This is much welcome and long overdue. For years we have chronicled here how Muslims use the blasphemy laws to victimize non-Muslims in Pakistan. But given the way things are going there these days, this initiative is unlikely to succeed.
"All Christian Parties Conference to End Blasphemy law set to launch movement," from the Pakistan Christian Post, October 18 (thanks to Jeffrey Imm):
Islamabad: October 18, 2009. (PCP) Pakistan Christian Congress PCC extended invitation to leaders and organizations which are struggling to repeal blasphemy law in Pakistan to participate in All Christian Parties Conference on October 25, 2009, at Rawalpindi Press Club.The invitations were given to Christian members of parliament who raised voice to repeal blasphemy law in House while Christians selected by Pakistan Peoples Party PPP and Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz group PML(N) were decide not to invite including Shahbaz Bhatti, Federal Minority Minister imposed on Christian by PPP.
General Zial-ul-Haq formulated Hadood Ordinance and introduced Blasphemy law but Section 295 B and C of Pakistan Penal Code were legislated during PPP and PML(N) regimes. The Blasphemy is subject to capital punishment in Pakistan and used against Christians on business rivalry and personnel grudges. The blasphemy law is also being used by Muslim majority in Pakistan to desecrate Holy Bibles and burnt down Churches.
On accusations of blasphemy Islamic militants have destroyed hundreds of homes and killed dozens in year 2009, while children, women and elders were burnt alive.
The federal government of Pakistan and Punjab provincial government failed to secure life and property of Christians and to adopt necessary measure to stop violence against Christians....
"But given the way things are going there these days, this initiative is unlikely to succeed."
Yes. There would first have to be a constitutional amendment to void this provision of the Pakistan Constitution:
227. Provisions relating to the Holy Qur'an and Sunnah.
(1) All existing laws shall be brought in conformity with the Injunctions of Islam as laid down in the Holy Quran and Sunnah, in this Part referred to as the Injunctions of Islam, and no law shall be enacted which is repugnant to such Injunctions.
What are the chances that this will happen? About the same as my conversion to Islam - zero.
May the LORD bless this effort.
in the past, worthy people who have desires for "self-government," have been terribly treated by the Muslims, who cannot tolerate anything but Islamic supremacy.
i don't think the US will greatly assist the Christians, however. seems State is stuck on "compromising" with the perps of gore; won't support the effort.
This is why we must never give up our support for those who want to become apostates from izlum, no matter where they live. Unlike mudhummud's false god 'ullah-hu qWahksmoor', the One Living God still works miracles and He can work through us - if we choose to love, serve and give. These Christians could be our allies, if we would give them our support in prayer and resources. GMcCal may be right: chances are probably near zero but NEVER give up. Yes, we have to pick our battles. Yes, we have to conserve our resources. But NO, we may not EVER stop praying for them and doing all we know to do. They need our help and this is a marathon, not a sprint. I think God will give freedom to Pakistan but we have to do the work to take freedom TO Pakistan. NEVER give up. Even after death, God still raises people up out of tombs.
Wonderin1
http://www.economist.com/world/middleeast-africa/displaystory.cfm?story_id=14707279
As long as blasphemy laws target the enemies of Allah, they will persist, but they are not required...The attacks on Allah's enemies will continue regardless...
Does anyone know how to set up a helpline/organization... something like "1-800-BEAPOSTateFromIslam"? (yes, I know that's too many characters) Make it a 24/7 worldwide service to help people get OUT of slavery to izlum? The organization could be wide open, very public (advertise on Taxi Cabs and City Buses - LOL!) but give the opportunity to people to leave izlum in secret and gather strength to go public later. I know Mr. Spencer's plate is full but maybe somebody could pull this off... Doesn't something like this already exist somewhere?
If we won't cut off the jizya, at least attach it to demands to remove the blasphemy laws from the Pakistani Constitution.
Good luck with that...you're going to need it. After all these years trying to understand islam I don't think I recall an instance where islam had to take a step backwards...please correct me?
Good news that they are organising to take a stand. Hopefully, this will inspire non-Muslims in all other Islamic countries (because they are all persecuted to a greater or lesser degree), to do the same.
I cannot see it hapenning myself.
If you open the floodgates for christians, the bhaias and the Ahmadis, hindus etc will want to take advantage.
Not going to happen...bad time to ask anyway...everyone's gone to fight the Taliban
Comic Relief, the fact that Mr. Spencer's site even exists is a step backward for izlum. The fact that you and I and others are free to comment - from all over the world - is a step back for izlum. The fact that Rifqa Bary is still free, at least for now, is a step backward for izlum. The fact that the young lady is even still alive (that got run down in Arizona) and that we know about it, is a step back for izlum. EVERY little freedom of worship, freedom of speech, freedom of association, freedom to drink a beer, freedom to watch whatever you want on TV, freedom to know what's going on.... all of those little freedoms are tiny little steps back for izlum... NONE of it means we can relax but freedom - at this point at least - is STILL winning. We ain't even begun to really fight back. You ain't seen nothin' yet. The disease of izlum will be stuffed back into the syphylitic mindless-ness of the profit mudhummud (may PB&JbUHB*). Failure to do so is not an option. YOU are already helping by your participation here. THANKS!
Wonderin1
*Peanut-Butter&Jelly_b_Up-His-Butt"
Such initiatives are nice to see but they won't succeed unless and until "peaceful" Muslims decide it's time to stop victimizing their fellow citizens and are willing to stand up to the supposed "minority" of "misunderstanders". I'm sorry but I don't see THAT happening anytime soon.
From Yom...Not going to happen...bad time to ask anyway...everyone's gone to fight the Taliban...
Pray to Allah that they don't come back...
seemz. In the world to come you shall surely be one of the turds fed to mohamet aka "he who eternally eats turds in the world to come". Now you hate the Ahmadiya? This nabi thought you said you were Ahmadi. Well anyhow don't bother to explain you virile man you.
nabi ZK (pbum)
...final prophet of ZK and the capstone of all ZK prophesy...nabific....wise...otherwise cool in many ways...not to be doubted...etc....etc...
Islam cannot tolerate any consideration for the infidel. It is a political institution built on sand, and cannot stand without the denial of its adherents.
Support of this effort as a matter of principle is one thing the U.S. should feel obligated to do, notwithstanding current political expediency. There are certain things liberal Western democracies should champion as not being limited to space and time, and opposition to barbaric and ridiculous laws such as those that stipulate punishment for blasphemy and apostasy is one of them.
Yes, Yom, it is likely that it would "...open the floodgates for christians, the bhaias and the Ahmadis, hindus...[sic]" but it is precisely these groups who most need relief from such oppressive Muslim laws that are the subject of this protest. Although it would deprive Muslims of official sanctioning for prosecution of religious minorities, in the long run they would stand to benefit, too.
The U.S. is not without leverage in this matter. We could publicly support the stand of the PCC as being consistent with modern values that condemn such outrages as allowed by the Hadood laws. (This would probably require taking on the IOC and UNHRC as well, but this will have to be done sooner or later and this would make a good issue around which to build a case.) If we must supply military aid to Pakistan, then there should be some strings attached and one of them should be concrete progress made toward abolishing the most objectionable provisions of the Hadood laws.
Yom : I cannot see it hapenning myself.
If you were honest there are a lot of things you can't see, but that's what wearing islamic blinkers will do for you.
I have to agree with you there! Every time Mr Spencer or Hugh or Mz Gellar post an article about the evil that is islam it is a step back for them. They are letting everyone know how evil and perverse islam really is, while educating us about islam.
By the way, I'm glad I didn't wasn't having a drink when read this "Peanut-Butter&Jelly_b_Up-His-Butt" comment! Very true, though I reckon it is a camel!!!