No Compulsion in Religion Alert from Pakistan: “86 year old Christian woman forcibly converted to Islam: Conversion comes after her husband is accused of blasphemy,” by Sheraz Khurram Khan for Journal Chretien (thanks to Ummah News Links):
LAHORE, PAKISTAN “” The 86 year old wife of a Christian man, who was accused of setting the Quran, the Muslim holy book on fire on May 9, has been forcibly converted to Islam….
Walter Fazal Khan, 84, a retired section officer got into trouble when his driver, Raja Riaz, accused his master of torching the Quran….
“With mutual consent the couple allowed Gladdis” nephew Raja Riaz who has converted from Christianity to Islam to live in their house and serve as a driver. The records reveal his Christian name as David”, Francis told ANS.
Some time back Gladdis gifted all her property to her son, Najam. This angered Raja Riaz who allegedly plotted to trap Walter Fazal Khan in a bid to get Gladdis property.
Raja filed a case against Najam and the court had fixed May 10 as the date for hearing. Francis quoted Raja Riaz as saying in his petition he moved in a civil court that Gladdis is a widow and Najam had confiscated her property illegally. He alleged that Raja had wanted to kill his master on May 9 so that he could prove Gladdis as a widow in the court on May 10.
In line with his alleged plot, Francis revealed that Riaz” daughter set Quran to fire on May 9 while his son clamored to attract the attention of the people of the area. “At that time Walter was taking bath. The Police arrested him as he came out of the washroom with a towel wrapped around his waist”, Francis told ANS.
Francis regretted that Walter’s house has been occupied by a Muslim cleric, who he said wants to build a Madressah (religious school) there.
He alleged Raja in collusion with Muslim clerics had forcibly converted Gladdis to Islam. She is kept in her house which has been occupied by a cleric now, he said. We are trying to recover Gladdis through High Court, said Joseph Francis….
And an interesting unrelated point at the end of the story:
…He said Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf’s statement that Pakistan ex-cricket coach Bob Woolmer would have gone to heaven if he were a Muslim came in sharp contrast to his oft-repeated concept of enlightened moderation….