Series of Attacks
In the wake of the Court ruling and the expected consideration of Anti-Conversion legislation in the Parliament, several Christian churches have been attacked by gangs of armed Buddhist monks. Over the weekend of August 2-3, members of the following five churches were attacked: the Methodist Church in Rathgama, the Assembly of God (AOG) Church in Thanamalwila, the AOG Church in Lunugamwhehra, the AOG Church in Ganemulla, and Calvary Church in Hikkaduwa. As a result of these incidences, at least four Christian workers were beaten and church property was damaged or destroyed. Several pastors have been threatened to close their churches or pay with their lives. More attacks are anticipated.
http://www.persecution.org/Petitions/Pr ... 2003-8.htm
Blasphemy Conviction of Two Christians Upheld by Pakistani Court
August 7, 2003
VOM News, Lahore, Pakistan--A Pakistani
court has upheld the conviction of two Christians
accused of committing blasphemy against the
Islamic holy book.
The Voice of the Martyrs has learned the
Lahore High Court has agreed with prosecution
arguments that Amjad and Asif Masih set fire to
a copy of the Koran while detained at a police
station in February 1999.The court stated that,
"The act of the accused was calculated to out-
rage the religious feelings of the Muslim(s)." The
court also said, "There is not even a remote
possibility that the police officials who were all
Muslims could willfully dare or even think of
desecrating the Holy Quran in the manner it was
done."
Amjad and Asif were originally arrested under a
false charge of vagrancy. They claim Muslim
police officers framed them and set fire to the
Islamic holy book because the two street
sweepers refused to pay them a $300 bribe.
The two Christians received life sentences--the
maximum penalty for desecration of the Koran
under Pakistan's 295-B blasphemy law.
Amjad's wife Kauser works as a maidservant
earning only $16 U.S. per month to support their
four young children. The Voice of the Martyrs is
helping to pay the school fees of the children,
including 4-year old Sundas, the daughter
Amjad has never met. The assistance provided
to Amjad's family is coming from VOM's
Families of Martyrs fund.
Amjad and Asif are expected to appeal the
Lahore court decision to Pakistan's Supreme
Court. The Supreme Court has regularly
reversed the blasphemy case rulings of lower
courts that are often threatened by radical
Islamic groups to uphold false blasphemy
convictions.
http://www.domini.org/openbook/pak20030807.htm
Muslim Convert to Christianity Butchered
29 July 2003
The body of a Muslim convert to Christianity who went missing in mid-July, has
been returned to his family, slaughtered and cut into four pieces by Islamic
extremists.
The man left his friends and family almost two weeks ago heading into a
mountainous region of the Palestinian Authority area. He took Christian
materials including cassettes, videos and Bibles with him. After approximately
ten days during which his friends and family received no word from him, his body
was returned to them. He had been brutally killed and his body carved into four
pieces as a warning to other converts. He leaves behind a wife and two small
children. The names and further details of those involved are being withheld by
Barnabas Fund for their own safety.
Local Christians in this part of the Holy Land have been involved in supporting
converts from a Muslim background who suffer persecution from Islamic extremists
in the Palestinian Authority areas. Some of them have also been the target of
attacks. Last year one such Christian received a phone call telling him that a
Muslim convert was in a serious condition in hospital; in response he
immediately set off in his car. On the way his vehicle was deliberately driven
off the road by another car. The phone call later proved to be a hoax designed
to lead him into trap. In another attempt on his life this same Christian was
hospitalised. Local Christians working to support converts from Islam report
that Islamic militants in the Palestinian Authority area deliberately target
converts. Hamas in particular reportedly receives funding from Iran
specifically for this purpose.
According to shari’a (Islamic law) any Muslim male who leaves Islam
(apostatises) faces the death penalty. Barnabas Fund is campaigning for a
change in Islamic teaching on apostasy. A petition has been launched, copies of
which can be obtained from the address below, or downloaded from
http://www.barnabasfund.org/Apostasy/petition.htm. In Britain’s House of Commons
45 MPs have put their name to an Early Day Motion calling for an end to the
punishment of apostates.
http://www.barnabasfund.org/News/Archiv ... 030702.htm.
http://www.barnabasfund.org/Apostasy.htm
Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.