this known throughout the world. God worked through your prayers and made a way for his release."

Haghnejad has been charged with blasphemy against Islam.

Pastor Matthias Haghnejad (Photo courtesy Present Truth Ministries)

"This is a serious charge against him so I ask that you continue to pray for him and his family. God made a way for his acquittal previously and I believe he will do so again," DeMars said.

DeMars said Haghnejad was being held in prison, presumably, in the Rasht area by VEVAK, the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and National Security. He was arrested during a pastoral visit with a family in the Rasht area.

DeMars earlier told ANS the secret police (VEVAK) had not contacted brother Matthias' family and that he was being held without access to an attorney.

"Typically, under these circumstances, pastors are being tortured in order to gain as much information as possible from them," DeMars said.

It was understood that MOIS (Ministry of Intelligence and Security), also known as VEVAK, was holding Matthias at a MOIS facility in Rasht.

DeMars explained that MOIS, one the most powerful ministries in the Iranian government, operates many facilities throughout Iran, all independent of any government oversight.

"These facilities are reserved for those deemed a threat to national security, often political prisoners," he said.

Haghnejad had not been allowed any visitors, so his physical condition was unknown. Also, as of DeMars' earlier report, authorities had not yet decided what they would charge him with, but set his bail at $30,000.

"Once again, the Iranian regime proves that it cares very little for human rights of any kind. Here, a simple pastor from Bandar-e Anzali is arrested, held incommunicado and presumably (based upon past behavior) is being tortured," DeMars said.

"These men who control the government of Iran hold to the lowest form of religion that seeks to destroy the lives of those who will not bow their knee to tyranny and injustice. They have arrested a Christian pastor, who has NO interest in politics, and torture, interrogate and imprison him because of their false beliefs."

Please pray that brother Matthias has the grace, strength, clarity, wisdom and power of God working in him now as the Iranian regime seeks to break him. Pray that our Heavenly Father gives peace to his wife and daughter.

Please pray and please contact human rights agencies, Iranian Ambassadors' in your country and let your foreign ministry know about what is happening.

DeMars also wants concerned believers to remember that Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani remains in prison awaiting the re-examination of his case for apostasy.

"Continue to pray, write him letters and send emails to Iranian embassies requesting his release. With God all things are possible! "DeMars said.

Please continue to hold up both men in prayer for their safety, strength, and courage in the face of suffering.

---

** Michael Ireland is Senior Correspondent for ANS. He is an international British freelance journalist who was formerly a reporter with a London (United Kingdom) newspaper and has been a frequent contributor to UCB UK, a British Christian radio station. While in the UK, Michael traveled to Canada and the United States, Albania,Yugoslavia, Holland, Germany,and Czechoslovakia. He has reported for ANS from Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Israel, Jordan, China,and Russia. Michael's volunteer involvement with ASSIST News Service is a sponsored ministry department -- 'Michael Ireland Media Missionary' (MIMM) -- of A.C.T. International of P.O.Box 1649, Brentwood, TN 37024-1649, at: Artists in Christian Testimony (A.C.T.) International where you can make a donation online under 'Donate' tab, then look for 'Michael Ireland Media Missionary' under 'Donation Category' to support his stated mission of 'Truth Through Christian Journalism.' Michael is a member in good standing of th e National Writers Union, Society of Professional Journalists, Religion Newswriters Association, Evangelical Press Association and International Press Association. If you have a news or feature story idea for Michael, please contact him at: ANS Senior Reporter

Believers chorus a Cry For Mercy on behalf of a Christian in Pakistan

Cover photo: Asia Bibi. Story photo:
 Bibi's family. (Photos courtesy of
 Voice of the Martyrs USA)

Pakistan (MNN) ― A global petition drive is underway to see a Pakistani woman freed.

For two years, Voice of the Martyrs, a Christian persecution watchdog group, has been following the case of Asia Bibi--a Christian woman who was sentenced to death on blasphemy charges.

  

VOM spokesman Todd Nettleton says last week, they unveiled a campaign on Bibi's behalf. It was a response to a grassroots movement. "The genesis of this actually came from Christians in Pakistan. They collected 150,000 signatures inside Pakistan--people who were willing to say ‘We need justice for Asia Bibi. We need justice for Christians in our country.'"

Entitled "Call for Mercy," Nettleton describes the purpose. "We are trying to collect a million signatures of people who will say, ‘Listen. We ask for our sister Asia Bibi to be released from prison. We ask for her to be restored to her husband and her daughters and allowed to continue her life.'"

  

What good will signatures do in a high-profile case like this? Due to tense relations between Pakistan and the U.S. right now, government pressure might not be effective. However, a grassroots movement is likely to get some attention. Nettleton says, "We are going to deliver these names to the Pakistani Embassy in Washington, DC,"  adding that "we are encouraging some of our contacts around the world to work through the Pakistani embassy in their particular country so that we sort of create the understanding that people around the world are watching this case."

Bibi's case began in 2009 when she was involved in an intense discussion with co-workers about their faith. The Muslim women told her about Islam, and, according to VOM sources, Bibi responded by telling the Muslim women that Jesus is alive: "Our Christ sacrificed His life on the cross for our sins.... Our Christ is alive."

Bibi was arrested in connection with this incident, charged and convicted under Pakistan's blasphemy law which prohibits citizens from criticizing Islam, the Muslim Prophet Muhammad, or the Quran. Although the United Nations passed a resolution that protects individuals from blasphemy laws, it seems to have had little effect.

Bibi appealed her conviction to the country's highest court. "We don't know when they will rule, when they will hear that case and it will move forward. In the meantime, she's still in jail. She's separated from her husband, from her daughters, and waiting for the High Court to rule. It's now been more than two years."

The Voice of the Martyrs has supported Bibi and her family since the time of her arrest. The petition drive is a chorus of voices working in harmony in the name of Christ. "We're simply speaking on behalf of a Christian sister, and we don't like the fact that she has been sentenced to die simply for speaking out about her Christian faith. We encourage the Pakistani government to release her and allow her to go free."

Check our featured links section for a link to the petition drive.