More threats following brutal murders. "UPDATE: Pakistani Muslim Groups Threaten More Violence," from International Christian Concern, August 5:
Pakistan (International Christian Concern) - Several Muslim groups met in Gojra, Pakistan, today to hold a press conference calling on the government to exonerate religious leaders accused of inciting the anti-Christian attacks that occurred this past weekend. In addition, they threatened to hang the Christian whose alleged blasphemy sparked the violence.Muslim groups Jamiyat Islami Gojra (a religious group) and Anjman-e-Tajran (a trade union) initially condemned last weekend's violence in their statements. However, they quickly reversed course by calling for the release of Ulma and the other clerics named in the official police report. They further contradicted their initial statement by threatening to hang Talib Masih and others accused of blasphemy in the Gojra bazaar if the government had not arrested him by August 10.
This press conference is a sign that the government has not restored rule of law in this area, and is risking another outbreak of violence by its delay in responding adequately to the situation.
The violence occurred on July 31 and August 1 when mobs of infuriated Muslims attacked and burned over 100 Christian homes after hearing a rumor that Talib Masih and his sons had cut up pieces of the Qur'an to throw in the air during a wedding. A committee investigating the alleged blasphemy has found Talib innocent.
At least 8 Christians were killed, 35 injured, and 45 missing after the attacks. ICC urges all concerned parties to call the Embassy of Pakistan and urge President Zardari to uphold the rights of religious minorities and take immediate action to prosecute the leaders of the mob, especially the radical clerics who called for the attacks.
Pakistan Embassies:
USA: (202) 243-6500
Canada: (613) 238-7881
UK: 0870-005-6967
Re-posting what I preserved of the original comments that were made to this article while we were using IntenseDebate.
POETCOMIC said - Is it just me or does the situation of Pakistan's Christians seem to be swiftly deteriorating?
We are talking about 2.8 million official Christians and probably another half million secret Christians (at least). If it were to accelerate to genocidal proportions what would the West and the churches do? If anything?
-VIRGIL said - They'd probably do nothing. The Western Christians refuse to defend their own lands against aggressive and belligerent Islam, why would they defend others?
DUMBLEDORESARMY said - The situation of Egypt's Christians also seems to me to be getting rapidly worse; and I fully expect that the moment the Western forces leave Iraq, there will be a massive pogrom against the Assyrian Christians who remain there.
-UNDAUNTED added - Wouldn't be surprised at all, Dumbles.
-VIRGIL answered DDA - You are correct in your observations and predictions. The future for the Christians in Iraq, Egypt, and Pakistan is very grim. Christians in Europe should take a lesson from the fate of their brothers and sisters in the Middle East, for that is the same future that awaits them if they refuse to reverse the Islamisation of Europe. When Muslims gain large enough numbers in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, and England what do the non-Muslim Europeans (Christian or non-religious) think is going to happen to them?
JOCKAIRA said - If the Paki situation were to "accelerate to genocidal proportions" there would of course be public condemnation in some western quarters and possibly indictments for the ringleaders in the World Court.
Other than that, it is doubtful that anything else would be done. Any actions or lack of such by the Islamic Republic of Pakistan would be considered internal matters by a sovereign nation. It is hoped that the USA and others would withhold monetary aid until the situation were rectified by bringing the perpetrators to justice, but the Pakistani history vis-à-vis the recent Mumbai slaughter is a fair indication of Islamic inertia in dealing with their tacit state-supported domestic terrorism.
JETCAL said - (quoting) "In addition, they threatened to hang the Christian whose alleged blasphemy sparked the violence......A committee investigating the alleged blasphemy has found Talib innocent."
-In Pakistan when it comes to non-Muslims; Let your actions be unfettered by the truth. Kill,kill, kill the kuffar!
KAFFIRKANUCK said - Islamo-nut-job-on-boy-ass-crevice-denial syndrome.
First thing you need to cover your tracks is leave no witnesses.
If there are witnesses, blame the victims for inciting the violence.
If the witnesses are also the victims, threaten them with more violence should they try to do anything to incite you to more violence.
Religion of Peace (RoP)-a-dope 101.
Same kind of argument used to qualify immediate exoneration from raping, “But your honour, how could I not be incited to rape that 10 year old girl/boy after she/he gave me that sexy look without any male relatives around?”
MAXPUBLIUS said - Next time Muslims claim to be peaceful, they should reflect on the fact that Muslims (both the professional and spontaneous terrorist types), in the name of Allah, murder more innocent people in an average WEEK then the Klan has in the last 80 years combined.
HERMIT said - And how much is US paying the pakistanis for the privilege of burning Christians and Hindus exactly? What was it, $15 billion at the last count? Free military jets and plenty of military training?
US must be really proud of its great friend and ally.
MRSJ said - I propose an exchange. We'll take all the Pakistani Christians, they can have an equal or greater number of Pakistani Muslims back.
That'd be a win-win situation.
-DDA said to MRSJ - I'm sure Australia could fit in *at least* several hundred thousand bona fide Pakistani Christians and Hindus...all we need to do to make room for them is to Return to Sender all of the Lebanese Muslims, Somali Muslims, Indian-and-Pakistani-and-Bangladeshi-Muslims (and a few other varieties of Muslim whose origins I forget) who have given us such things as violent gang rapes of non-Muslim Aussie girls, Sheikh Catmeat's misogyny, beating-up of Aussie Jews in broad daylight in a city street, the Cronulla riots (which included a Muslim drive-by shooting at a Catholic church). assorted jihad plots, etc etc and so forth.
-MRSJ told DDA - We just need the US and the rest of Europe to chip in, and we'll be on our way to some security.
All we need now is for you and I to become Prime Ministers of our respective countries and someone from JW to be POTUS and it might even happen! :-))
DUMBLEDORESARMY [DDA] observed - There are 3 million Christians in Pakistan, and 2.4 million Hindus. India could take the Hindus and any remaining Sikhs...and evict a corresponding 2.5 million (or more: why not the whole lot?) troublemaking riotous parasitical Muslims.
Australia, the UK, Canada, the USA and various other Christian-majority countries could divvy up the Pakistani Christians among themselves...making room for them by booting back into dar al Islam a corresponding number of Muslims. Australia had 250 000 Muslims in 2001 - it's probably more, now.
We could chuck them all out and replace them with 250 000 Pakistani Christians, who would I am sure be a much more peaceful and productive addition to our society. So many of them are Anglicans and Catholics that I'm sure they'd fit right in.
And while we're on the subject, some kind of similar deal to rescue the Iraqi and Egyptian Christians is long overdue. Imagine the sudden shift in the demographic balance in Western Europe if they took in all the Iraqi Christians, plus all ten million Copts, and summarily threw out the Muslims, beginning with all the illegals.
-POETCOMIC said to DDA - I lived in Egypt many years ago. You talk blithely of taking Copts from Egypt and putting them whereever. You have NO IDEA how horrific and tragic the separation of the REAL Egyptians from Egypt is. Heartbreaking.
-DDA said to POETCOMIC - This is an emergency expedient - to save lives.
Culture can be preserved in exile from homeland, if there is motivation...as the Jews have demonstrated, and as the Tibetans are also showing (indeed, the Tibetan diaspora have been talking to the Jews to get ideas and inspiration).
The Copts in Australia are assimilating into Australia, living as hardworking citizens, but have also established schools (whose children, like children from the older Jewish and Catholic and Anglican faith-based schools, graduate with excellent characters and results, unlike Muslim kids from madrasas!) and monasteries and churches, and a major Australian university has now established a school of 'Coptic Studies'.
When Islam weakens sufficiently, or implodes altogether, then future Copts may be able to return home; as the Jews did.
An alternative - hey, let's dream - would be for Israel to take back the Sinai and offer the Copts refuge there, in economic-and-defence alliance with Israel.
-BONESHACK said to POETCOMIC - Explain. Is separation worse than death?
-POETCOMIC said - Neither is bearable. How can the world LET this happen, especially the Christian world.
-GREATICON said to DUMBLEDORESARMY - dda,Thats the right way to do it.
The Christians, Hindus and Sikhs will contribute enormously to the economies of US, Europe, Australia and most of all assimilate into their societies.
The muslims will never integrate into the western societies and will always seek their doom.
-BROWNKITTY said to DUMBLEDORESARMY - "Splendid idea, dumbledoresarmy! We will continue as a Christian nation. One day a president {soon if treason could be proved in bHo's actions} will spend his/her passion TCB in the USA. He completely disenfranchises America in the eyes & ears of the world; stating we are not a Christian nation, daring Israel to defend itself, employing 44 'mouthpiece' czars in hopes of intimidating we who are PATRIOTS!
I believe in my heart bHo is a muslim, the antichrist, & is doing better at destroying America by Stealth Jihad than all terrorists combined! Our Armed Forces are crippled, he & his henchmen are conquering & dividing many folks.
Please, let's make sure bHo, all arrogant politicians, CAIR, the ACLU, & all muslims who even try to make the USA suborn itself to their beliefs & lifestyles are among the trade deal! One can be & act Christian-like with no particular religious affiliation. I also believe in my heart that we can & will continue to be a free, prosperous & generous nation!
I will vote for each & every 'domestic terrorist' who runs for office. This is the only way we can fix things, and reverse the story line of 'Requiem For A Heavyweight.' Thanks for letting me get that all out... !"
END of my copy of comments originally made to this article - dda.