Pakistani Christian sentenced to deathPDFPrintE-mail
World
Written by Chris Perver  
Friday, 01 June 2007 17:00
Younis Masih, a Pakistani Christian who spoke out against the rape of Christian girls in his country, has been charged with blasphemy of the prophet Mohammed by a court in Lahore. Under Pakistani law he has committed an offence punishable by death. No execution of those convicted under this law has ever been carried out by the state, but even just an accusation of blasphemy is enough for Muslim gangs to commit murder. As in this case, "confessions" are often extracted under torture, the jury can be intimidated by Muslim activists to give a guilty verdict, and those offering legal assistance may be warned not to interfere. Masih plans to appeal the ruling.   

Quote: "The human rights organization says Section 295C of the Pakistan Penal Code, which relates to blasphemy against the Prophet Mohammed, was introduced in 1986 by the then-ruler of Pakistan, General Zia ul-Haq. Section 295B, relating to desecration of the Koran, was introduced in 1982. The blasphemy laws require only an accusation by one man against another for a case to be filed. In almost all cases the charges are entirely fabricated. Masih was outspoken against incidents of rape committed against Christian girls, and is a Christian himself. It is believed these were the reasons he was accused of blasphemy.

Sadly persecution of Christians in states such as Pakistan, and other Islamic countries is nothing new. Last year we had the trial of Abdul the Afghani Christian convert, who was sentenced to death by an Afghan court for converting to Christianity. According to Sharia law, he is still treated as a Muslim who has defected from the "faith". This happened in a "free" Afghanistan, under the noses of the United States. Thankfully he was released after a worldwide protest.

It's not easy for Christians living in Islamic countries. Muslims believe there is only one God, and Mohammed is his prophet. Of course Christians also believe that there is only one God, but existing in three persons - Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Muslims and Jews find this very hard to understand. They think that we worship three Gods, which to them is idolatry. Muslims believe that Jesus Christ was a prophet but that he was just human, and to make a human equal with Allah is an offence punishable by death. In the West we can understand how God could have a Son, but for Muslims this is a foreign notion, for they cannot understand how God could have a Son without having a sexual relationship with a woman. And suggesting that God had a sexual relationship with a woman is blasphemous, both to them and us. But the Bible clearly states, both in the Old Testament and the New, that God has a Son, and His name is Jesus Christ. Throughout the New Testament, Jesus Christ claimed equality with His Father, and even the Jews sought to stone Him for blasphemy. 

John 10:30-33 
I (Jesus Christ) and my Father (God) are one. Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.

Muslims do believe that Jesus Christ never sinned. But they must answer this question. Why did the Jews seek to stone Jesus? If the Jewish leaders misunderstood Jesus' words, why didn't Jesus correct them. And if He didn't correct them, then we must assume that their assertion - that He was making Himself to be God - was correct. Is this blasphemy? No, not if Jesus Christ is who He claimed to be, God manifest in flesh (1st Timothy 3:16). During the tribulation period, the Bible states that many tribulation saints will be beheaded for their witness for Jesus Christ. As we can see, the ones who will be doing the beheading, and who will also have the motive to do it, will most likely be Muslims.

Revelation 20:4 
And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 

Source WorldNetDaily

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