Pakistani Muslims burn effigy of the Holy Father

Following on from Pope Benedict's reasonable appeal to the Pakistani Government to repeal their vicious anti blasphemy legislation, fundamentalist mobs have taken to the streets to protest and to burn an effigy of him.
Followers of the extremist group Jamaat -i-Islami marched in Lahore carrying banners demanding that the "Pop (sic) must behave" and completed their march by demanding a public apology from the Holy Father and withdrawal of his demand.
If such a statement is not received from the Vatican the leader of Jamaat-i-Islami, Liaquat Baloch, said that a massive demonstration would be held on 30th January "by all religious groups". He went on to state that: "they (Jamaat-i-Islami) would not leave Mumtaz Qadri (the assassin of Politician Salman Taseer) unsupported".

The Christian community in Pakistan is becoming increasingly isolated and the demonstration planned for 30th January is likely to produce violent attacks on churches and individuals.

Pray for the beleaguered Christians in Iraq, Egypt, Pakistan, India and many other places in the world. Persecution is rising throughout the world and these people are, largely, making a stand on their own.

PRAY THE ROSARY AS A NOVENA FOR OPPRESSED CHRISTIANS OF THE WORLD - STARTING FRIDAY 14 JANUARY

A BRAVE POPE SPEAKS OUT AGAINST PAKISTAN'S UNJUST LAW

The Holy Father has called for Pakistan to abolish its blasphemy laws - good! There will be a backlash to this but it had to be said and we should not shrink from stating the truth, even to Muslims!

He is totally unafraid to call transgressors to account - Bishops of E & W please take note and follow his example.

The report from DW- World

RELIGION | 10.01.2011

Pope offers rare criticism of Pakistan blasphemy law

Benedict called for more protection for Christians

Pope Benedict XVI has called for more protection for Christian minorities in majority-Muslim nations, uncharacteristically singling out Pakistan over its anti-blasphemy laws.

Pope Benedict XVI has spoken out against an anti-blasphemy law in Pakistan, which the pontiff said serves as a pretext for the persecution of religious minorities.

Speaking in his annual address to foreign diplomats to the Vatican, Benedict said the law, which legislates punishment including the death penalty for anti-Islam statements, bred acts of "injustice and violence."

"I once more encourage the leaders of that country to take the necessary steps to abrogate that law," he said.

"The tragic murder of the governor of Punjab shows the urgent need to make progress in this direction," Benedict added, referring to the killing of Salman Taseer last week.

Taseer, who was known as a liberal voice in Islamic Pakistan, had called for reform of the anti-blasphemy law, which had been used to sentence a Christian mother of four to death by hanging.

Comments on Pakistan unexpected

Benedict went on to say that governments must do more to protect Christians in majority-Muslim countries. His comments come after recent deadly attacks on Christians in Egypt and Iraq.

The remarks singling out Pakistan were somewhat unexpected as the pontiff has traditionally spoken in more general terms when making such statements.

Pakistani Christians, who make up around 2 percent of the population in the country, are particularly fearful of the anti-blasphemy law, convictions under which often rely on witness testimony, which Christians say can be linked to personal vendettas.

Convictions are often thrown out upon appeal, but the resultant public anger has often ended in the accused becoming the subject of attacks.

In July last year, two Christian brothers accused of writing a blasphemous letter against the Prophet Muhammad were gunned down outside a court in the eastern city of Faisalabad.

Christian woman faces death penalty in Pakistan

Fr Z has weighed in on the issue of 45 year old Asia Bibi, a Pakistani Christian woman who faces the death penalty in Pakistan because, when challenged by Muslim co-workers, to convert to Islam, Bibi responded that she was a member of the true faith, Christianity.
The mother of five, has already been found guilty and convicted under Pakistan's blasphemy laws which are, of course, totally biased in favour of Islamic teaching. Her family has been tortured by Muslim mobs and she was badly beaten up before being taken into custody.

45 year old Asia Bibi

International efforts are taking place to have the sentence rescinded and, on behalf of the Vatican, Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, President of the Council for Inter-religious dialogue has travelled to Pakistan to meet with ministers and to express the Holy Father's plea for clemency.
Since the blasphemy laws came into being over 1,000 cases have been heard with over fifty per cent of them involving charges against Muslims.  Archbishop Lawrence John Saldhana of Lahore claims, however, that there is a major difference between the way that Christians charged under the law, are treated as opposed to Muslims. He stated that:
"When a Christian is accused of blasphemy then his or her family and the entire Christian comunity often pay the consequences". He went on to say that when a Muslim is found guilty they pay as an individual and no other party is harmed.
The Pakistani Government is now faced with the decision of releasing Asia Bibi and accepting enormous civil unrest and rioting or, to proceed with the sentence and be blacklisted by the Western world.
Pray for her and her family that she will be released soon and all convictions quashed.

STOP PRESS: Online appeals can be made to the President of Pakistan here.