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Pakistan

• Government will not amend blasphemy law

  Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani Photo by Assist News

  Christians in Pakistan received a blow this week, as the government of Pakistan will not amend the country's controversial blasphemy law. This decision comes after massive countrywide protests against the government by Islamic and mainstream opposition parties who demand that there be no amendments made.

  Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani told parliament in a speech before the National Assembly in Islamabad, on February 2, that his government would not touch the legislation, which human rights groups say is routinely abused to persecute minorities and settle personal scores. Most recently, the blasphemy law was used against Asia Bibi, a Christian mother, who was found guilty of blaspheming the Prophet Muhammad and sentenced to death. Her case is currently being appealed.

  Sherry Rehman, a member of the Pakistani National Assembly, introduced the bill of proposed amendments last year. However, it was not supported by Rehman's own party. Rehman has said that she was directed to withdraw the bill, and she denies that she did so voluntarily. She has been confined to her home, following a flurry of death threats.

  Pray the Lord will raise up other faithful leaders who are willing to speak up for human rights and religious freedom in Pakistan. Ask the Lord to strengthen and protect His Church. Continue to pray for Asia Bibi, that she will be acquitted of all blasphemy charges.

  Read more about the persecuted Church in Pakistan at thePakistan Country Report.

• Christian murdered, believers threatened

  Christians in the city of Karachi, Sindh province, Pakistan, are facing threats from local police after filing charges in the murder of an 18-year-old Christian man. On January 6, Waqas Gill was abducted from his home by four police officers. His body was found in a sewer two days later. The Christians who found his remains protested against local police, claiming they covered up Waqas' brutal murder and accused them of delaying an autopsy. Head officials reluctantly filed charges against the four accused officers. An autopsy revealed that Waqas had been raped, tortured and shot with police-revolver bullets.

  Waqas' father said that police have since threatened to kill him and other local believers or charge them with false crimes if they do not withdraw the charges against the officers. At least six Christian youth in that area have reportedly been killed in a manner similar to Waqas. A local Christian legislator, Tahir Naveed Chaudhary, condemned the Waqas murder and lamented the police discrimination against Christians: "Day by day, crimes against Christians are increasing, and rape or abuse of Christian women and girls has become a commonplace thing. Life of any of the Christians at any place in Pakistan is not safe."

  Pray those who mourn for Waqas will feel God's comfort and trust that He is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:18). Pray those involved in his murder will repent and come to receive Jesus as Lord, just as the Apostle Paul did. Pray Christians in Pakistan will continue to trust in God's sovereign justice and compassion, even in the face of tragedy and oppression.

  You can find out more about the persecution of Christians in Pakistan at thePakistan Country Report.

• Governor assassinated for opposing blasphemy law

  Governor Salman Taseer

  The governor of Pakistan's Punjab province, Salman Taseer, was killed by his own bodyguard in Islamabad on January 4, allegedly because he spoke out against the country's controversial blasphemy law.

  Interior Minister Rehman Malik said the guard told police that he killed Taseer because of the governor's opposition to Pakistan's blasphemy law. Taseer recently made headlines for speaking out against the law, which was used to sentence Asia Bibi, a Christian woman, who was convicted of insulting the Prophet Muhammad. Friends of the governor say he knew he was risking his life by speaking out.

  Pray the Lord will use the work of Salman Taseer for His good purposes and for the benefit of the Church in Pakistan. Pray there will be great support for reform. Pray the Lord will raise up other leaders who are willing to speak up for the Christian minority in Pakistan.

  For more on believers suffering for serving Christ in Pakistan, visit thePakistan Country Report.

• Christian Asia Bibi 'has price on her head'

  Asia Bibi's family

  VOM continues to follow the case of Asia Bibi, a Christian woman sentenced to death under Pakistan's blasphemy law. Asia's husband, Ashiq Masih, says his family has been receiving threatening phone calls, forcing him and his children to flee their home. Ashiq told the BBC that they move constantly, trying to stay one step ahead of the anonymous callers who have been menacing them. "I ask who they are, but they refuse to tell me," Ashiq said.

  Ashiq insists that his wife is innocent and will be freed, but he worries about what will happen if she is released. "When she comes out, how she can live safely?" he asks. "No one will let her live. The mullahs are saying they will kill her when she comes out."

  In addition to the death sentence hanging over Asia, a radical cleric has put a price on her head, promising $6,000 CAD to anyone prepared to "finish her" (click here for more information).

  Please pray the Lord will protect and provide for Ashiq Masih and his children. May the entire family know the Lord's strengthening presence. Pray the Lord will use Asia's situation to bring about change in Pakistan for His glory. Pray for her release.

  For more on trials facing Christians in Pakistan, visit thePakistan Country Report.

• Minister condemns reward for killing Christian woman

  Asia on a rare visit with her girls

  Pakistan's Federal Minister for Minorities Affairs Shahbaz Bhatti has condemned the recent announcement of a reward for killing the jailed Christian woman Asia Bibi, calling it unjust and irresponsible. The Christian Post reported a hard-line imam offered about $6,000 to anyone who kills Asia Bibi should the president pardon her.

  Imam Maulana Yousuf Qureshi made his offer during a sermon at the largest mosque in Peshawar. He also threatened the government to not amend or repeal the blasphemy laws "which provide protection to the sanctity of Holy Prophet Muhammad." Qureshi said that if the appeals court judge freed Bibi then Muslim extremists would kill her.

  Asia Bibi received a death sentence in November for allegedly speaking badly of Muslim Prophet Muhammad (read more). Her case has sparked international outcry against Pakistan's blasphemy laws, which often are used against religious minorities after a small non-religious-related dispute. The high court has yet to set a date for Bibi's appeals hearing.

  Please continue to pray for the safety and protection of Asia, her family and Christians throughout Pakistan. Thank the Lord for Shahbaz Bhatti's willingness to speak publicly in Asia's defence. Pray the Lord will use this case to repeal the blasphemy laws.

  To learn more about the persecuted Church in Pakistan, visit thePakistan Country Report.

• Update: Court prevents president from pardoning Asia Bibi

  Asia Bibi's family

  A court in Pakistan has told the country's president that he cannot grant a pardon to Asia Bibi, the Christian woman who was sentenced to death for "blasphemy" against Muhammad (click here to read more). International Christian Concern (ICC) reports the Lahore High Court issued the order after lawyers argued that the president cannot issue the pardon before Asia's appeal to the High Court is decided.

  ICC says Asia has appealed to the High Court for the reversal of her death sentence, but the court has yet to set a date for an appeal hearing. Pakistan's Minister for Minorities, Shahbaz Bhatti, said that President Asif Ali Zardari has pledged to intervene if the High Court unnecessarily delays deciding Asia's case. The president also asked Bhatti to investigate Asia's case, and Bhatti found her to be innocent.

  Under Article 45 of Pakistan's constitution, the president has authority to free convicts. Meanwhile, ICC says fundamentalist Muslims have stepped up their threats against the Pakistani officials, warning that there will be anarchy if Asia is pardoned.

  Thank the Lord for the president's willingness to intervene. Pray for Asia's release in the Lord's good timing, pray that He will use Asia's case to highlight the flaws of these infamous blasphemy laws in Pakistan and bring about change. Ask God to protect her and her family and all Christians in the area.

  Find out more about the treatment of believers in Pakistan by visiting thePakistan Country Report.

• Christian killed for ''blasphemy''

  Latif Masih Photo from Compass Direct

  Police suspect two Muslim militants are responsible for the recent murder of a Christian man in Punjab province, Pakistan. In early November, 22-year-old Latif Masih was granted bail after five months of imprisonment for "blasphemy" for allegedly burning pages of the Qur'an. His release came after the complainant in the case told the court he was not certain Latif was guilty. On November 18, two men arrived at the home of Latif and his mother, Rubina Bibi, and asked if he would accompany them. When Latif and the men were a few yards from the house, they shot Latif five times. The men then fled by motorbike. Police were watching the scene from the street but did nothing to stop the assailants. Latif's brother, Junaid Masih, claims that the two attackers were associates of a Muslim man who had filed the blasphemy charge against Latif -- a charge that Junaid claims was part of the Muslim man's plan to take over Latif's motorbike shop.

  Pray that God will grant Latif's loved ones the light of His love in the darkness of grief. Pray that Christ's Body in Pakistan will continue to be a bold testimony of His love and grace. Ask God to help Christians in Pakistan to respond in a Christ-like manner to injustice and oppression.

  For more on the suffering of Christians in Pakistan, visit thePakistan Country Report.

• Pastor beaten with bricks

  Rev. Dr. Suleman Nasri Khan Photo from Compass Direct

  On November 1, 10 Muslim extremists in Islamabad used bricks and hockey sticks to beat a Christian clergyman who is the subject of a fatwa demanding his death. The Rev. Dr. Suleman Nasri Khan, pastor of Power of the Healing God's Church, suffered a serious head injury, a hairline fracture in his arm and a broken bone in his left ankle in the assault. He was able to identify two of his assailants as Allama Atta-Ullah Attari and Allama Masaud Hussain.

  The attack follows Islamic scholar Allama Nawazish Ali's October 25th fatwa (religious ruling) to kill Khan. The fatwa was issued after Khan protested anti-Christian violence in Kalupura last month. Khan, a former fighter in Afghanistan, had relocated to a rented apartment in Islamabad after fleeing his home in Gujrat because of death threats against him and his family. Muslim extremists previously attacked Khan in 2008, after hearing of his conversion to Christianity. His 3-month-old daughter was killed in that assault.

  While fighting in Afghanistan's civil war in 2000, Khan found a New Testament lying on the battlefield. He immediately threw it away, but he says he heard a divine voice extending an invitation to him. When he later embraced Christ, he began preaching and studying, and he earned a doctorate in biblical theology from Punjab Theological Seminary in Kasur in 2005.

  Thank God for Khan's faithfulness. Pray for a full recovery. Pray the Lord will continue to strengthen him and protect him and his family from further harm. Pray for all Christians in Pakistan and Afghanistan who boldly follow Christ.

  To learn more about the Persecuted Church in Pakistan, visit thePakistan Country Report.

• Update: Woman sentenced to death for blasphemy

  On November 8, Asia Bibi, a Christian woman imprisoned in June 2009 on charges of blasphemy was sentenced to death (for more information, click here). Asia, a mother of two from Punjab province, Pakistan, was also ordered to pay a hefty fine -- the amount of which is equivalent to an average labourer's two-and-a-half years' salary in Pakistan. Asia is the first Pakistani woman ever to receive a death sentence for blasphemy.

  Pray that this court ruling will be reversed and that Asia will be released. Pray that Asia will rely on God to sustain and encourage her as she suffers. Pray for God's comfort and peace for Asia's husband and two daughters. Pray that other suffering believers in Pakistan will remain steadfast in faith, serving God with joy and perseverance in the midst of opposition.

  Find out more about the trials facing Christians in Pakistan at thePakistan Country Report.

• Update: Pray for imprisoned Christian

  Asia on a rare visit with her girls

  In June 2009, Asia Bibi was imprisoned on charges of blasphemy in the village of Ittanwali, Punjab province, following a heated discussion with her Muslim coworkers (click here for more on her story). Since then she has been languishing in prison. Her husband and two daughters have been allowed very limited contact with her. A court hearing was planned for the end of October. At press time, it was not yet known if this hearing was held.

  Pray that the charges against Asia will be dropped. Pray that she will soon be reunited with her husband and daughters. Pray that she will continue to look to the Lord for her strength, taking comfort in God's promise that He commends those who suffer for doing good (1 Peter 2:20-21).

  To learn more about Christians suffering for righteousness' sake in Pakistan, go to thePakistan Country Report.