CHARLOTTE, March 17, 2013 ― The continued violence against Christians in Pakistan is further evidence there is no such thing as a short memory in the Islamic world.

On March 9, an estimated mob of three thousand angry Muslims attacked a Christian community in Lahore and burned more than 200 homes to the ground. The violence erupted out of a charge of blasphemy that allegedly happened during a barroom argument.

Blasphemy is a serious crime in many Islamic countries and is sometimes punishable by death.

In an article titled “Ten Key Points on Islamic Blasphemy Law” in The American Thinker, Andrew Bostom discusses a growing global effort by Muslims to impose Islamic blasphemy laws on non-Muslims. The movement appears to be intensifying and includes those living outside the Islamic world in non-Muslim countries. The list of what constitutes blasphemy law in the Islamic world can be found in Bostom’s article. 

Since the initial attacks in Lahore, Christians have responded with protests throughout Pakistan to emphasize their solidarity and to condemn the recurring charges of blasphemy.

According to reports, many of the now homeless Christians in Lahore are living in the streets and desperate for food and other necessities.

In Jhelum City when Christians protested, Muslims threatened similar acts of arson for responding to the violence and the blasphemy laws. Christians took to the streets shouting slogans such as “Repeal Blasphemy Law” and “Blasphemy Law is Black Law.” Now the Christians live in fear of retaliation for their protests.

Witnesses say local imams immediately prompted Muslims from the loudspeakers that issue the calls to prayer by urging them to round up and punish protesting Christians. Meanwhile, radicals have pressured police to lodge a First Investigation Report (FIR) against Christians who chant slogans against blasphemy laws.

One Presbyterian missionary who lives in a village about 50 miles from Lahore was attacked by radical Muslims while returning home after organizing a protest rally. He was severely beaten and his motorcycle was destroyed for his efforts. Following the pounding, the extremists warned Pastor Naeem Bhadhar that he would be killed if he arranged other protests.

In Lahore, Christians were beaten with sticks and attacked with tear gas by law enforcement officials during the uprising, but officers did nothing more than watch when Muslims set fire to the homes.

Chairman Wilson Chowdhry of the British Pakistani Christian Association claimed the “recent attack on Badami Bagh is unwarranted and a blight on the nation.”

On the other hand, a “blight” in the Middle East is more the rule than the exception, and it will remain that way until Islam undergoes some degree of enlightenment.

 

Peabod is Bob Taylor, owner of Taylored Media Services in Charlotte, NC. Taylor is founder of The Magellan Travel Club, which creates, and escorts customized tours to Switzerland, France and Italy for groups of 12 or more.

Inquiries for groups can be made at Peabod@aol.com Taylored Media has produced marketing videos for British Rail, Rail Europe, Switzerland Tourism, the Swedish Travel & Tourism Council, the Finnish Tourist Board, the Swiss Travel System and Japan Railways Group among others.

As author of The Century Club book, Peabod is now attempting to travel to 100 countries or more during his lifetime. To date he has visited 71 countries. Suggest someplace new for Bob to visit; if you want to know where he has been, check his list on Facebook. Bob plans to write a sequel to his book when he reaches his goal of 100 countries. He also played professional baseball for four years and was a sportscaster for 14 years at WBTV, the CBS affiliate in Charlotte.

 

 

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