Tag: Persecution

Add Insult to Injury


Shamim Masih is a Christian Pakistani Human Rights activist and journalist. In this submission not only talks about the continuing cruel persecution of Christians in Pakistan but also highlights the plight of Pakistani Christians fleeing Pakistan being abused in Thailand. The fleeing Christians are tossed into Thai prisons and treated in nearly the same conditions Jews suffered in Nazi concentration camps during the Holocaust.

Below is a video that sums up Pakistani Christian persecution in their homeland and continued persecution experienced as fleeing refugees:

VIDEO: “THE HIDDEN TRUTH” Pakistani Christians in Thailand IDC jail by VOPCAR

 

Posted by Shakeel Maqbool Malik

Published on Mar 27, 2015

JRH 1/12/16

Please Support NCCR

*******************

Add Insult to Injury

Out of the Frying Pan into the Fire

By Shamim Masih

Sent: 1/11/2016 4:57 AM

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is predominantly a Muslim country with its 97 percent of population adhering to Islam and the religious minorities make just a fraction of the population with varying estimates a few percent of the total population. The Constitution of Pakistan guaranteed the rights and protection of the all its citizens. Pakistan’s Founder, Mohammad Ali Jinnah, apparently promised freedom for the other religious minorities in his address to the Constituent Assembly on August 11, 1947 and Christians along with other religious minorities agreed and believed his promise. But unfortunately it didn’t come true and Pakistan is now not known as a responsible democracy. Recently many banned organization have been openly speaking against the rival sects, and other religions, resulting in the murder of many innocents from religious minorities. Pakistan has had a growing hatred problem and most of it is being driven from within the urban/semi-urban centers. Although Article 20 of the constitution deals with the “Freedom” to profess religion and to manage religious institutions and 36 is about the protection of minorities and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of minorities but the unfortunate reality is it has gone worse because of the growing violence against the religious minorities in Pakistan.

Based on the 10 incidents which took place in one month (October 2015), only in Punjab, USCIRF urged the U.S. State Department to enlist Pakistan among nine nations as “Countries of Particular Concern” (CPC) – a designation for those nations considered to be the worst violators of religious freedom. These include governments that “engage in or tolerate” systematic ongoing and unspeakable violations of religious freedom.

In the recent years, attacks on religious minorities have increased. Pakistan Islamic persecution of Christian’s may not be on the level of ISIS; nonetheless it is still quite horrific. The long sufferings in the country have been worsened by a sense of deprivation among the locals, and an inclusive political system is unable to achieve sustainable peace and stability. Thus many Christian families like Hindus have fled to other countries seeking protection and rights to live like other human beings. But this is very unfortunate that Pakistani Christians are not being welcomed in Europe like the EU welcomed million Muslims.

Samina Faisal – Pakistani Christian

According to BPCA, Samina, a Christian woman who had fled violence-ridden Karachi and sought refuge in Thailand. Samina died on Christmas Eve after she was arrested after her visa expired. She was arrested as part of an ongoing wave of arrests of foreigners deemed to have overstayed their visa and was detained in horrific conditions. Most Pakistani Christians, asylum seekers who were given that status by the UN Human Rights Council (UNHCR), but because Thailand refuses to sign the relevant Refugee Protocols that most other nations have, it does not recognize that status, and treats such Pakistani Christians as illegal immigrants. Therefore thousands of Pakistani Christians are either living in prisons or hiding places and if found are badly treated.

While I am writing this story, another man, Bashir Masih, reportedly died there. Sources confirmed that there are more than 200 people still in the lock ups. And many more are living a miserable life in hidden places fearing arrest at any time. Australia, Canada and many European countries have granted immigration visas to thousands of Pakistani and Afghans in the recent years. But the visa applications of Christians are turned down in thousands in the last year – 2015. In fact these applications are rejected without citing any convincing reasons, in fact many of the reasons [based] on frivolous grounds, which surprisingly cannot be challenged at any forum. Will the situation remain the same for Pakistani Christians?

Be Blessed,

Shamim Masih

The best way to SUPPORT Shamim’s Christian advocacy in Pakistan is via Western Union sending money with this LINK to a Western Union agent in Islamabad. Include Shamim’s phone – +92-300-642-4560

Correspondent, Pakistan Today – (About Pakistan Today), Blogger and Human Rights Activist

_____________________

Edited by John R. Houk

All links are by the Editor. Text embraced by brackets are by the Editor.

© Shamim Masih

Global Massacre and its Root Cause


Shamim Masih begins by talking about the recent Islamic terrorism in Paris then proceeds this is the normal state of mind in his home nation of Pakistan among Muslims.

The best way to SUPPORT Shamim’s Christian advocacy in Pakistan is via Western Union sending money with this LINK to a Western Union agent in Islamabad. Include Shamim’s phone – +92-300-642-4560

JRH 11/25/15

Please Support NCCR

************************

Global Massacre and its Root Cause

By Shamim Masih

Sent: 11/22/2015 1:11 AM

ISLAMABAD: After the recent Paris, attack, I had a chance to speak on a TV live show on Roze TV [RozeTV.com], “Debate with Nasir” [Shamim in Urdu 11/14/15]. I was among the three panelists, one political analyst Jan Achakzi [APNA.tv and Wikipedia] and another was a journalist. Unfortunately instead of criticizing those attacks in Paris and this type of terror activities in the world, those two were arguing in the favor of terrorist and giving reasons.

Since I am writing, my struggle is against this mind set, it is not a matter or fight against Islam or its terrorist organizations like Al-Qaida, Taliban, ISIS, Laskher-e-Tiybba, Jeshe-e-Mohammad, etc., etc. We are fighting against the mind set and its proclamation. Though it is said that every Muslim is not terrorist and not directly involved in these organizations, however most of them are having the same mind set. We are a witness to many incidents/persecutions against minorities in my country. In Pakistan the discriminatory activities against the marginalized portion of the society clearly shows the mindset of the Islamic proclamation.

Since 9/11 attacks in USA there are a series of attacks in different areas and subsequently attacks on the bases of those organizations in the world. Many of the people give baseless excuses but forget that in every act [the] tool is from the Muslim faith. I want to ask them why Muslims are involved in these type of activities around the world, in Philistine [Blog Editor: I’m fairly certain Shamim means Palestine], Kashmir, some African countries, Middle East and other parts of the world. (Genesis 16:11-12 [NKJV – Referencing Ishmael]) Europeans and Americans have to think before doing any humanitarian activity for Muslims, like taking in these Syrian and Egyptian refugees. Muslims are enjoying every single right in the name of humanity but not ready to give liberty to other religions in their countries. They (Muslims) go and preach Islam in another country but don’t allow [others] to read the Bible in Saudi Arabia.

We have seen this practice and one Muslim religious scholar Javed Ahmad Ghamidi [Wikipedia – Blog Editor: Interestingly Ghamidi’s endorsement of violent Jihad is related fighting against oppression and unbelievers. Oppression is fought by keeping order; meaning Islamic Supremacism and unbelievers ruling over Muslims. Interesting reads HERE and HERE] endorsed and gave the solid root cause of these terrorist activities. Javed Ahmad Ghamidi said that the root cause of terrorism that is being committed by some Muslims today is the religious thought which is being preached in the Muslim madrassas [Merriam-Webster] and being propagated through their political movements. Almost every single madrassa and religious scholar is teaching the four main doctrines of their religious thought. They may not be doing it publicly, but they are doing it nevertheless – they surely are!

First: polytheism, kuffar [Wikipedia], or apostasy (someone who abandons Islam) committed anywhere in the world, they are all punishable by death [WikiIslam, Religion of Peace and Answering-Islam] and we [i.e. the Muslims] have the right to implement this punishment.

Secondly: they preach that non-Muslims were born to be subjugated [Breaking Israel News, Political Islam and Raymond Ibrahim]. None other than Muslims have the right to govern. And if there is someone ruling, every non-Muslim government is illegitimate. We shall overthrow any such government whenever we have the capacity.

The third teaching is that all the Muslims of the world should be under the rule of a single Islamic government that is called The Caliphate [Wikipedia, BBC and Julia Voelker McQuaid]. [Even] Their independent states have no legitimacy.

The fourth doctrine is that the modern nation state is the form of kuffar and there is no room in Islam for it.

These are the four basic tenets of current religious thought. The Pakistani government and its citizens should confront the current religious thought, this religious narrative.

It is to appreciate that the education system of the religious seminaries (madrassas) violate a humans’ rights. Any specialized education in any discipline cannot be forced onto a child. It is the right, the very basic right, of every child to have twelve years of broad based education. Thereafter, he may choose to become a scholar or a scientist. Every Muslim religious seminary works on the principle of transforming a 5-7 years old child into a religious scholar. No one has the right to do this; or to force them to become a doctor or an engineer.

After a broad based education of 12 years, [Muslims], many choose to become whatever they may wish to. This practice must be abandoned. For this to take effect the civil society must prepare itself and people must educate themselves.

The Muslims government must be pressurized not to allow any institution to take students for specialization before twelve years of broad based education. Or we need to draw a line before any humanitarian activities.

Be Blessed,

Shamim Masih

The best way to SUPPORT Shamim’s Christian advocacy in Pakistan is via Western Union sending money with this LINK to a Western Union agent in Islamabad. Include Shamim’s phone – +92-300-642-4560

Correspondent, Pakistan Today – (About Pakistan Today), Blogger and Human Rights Activist

________________________

Edited by John R. Houk

Text or links embraced by brackets are by the Editor.

© Shamim Masih

Racist will Remain Alive and Well Groom in Pakistan


Mumtaz Qadri

Mumtaz Qadri right
 
News from Pakistan: In 2011 Mumtaz Qadri (Taseer’s body guard) assassinated the Punjab Governor Salman Taseer because of the Governor’s support for Blasphemy Law reform and supporting that a pardon occur for Asia Bibi (still in jail and See HERE) convicted with a death sentence for violating the same Blasphemy Law. This important to know because Pakistan’s Islamabad High Court upheld Qadri’s conviction but threw out the part of the conviction that violated Pakistan’s section 7 of Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA or 7ATA – 1997, 2014 and 2015).
 
Shamim Masih has a sense that throwing out the terrorist portion of the original conviction could lead to a successful appeal for Mumtaz Qadri. If Shamim is correct then that would be a travesty of justice especially since Pakistani-Christians endured yet another Muslim homicidal-suicide attack on two of their Churches on Sunday (Pakistan Time) killing 15 people.
 
JRH 3/15/15

Please Support NCCR

***************************
Racist will Remain Alive and Well Groom in Pakistan
IHC Saved Qadri’s Skin
 
By Shamim Masih
Sent: 3/15/2015 1:33 AM
 
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on March 09, 2015 verdict on Mumtaz Qadri case upholding his conviction under section 302 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) on killing the former Punjab Governor Salman Taseer. A two member bench comprising Justice Noorul Haq Qureshi and Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui dismissed the appeal. The ruling by the IHC was a surprise in two ways:
 
A): many had expected the killer’s sentence might be reduced amid growing threats to lawyers and judges hearing blasphemy-related cases.
 
B): Many believe that the IHC has saved Qadri skin while upholding the conviction of Mumtaz Qadri under section 302 and 7ATA void.
 
The bench had reserved the judgment on February 11 after advocate general Islamabad Mian Abdul Rauf, the prosecutor in the case, and Qadri’s counsels, including former Lahore High Court (LHC) Chief Justice Khawaja Sharif and retired Justice Mian Nazeer – concluded their arguments. I am quite surprised that when people like former Chief Justice LHC and Justice retired Mian Nazeer will remain in back of the racialist like Mumtaz Qadri, how can this society be changed. Certainly racists [are] alive and well groomed in Pakistan. I can’t say anything against Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui because he is a sitting judge. However he is reportedly the same person, who has been seen kissing and garlanding the killer of Salman Taseer. The blasphemy law has been extensively misused not only to target the minorities but also by Muslims against Muslims to settle personal scores. Even former Federal Religious Affairs Minister Ejazul Haq admitted in November 2005 that the blasphemy law was being misused and expressed the government’s desire to bring amendments to it. Hundreds of the innocent people had been imprisoned, forced to flee the country or killed by extremists under the pretext of punishing blasphemers. One known Christian Gulshan Masih from the capital was forced to flee when he was accused of blasphemy. According to the sources FIR 96/12 was registered against him because he has been supporting the Shahbaz Bhatti case, which was killed, right out of his residence in I-8 Sector in Islamabad. Bhatti was killed for supporting Asia Bibi and Salman Taseer was killed for supporting Asia Bibi as well. Sources confirm that he is now seeking asylum in some other European country, probably Denmark. Gulshan has reportedly been supporting the construction of the Church in Central Jail Adyala, Rawalpindi.
 
Within minutes of the verdict, a celebration was seen in IHC premises where supporters distributed sweetmeats and they shared their joy. Their happiness was shared by those who defended Mumtaz Qadri in the court. When the IHC upheld the murder cases against Qadri for killing former governor Salman Taseer, his lawyers were happy that the terrorism charges against Qadri had been dropped. Qadri was employed to provide security to Taseer, killed the latter in January 2011 in Kohsar Market, Islamabad, where hundreds of the people saved their lives hiding when shot him. He was convicted by the anti-terrorism court (ATC) in October the same year, under both section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act and under section 302 of Pakistan Penal code respectively. The IHC division bench set aside his conviction under section 7 of the ATA but uphold the death sentence under 302 of the PPC. I don’t know the definition of 7ATA, but certainly it was reported that hundreds of the people have saved their lives in hiding themselves when Qadri was firing in the day light. This means that Qadri is guilty of murder but not terrorism. Some of them even made impromptu, fiery speeches and chanted slogans in favor of Taseer’s killer. I am not an expert in covering crime cases but certainly facing the same situation in the country know that the Qadri team could appeal that his trial had been an unfairly one – the trial had been carried out in the ATC although now Qadri is no longer charged with a terrorist act. Qadri’s lawyers can request the Court to retrial as the ATC cannot try ordinary murder cases. They actually played technically, if the ATA remains in the case, it may be transferred to the military Court. The future will be that the team will go to the Supreme Court to appeal that this conviction and death sentence had been upheld. I don’t know [if] the government lawyers of Salman Taseer’s family would appeal the decision or challenging the order. Legal experts also pointed out the loopholes that will work to Qadri’s advantage with this judgment. They said that the conviction under only the PPC (not the terrorism law) means that Qadri was now guilty of a compoundable offence. They pointed out the Qadri could go free if the Taseer family pardoned him or go for life imprisonment and after few years he will be free. A senior law officer of the federal government, on the condition of anonymity, predicted that there were few changes of the government going into appeal. Normally lawyers are reluctant to appear in these [cases]. I am afraid and keeping in view of the present situation can predict that the Courts will drop the ATA charges against the Shahbaz Bhatti case in one day or other.
                    
Most of my past articles and story intimate that the only hope for religious minorities in Pakistan is for all religious faiths including the Sunni majority learn to accept each other in harmonious tolerance regardless of religious differences. AND in most cases I would agree to mutual tolerance; however the problem I have is that Islamic revered writings specifically encourages violence up to and including death to all unbelievers (define as kafir in Islam) who refuse to subject and submit their beliefs to Islamic Supremacy. On a personal level then I am not going to tolerate a religious faith that will not tolerate my faith just because I refuse to shut up about Jesus Christ being the Son of God. I have always been writing that we want to bring change not only in the constitution but also want to change the mindset. It not Islam we are against but the Islamophobia. At least the justice system should be transparent and fair so that deprived portion in the society can live without fear from [all] sides. Minorities will always live under constant fear either to be killed by extremists under the pretext of punishing blasphemers or in the Courts.
 
Be Blessed,
Shamim Masih
 
Diplomatic Correspondent, Foreign Policy, Diplomacy, UN, F & S, MOST, CADD & Human Rights Activist
 
Daily Khabrian – in Urdu (PakBiz.com description – in English) & Channel – 5 (A project of Khabrian Group of papers)
 
For Americans especially, I have discovered the best way to donate to Shamim Masih is via Western Union sending this LINK to a Western Union agent in Islamabad. Include Shamim’s phone – +92-300-642-4560
__________________________________
Edited by John R. Houk
Text enclosed by brackets are by the Editor
 
© Shamim Masih

Islamophobia


Quran- Jesus not Son of God

Intro to ‘Islamophobia’

Edited by John R. Houk

Intro © March 10, 2015

 

This editorial by Shamim Masih is actually entitled “Status of Religious Freedom in Pakistan”. However the subject line of the email was “Islamophobia” so I went with that title whether intended or not.

 

As I read Shamim’s editorial I became intrigued to the reason for the Islamophobia subject line. The editorial emphasizes the Civil Rights and Human Rights violations that the Muslim community and politics of Pakistan continuously inflicts upon Christians and other religious minorities in the Sunni majority nation.

 

Islamophobia is typically the negative intoned accusation leveled against those that at worst hate Muslims and at best those like myself that views Islam as a threat to Western culture and an enemy of Judaism and Christianity in particularly.

 

The irony is “Islamophobia” more literally means an unnatural fear of Islam rather than the hatred of the Muslim practitioners of that theopolitical religion. In my case, I do not hate or fear Muslims. BUT I do regard the principles and dogmas of the Quran, Hadith, Sira and how that all affects the Muslim respect for Sharia Law as an innate human evil programmed into the mindset of its followers.

 

Most of Shamim’s past articles and editorials intimate that the only hope for religious minorities in Pakistan is for all religious faiths including the Sunni majority learn to accept each other in harmonious tolerance regardless of religious differences. AND in most cases I would agree to mutual tolerance; however the problem I have is that Islamic revered writings specifically encourages violence up to and including death to all unbelievers (define as kafir in Islam) who refuse to subject and submit their beliefs to Islamic Supremacy. On a personal level then I am not going to tolerate a religious faith that will not tolerate my faith just because I refuse to shut up about Jesus Christ being the Son of God.

 

JRH 3/10/15

Please Support NCCR

**************************

Islamophobia

Status of Religious Freedom in Pakistan

 

By Shamim Masih

Sent 3/9/2015 9:06 PM

 

ISLAMABAD: On the third death anniversary of my mother, we arranged a prayer meeting in our house, where only our family members participated. As we were praying, somebody knocked at the door like he wanted to break it up at once. I went outside and found that our landlord was there. At once, he started shouting, why are you people praying at home, it is not church etc., etc. I humbly clarified that I knew it was not a Church and we didn’t invite other people to pray. It’s our family prayer meeting as it is my mother’s death anniversary. So we gathered in tribute to her [memory]. He strictly cautioned me not to do this again in the house. All the services should be performed in the Churches. This is just one example, there are many like this. Restrictions on building new Churches, registering a new Church based organization etc. even in Islamabad. There are only two properly constructed churches, while there are thousands of the mosques and madrassas (seminary). Reportedly, it is mentioned in the map of Islamabad, there should be one Church in each sector of the capital. But the Capital Development Authority [CDA] doesn’t allow you [Christians] build a Church in the capital.

   

Despite the first democratic transfer of power in the country’s history, from one civilian government to another, the exceedingly poor religious freedom environment worsened. Recent and previous rulers engaged in and tolerated systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of freedom of religion or belief. Despite democratic institutions, Pakistan’s legal environment is particularly repressive due to its blasphemy laws and other religiously discriminatory legislation and constitutional provisions. Authorities failed to protect citizens, minority and majority alike, from the sectarian and religiously –motivated violence and courts have not consistently brought perpetrators to justice or taken action against societal actors who incite violence. There are many examples to it. I will just quote one, i.e. two years past when hundreds of the Christian houses in Joseph Colony were burnt. During this particular case, only Sawan Masih [Dawn.com] was sentenced to death but the rest of the perpetrators were set free to go for others [i.e. Christians].

 

Unfortunately Pakistani religious minorities are facing the worst situation in the world for religious freedom. In the past few years, conditions hit an all-time low due to chronic sectarian violence targeting not only Shia’s Muslims but also Christians, Ahmadis and Hindus. Pakistan’s repressive blasphemy laws and anti-Ahmadi laws are widely used to violate the religious freedoms and foster a climate of impunity. During 2014, United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCRIF) again recommended that Pakistan be designated as a “country of particular concern” (CPC).

 

Muslims not only from Pakistan but from Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, Syria and everywhere else have done enough to deserve hatred. They have been killing innocent children, attacked schools, burnt Christian villages, torn down Hindu temples, mutilated journalists, shunned scientific laws and flogged enough bloggers for free thinking to deserve this acrimony all around the world. Many of them claim that version of Islam is peaceful, a version that promotes brotherhood and peace. Unfortunately, that version of Islam is only found in books now.

 

Pakistani Christians live under the fear of religion, our churches, our kids and our lives are not secure. Converting to another religion is out of the question. Honestly speaking, at this very moment, Pakistan is not fit for Shia Muslims or non-Muslims alike. We are not against Islam but against this Mullaism*** (Islamophobia). 

 

Be Blessed,

Shamim Masih

 

Diplomatic Correspondent, Foreign Policy, Diplomacy, UN, F & S, MOST, CADD & Human Rights Activist

 

Daily Khabrian – in Urdu (PakBiz.com description – in English) & Channel – 5 (A project of Khabrian Group of papers)

 

For Americans especially, I have discovered the best way to donate to Shamim Masih is via Western Union sending this LINK to a Western Union agent in Islamabad. Include Shamim’s phone – +92-300-642-4560

 

[***Blog Editor – Mullaism: I had to get a handle on Shamim’s concept of “Mullaism”. Here are some excerpts from three different websites that might be what Shamim had in mind:

 

Join us to stop religious harassments and terrorism in Pakistan, so that our country can move forward with peace and prosperity. (Stop Mullaism & Religious Terrorism In Pakistan; About Page; Facebook Community)

 

Mullaism is an industry in Pakistan. If the Mullahs reform themselves then their madrassa incomes and Saudi donations would stop. They do not want to be penniless after all. Their influence has been strong even in liberal times. During President Ayub khan’s rule from 1958 to 1968, he wanted to get rid of the word “Islamic” attached to Pakistan’s name in the constitution. This was opposed by the Mullahs who warned the President to refrain from doing so or face consequences. The President cowed down before them.  Ayub khan also wanted the role of Mullahs to be restricted to mosques. Sadly, he could not do this. (Do Mullahs Represent Islam? By Farooq Ahmad Khan; Pak Tea House; 6/3/12)

 

Kashmiryat – the lofty notion of belonging to one region – flourished by Kashmiris, irrespective of their faith, for centuries despite gravest provocations lies bruised in the wake of the current phase of secessionism in the Valley. Terrorist outfits groomed by the Jamaat- e-Islami (Jamaat) have outwitted those who professed their allegiance to secularism.

 

The Jamaat presents Islam as a political ideology – and not as religious pedagogy concerned only with the relationship between man and God. Abul Ala Maududi, the founder of the Jamaat, had no hesitation in making it explicit that Islam was a political ideology comparable to Communism and Fascism. According to him, it covered all departments of life, whether private or public.

 

The Jamaat also presents Islam as a creed whose mission is to fight all other creeds because it believes Islam to be the only true creed – all other creeds being flawed or false. Maududi reasoned that just as God has made the laws that govern physical nature, He has also made laws that govern social relations. The first set of laws can be ascertained by observation and experimentation. But God conveys the second set of laws concerning man’s duties towards God and his fellow human beings only through revelations. Accordingly, divine messages have been transmitted to mankind from time to time through prophets.

 

…

 

Another feature of Maududi’s ideology is that he singles out secularism as the chief adversary of Islam. He argues that secularism makes a distinction between the personal life of an individual and his public life, and banishes religion from the latter. Hence, anyone who believes in secularism will inevitably allow his secular values to influence his social, political and economic behaviour and thus violate the teachings of Islam, which draw no line between the domain of the spirit and that of the flesh.

 

Some ideologues of the Jamaat go a step further and argue that secularism is the road that leads to atheism because when you separate your personal beliefs from your social and political principles, the latter develop their own momentum and eventually dominate the former.

 

The Jamaat is not only communal in its outlook, it teaches militancy as well. Communalism of a minority community often centres on grievances of a political or economic nature and tends to be paranoid.

 

The Jamaat brand of communalism, however, is not concerned about immediate or short-term gains for the community. It projects Islam as an ideology and calls upon Muslims to organise themselves into a revolutionary party with the object of capturing total power. It is not bothered about jobs for Muslims or for a share in the power pie. On the contrary, the Jamaat requires its members not to hold any office under an unholy political system or alliance.

 

Maududi was the first noteworthy religious figure in the history of Indian Islam to propound the thesis that the supreme purpose of Islam is not the spiritual salvation of mankind; but to establish the sovereignty of God on earth or an Islamic state. All other purposes are secondary and subordinate to that of establishing an Islamic state. Before launching the Jamaat, he did a great deal of preparatory work which … There is MORE (Mullaism; Kashmiri Overseas Association)

 

___________________________

Edited by John R. Houk

Text or links enclosed by brackets are by the Editor

 

© Shamim Masih     

 

Islam’s Allah is NOT the same as Christianity’s GOD Almighty


Jesus - Who do you say that I AM

Commentary on Shamim Masih: ‘Seeking for Peace Place’

John R. Houk

© February 22, 2015

 

 

On February 16 I posted Shamim Masih’s report on the goings on in Pakistan during the UN’s International Week on Interfaith Harmony. I had a lengthy enough intro that I gave the intro its own name “First Thoughts on ‘Strive for Peace and Harmony’”.

 

Shamim was quite favorable of the UN initiative even to the point of participating in the week’s events. I on the other hand asserted that I was quite distrustful of anything coming from the UN and exposed the whole event was a deceptive initiative in which many of the original sponsors were Radical Muslims pushing an Islamic Supremacist goal pretending to be friendly to Christianity. However, if one reads the entirety of the Islamic document promoting interfaith harmony as long as it is clear the Allah of Islam is supreme and Jesus is a mere prophet rather than the Son of God whose Blood has redeemed all humanity from its fallen nature if only they believe on the Resurrection power of Jesus Christ.

 

In this report entitled “Seeking for Peace Place,” Shamim is sticking to his guns (so-to-speak) about Islam and Christianity having the same concepts of peace that interfaith harmony will save the world interfaith strife that exists between the proponents of Islam and the proponents of Christianity:

 

“Muslims and Christians together make up well over half of the world’s population. Without peace and justice between these two religious communities, there can be no meaningful peace in the world. The future of the world depends on peace between Muslims and Christians. The basis for this peace and understanding already exists. It is part of the very foundational principles of both faiths: love of the One God, and love of the neighbor. These principles are found over and over again in the sacred texts of Islam and Christianity. The Unity of God, the necessity of love for Him, and the necessity of love of the neighbor is thus the common ground between Islam and Christianity.” (Bold text mine)

 

Does peace and understanding truly already exist between Islam and Christianity? Is love of the “One God” and love of neighbor truly the same thing in Islam and Christianity?

 

And do not argue with the People of the Scripture except in a way that is best, except for those who commit injustice among them, and say, “We believe in that which has been revealed to us and revealed to you. And our God and your God is one; and we are Muslims [in submission] to Him.” (Quran – Surah 29:46; Sahih International translation)

 

Indeed, those who believed and those who were Jews or Christians or Sabeans** [before Prophet Muhammad] – those [among them] who believed in Allah and the Last Day and did righteousness – will have their reward with their Lord, and no fear will there be concerning them, nor will they grieve. (Quran – Surah 2:62; Sahih International translation)

 

[**Here are Islamic sources pertaining to the Sabeans or Sabians of the Quran: HERE and HERE.]

 

These surahs in the Quran appear to corroborate Shamim’s point, right? Then what about this?

 

And whoever desires other than Islam as religion – never will it be accepted from him, and he, in the Hereafter, will be among the losers. (Quran – Surah 3:85; Sahih International translation)

 

They have certainly disbelieved who say that Allah is Christ, the son of Mary. Say, “Then who could prevent Allah at all if He had intended to destroy Christ, the son of Mary, or his mother or everyone on the earth?” And to Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them. He creates what He wills, and Allah is over all things competent. (Quran – Surah 5:17; Sahih International translation)

 

72 They have certainly disbelieved who say, “Allah is the Messiah, the son of Mary” while the Messiah has said, “O Children of Israel, worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord.” Indeed, he who associates others with Allah – Allah has forbidden him Paradise, and his refuge is the Fire. And there are not for the wrongdoers any helpers.

 

73 They have certainly disbelieved who say, “Allah is the third of three.” And there is no god except one God. And if they do not desist from what they are saying, there will surely afflict the disbelievers among them a painful punishment. (Quran – Surah 5:72-73; Sahih International translation)

 

The first two surahs affirm that the God of the Bible and the Allah of the Quran are the same as well as the God worshipped by Jews, Christians and Sabeans is the same in Oneness as Allah.

 

The last three surahs say that “Allah” – meaning God Almighty – is not a triune God because this concept destroys the Oneness of God. AND that since there is no Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit – three persons are ONE God in unity) Jesus is neither God nor the Son of God. AND those that think in the way of the Christian Trinity will be punished severely in Hell.

 

Hence I can’t agree with Shamim that there can be interfaith harmony between Islam and Christianity. In full disclosure the Bible tells us those who reject Jesus as God and the Son of God will find their part with Satan, the Antichrist and the False Prophet in Hell’s Lake of Fire.

 

14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but[a]have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

 

18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.” (Bible – John 3: 14-21 NKJV)

 

10 The devil [Satan], who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where[aa] the beast [Antichrist] and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. (Bible – Revelation 20:10 NKJV)

 

6 And He said to me, “It is done![a] I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. 7 He who overcomes shall inherit all things,[b] and I will be his God and he shall be My son. 8 But the cowardly, unbelieving,[c] abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” (Bible – Revelation 21:6-8 NKJV)

 

12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God,[a] and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.[b] 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. (Bible – Revelation 20: 12-15 NKJV)

 

Earlier I quoted the Quran on surahs that completely contradict each other on an Islamic sense of brotherly love. You have to know that in Islam, even if two things are contradictory in the Quran, if it is in the Quran it is true even it is contradictory. This is possible via two Islamic concepts: Dualism and Abrogation.

 

But not all verses in the Qur’an have the same weight in assessment. Unlike the Old or New Testaments, the Qur’an is not organized by chronology but rather by size of chapters.[7] Even within chapters, chronology can be confused. In sura (chapter) 2, for example, God revealed verses 193, 216, and 217 to Muhammad shortly after he arrived in Medina. God only revealed verses 190, 191, and 192 six years later.[8] This complicates interpretation, all the more when some verses appear to contradict.

 

Abrogation in the Qur’an

 

The Qur’an is unique among sacred scriptures in accepting a doctrine of abrogation in which later pronouncements of the Prophet declare null and void his earlier pronouncements.[9] Four verses in the Qu’ran acknowledge or justify abrogation: … READ ENTIRETY (Peace or Jihad? Abrogation in Islam; By David Bukay; Middle East Quarterly; Fall 2007, pp. 3-11)

 

Because of Dualism and Abrogation the only thing close to a Golden Rule in Islam is between fellow Muslims. And ever since the fall of Caliph Ali (4th Rightly Guided Caliph, Son-in-Law and cousin Mo – neutral, favorable and negative). Various Muslim groups claiming legitimacy have been killing each other for centuries. In relation to non-Muslims, Islam has no Golden Rule.

 

Islam’s treatment of us can be found in one word–kafir. The Koran says that a kafir (unbeliever) can be robbed, killed, tortured, mocked, insulted, beheaded, raped, crucified and on and on. The Hadith and the Sira agree with the Koran. Every single reference to the kafirs is negative, offensive and hateful.

 

The word “kafir” illustrates both of political Islam’s principles–submission and duality. The Trilogy (Koran, Sira and Hadith) says that every kafir in the world must submit to political Islam.

 

The Koran also establishes dualism with its ethical system. A Muslim is not to kill another Muslim; a kafir may be killed, or not. A Muslim is not to lie to another Muslim; a kafir may be deceived or not. And so on. Islam has one set of ethics for Muslims and another set of ethics for the kafir–dualistic ethics.

 

The later political Koran written in Medina frequently contradicts the early religious Koran written in Mecca. The Koran gives a rule for removing the contradiction by saying that the later Koran “abrogates” the early Koran. … READ ENTIRITY (Golden Rule Islam; Bill Warner; Political Islam; 1/10/08)

 

Other religions all something similar to the Christian Golden Rule, but it is Christian theology taken from the Holy Bible that defines the Golden Rule and how to treat your neighbor of any faith.

 

11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! 12 Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. (Bible – Matthew 7:11-12 NKJV)

 

29 Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’[a] This is the first commandment.[b] 31 And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’[c] There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Bible – Mark 12:29-31 NKJV)

 

Take note that the Lord Jesus Christ quotes the classic Jewish Shema from Mark 12:29 and yet He also asserts that He is the Son of God which is a person of the ONE God Trinity. I believe I can that Islam’s is NOT the same as Christianity’s God Almighty.

 

JRH 2/21/15

Please Support NCCR

**************************

Seeking for Peace Place

 

By Shamim Masih

Sent: 2/21/2015 12:55 AM

 

ISLAMABAD: According to PCP reports, Pakistani Christian refugees [Snapshot of Pakistani Christians in Bangkok] gathered in Ayana Hotel, Bangkok and appealed UNHCR to provide them humanitarianChurchexile.JPG aid according to UN Charter. The gathering was organized by the Urdu Church in Hands of God, headed by Pastor Papa Thongchai. They demanded US and EU to open their doors for persecuted Pakistani Christian refugees as they provide human rights to Muslims refugees in other countries. The PCP chief urged UNHCR and IRC to provide humanitarian aid to Pakistani Christian refugees in Thailand, Sri Lanka and Hong Kong and expedite hearing of their asylum cases according to the timeframe of refugee commission charter. Unsurprisingly, Pakistan’s Christians see themselves as victims of religious persecution. Some speak dramatically of Christian genocide. Shia Hazaras are fleeing Balochistan, and [the] same [for] Ahmadis. This is very unfortunate that Christian countries like Australia, EU and others [are] welcoming Hazaras and Ahmadis but they have closed their doors for Pakistani Christians. Australia has reportedly granted resident visas to 10, 000 Hazara families in 2014 [alone] but they are not ready to grant visa to any Pakistani Christian.

 

Pakistan has around 180 million people and there are around 20 million Christians. Though there [has been] no census for many years, but local churches and other organizations estimated this figure. The percentage of the Pakistan population is a bit difficult to pin down. The BBC claims 1.6 % in 2013, Gatestone Institute lists 3% in 2014 and PCP quotes more than 10% of the total. A majority of them are poor and living in the slum areas and [the] outskirts of the cities. Christians are the minority in Pakistan in which overwhelmingly the Muslims majority treats the minority as barely tolerable pariah. Muslims and Christians together make up well over half of the world’s population. Without peace and justice between these two religious communities, there can be no meaningful peace in the world. The future of the world depends on peace between Muslims and Christians. The basis for this peace and understanding already exists. It is part of the very foundational principles of both faiths: love of the One God, and love of the neighbor. These principles are found over and over again in the sacred texts of Islam and Christianity. The Unity of God, the necessity of love for Him, and the necessity of love of the neighbor is thus the common ground between Islam and Christianity. Unfortunately Muslims not only in Pakistan but all around the world do not tolerate or accept other faiths. The problem is Muslims want equal rights where they are in minority and they have it in [the] EU and USA but they are not ready to deliver where they are in power.

 

There is another issue within [the] Christian community in Pakistan. Mostly living below poverty line and there are a few running non-profit organizations and earning handsome funds through different channels. But it is seen during the last decade that most of them are wasting those funds to achieve their personal goals. Like in politics, many of them are depositing heavy funds in political parties, like Pakistan Tahreek-e-Insaf, Pakistan Muslim League, PML – N, PML-Q, APML, MQM, JUI and JI. Most recently human rights activists from the capital reportedly has spent heavy funds to gain Senator-Ship from his parent party, getting his vote registration from the capital to KPK but couldn’t manage to even reach to the interview. He has reportedly dropped huge funds to [the] party for his personal gain. Earlier many others have wasted money for Provisional and National Assembly seats. Now many are planning to sit in with Muslim political parties. This action must be discouraged.

 

Basharat Khokhar worked hard to save the lives of 18 Christians’ blasphemy accused in the capital including two pastors. Before the Christmas celebrations last year, Pastor Arif Peera and 6 other Christian and 11 other Christians were accused of blasphemy under FIR – 596/14 under section 295-B, 6/7ATA and FIR – 888/14 under section 295-B, 354, 452, 148 and 149 were registered respectively. With the cooperation of the local administration, Basharat Khokhar has been able to set free the blasphemy accused. One thing is to remember, this man of God, does not run any NGO and [is] not asking for donations from [any] national and international donors but [is] doing his work to save the skin of Christians of this country. On the other hand there are many, collecting millions of dollars but on [the] ground [their] work is zero. But they are so much active on facebook and other social media. Let’s think seriously and stop welcoming these hypocrites.

 

Since President Musharaf’s regime, [the] electoral system for minorities is turned to selection instead [of] election. The electoral system for minorities is proportional while for majority it is democratic. This is another kind of discrimination towards minorities of this country. Many minority representatives have requested the Supreme Court of Pakistan to restore the separate election and duel vote rights. This is already been adapted to Kashmiris living in this country. These kinds of actions from time to time by the government have created insecurity among [the] minorities of the country. Recently on Jan 30, Feb 13 and Feb 18, three suicide bombers have targeted three Shia mosques, where many Shias were killed and injured. The government said it will issue gun licenses for worshiper defenders. Razor wire, security guards, and gun licenses cannot assure the safety of the Shia, Christian, Hindu and Ahmadi. Most important is to educate the upcoming generations of the country. All faiths are entitled to equal respect, legal rights and privileges otherwise the things will remain same.

Be Blessed,

Shamim Masih

 

Diplomatic Correspondent, Foreign Policy, Diplomacy, UN, F & S, MOST, CADD & Human Rights Activist

 

Daily Khabrian – in Urdu (PakBiz.com description – in English) & Channel – 5 (A project of Khabrian Group of papers)

 

For Americans especially, I have discovered the best way to donate to Shamim Masih is via Western Union sending this LINK to a Western Union agent in Islamabad. Include Shamim’s phone – +92-300-642-4560

 

____________________________

Islam’s Allah is NOT the same as Christianity’s GOD Almighty

Commentary on Shamim Masih: ‘Seeking for Peace Place’

John R. Houk

© February 22, 2015

__________________________

Seeking for Peace Place

 

Edited by John R. Houk

Links in Shamim’s report and text enclosed by brackets are by the Editor.

 

© Shamim Masih

Santa Claus doesn’t Visit Pakistan?


Karachi Santa Reuters photo 12-24-14

Karachi Santa Reuters photo 12-24-14
 
What is it like for Christians to celebrate Christmas in an Islamic Supremacist nation like Pakistan? Shamim Masih relates the Christmas experience.
 
JRH 12/26/14

Please Support NCCR

******************************
Santa Claus doesn’t Visit Pakistan?
 
By Shamim Masih
Sent: 12/26/2014 4:03 AM
 
ISLAMABAD: December 25th is a public holiday, but it is in the memory of Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of the country, not for the celebrations of Christmas. Pakistan has a population over 180 million people and there are around 20 million Christians. Although there [has not been a] census in the country for many years, this is estimated figure given by different Christian organization and churches around. Most of Christians living in [Pakistan] are quite poor. At Christian festivals, like Christmas and Easter, a big procession takes place like in Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi. Before and during Advent, spiritual seminars take place to help people to prepare for Christmas. In many Christian areas, carol singing is performed by various groups. They go from house to house singing carols and in return the family offers something to the choir. Mostly the money collected from such carols is used for charity works or is given to the church. But this trend is gradually fading now due to the wave of terrorism in the country for the last decade.
  
Christmas is not being celebrated in Pakistan like, in EU or other Christian countries. Especially, when there is a Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) (a political party) come into power. Most of the Pakistani Christians believe that the PML-N mind set is pro-Taliban and they [can] hardly bear Pakistani Christians. And this year they proved it, the government didn’t announce any public holiday for Christians. There remained gas and electricity load shedding schedule in its routine. It means Christians of the country enjoyed Christmas with gas and electricity. On the other hand, a special announcement is being made by the government and special [holiday] packages on Eid ul Fiter [or Fitr – in Pakistan: HERE and HERE] and Eid ul Uzha [or Azha or Adha] (Muslim’s festivals) [are] announced usually. The authorities gave another indication of being second class citizens [i.e. dhimmis] and showed their discriminatory attitude toward Christians of the country.
 
Anyway, in the big Christians areas, each house is decorated and has a star on the roof. Christians also sometimes exchange Christmas cakes. Churches are packed for midnight or vigil mass services. After the vigil-mass, in some places there are fireworks which start Christmas celebrations. People wear their best and colorful clothes. Some people dance, exchange gifts and enjoy the special night. But this Christmas is embraced in certain parts of Pakistani society, especially among the wealthy and educated. Paradoxically, the country is also seeing an uptick in violence against Christians as some use the country’s controversial “Blasphemy law” to marginalize and oppress their non-Muslim countrymen.
 
Not everyone is deprived of an opulent holiday feast when it comes to Christmas dinner in Pakistan. The menu reads as if an especially corpulent Santa had [been] providing dinner. Brie and cranberry parcels, roast turkey, gravy, beef, stuffing and mushroom roulade. Spiced pumpkin cheesecake and “Christmas Pie Sundae” complete with orange, almond and whisky sauce cap off dinner for well-connected diplomats and privileged society.
 
This privileged society simply forget their Christian brothers, [who have] no decorations, no best and colorful clothes. The stench from overflowing half-frozen sewers permeates the small neighborhoods. As a nation, we wear our emotions on our sleeve, given to sudden declarations that fizzle out like the ocean surf. Our tragedies forgotten before the wounds have sealed, we continue desensitized.
Be Blessed,
 
Shamim Masih
 
Diplomatic Correspondent, Foreign Policy, Diplomacy, UN, F & S, MOST, CADD & Human Rights Activist
 
Daily Khabrian – in Urdu (PakBiz.com description – in English) & Channel – 5 (A project of Khabrian Group of papers)
 
For Americans especially, I have discovered the best way to donate to Shamim Masih is via Western Union sending this LINK to a Western Union agent in Islamabad. Include Shamim’s phone – +92-300-642-4560
_______________________
Edited by John R. Houk
Text and links enclosed by brackets are by the Editor.
 
© Shamim Masih

Lecherous Men Gang Raped Two Christian Girls


Female Victim targeted by Muslims

Intro to Shamim’s ‘Lecherous Men Gang Raped Two Christian Girls’

Edited by John R. Houk

December 3, 2014

 

Rape committed by Muslims against non-Muslims is an epidemic even in the West but especially in the Muslim dominated world. Muslim rape perpetrators often justify this crime against women and very young girls as a right promised in the Quran and/or Hadith.

 

This is often reported me by Pakistani-Christian activist and reporter Shamim Masih. Due to Shamim’s reporting I have become acutely aware of Pakistan’s rape epidemic more than the rest of the world. Here is an excerpt from a 2013 article on Pakistan’s rape epidemic that provides the numbers to drive home the horror that Pakistan minorities face (to name a few – Christian, Hindu and Ahmadi [Pakistan-Ahmadi perspective]):

 

Official data confirms that 17,075 women were raped over the past five years. Of these, 1,368 were instances of gang-rape.

 

In just the past two years, the statistics recorded by the National Police Bureau (NPB), show that 6,887 women were raped, while 550 were gang-raped during this period (2012-2013).

 

According to these statistics, over 3,000 women are, on average, raped every year in Pakistan. In 2013, the total reported cases of rape were 3,164. In 2012, this number was 3,173.

 

Reported cases of gang-rape in 2013 remained 257 and 293 in 2012. In 2011, police registered 3,272 cases of rape besides the reports of 264 women were allegedly gang-raped. In 2010, the numbers were 3,158 and 310 respectively.

 

…

 

But these numbers, which NPB collected from regional police departments, reflect only the tip of the iceberg. These are the cases the authorities actually registered. There are countless others which are not reported because police officials refuse to register First Information Reports (FIR) after taking bribes from the culprits.

 

In many other rape cases, local community leaders, families, politicians or victims deliberately try to cover up incidents of rape to avoid “social embarrassment”

 

…

 

“This data is based on the FIRs registered in all police stations across the country. We believe the actual number of incidents is far higher than numbers which are reported,” said a senior government official, who monitors the crime statistics.

 

“It is very difficult to get ‘real’ statistics from the provinces. They hide several incidents and show less cases than there actually are,” the official told Pique on the condition of anonymity, because he is not authorized to talk to the media.

 

“It is a common trend with our police department that they desperately avoid registering the FIR and try their best to prevent the complainants from registering one,” he said.

 

… READ ENTIRETY (THE RAPE EPIDEMIC; By Mirza Khurram Shahzad; Pique Magazine; 4/1/14)

 

Below is Shamim’s report on the gang rape of teen Christian girls by Muslim males. 

 

JRH 12/3/14

Please Support NCCR

***********************

Lecherous Men Gang Raped Two Christian Girls

 

By Shamim Masih

Sent: 12/2/2014 11:54 AM

 

ISLAMABAD: Sehrish 18 and Farazana 14 were forcibly raped by lecherous Muslim men in District Jaranwala a couple of days back but the police avoided registering FIR in this regard.

 

According to the details, Sehrish and Farazana, daughters of Ilyas Masih, went to nearby fields for an outdoor toilet. While there were several very aggressive and lecherous Muslim men (Sijad, Azeem, Asif, and Akbar etc.) grabbed them and took them deeper into local woods, where two teenage virgin girls were gang raped. The men laughed and mocked the girls as they took away their innocence. Stating this, is [the] fate of poor Christian girls. The girls then had to make their own way home running scared and half naked after the terrifying ordeal.

 

When they told their parents what happened to them, their father Ilyas Masih, resident of Chack no. 651/2 immediately went to the local Police Station. Yet despite pleading for justice the local police refused to register a First Investigation Report (FIR) but [the police] tried to coerce the father to reach a compensation agreement with [the] men who had scarred his daughters for life. The father stated that the police were extremely aggressive with him in their attempts at reaching an unlawful compromise between him and the perpetrators of the vicious attack on his daughters. Then he has pursued the matter through the local courts and civil judge Kamran has ordered for a medical examination to be undertaken on the poor defenseless girls, who have been physically shaken by the event.

 

According to the latest report FIR no. 552/14 has been registered and Sijad has been arrested and [the] rest are fugitives. This is to mention here that in rural areas of the Pakistan there is no defecation and urination facility in the houses and usually poor people have to use a communal cesspit as an outdoor toilet for urination. Basharat Khokhar said that this is very common that aristocracy treat poor girls as their slaves. There are many cases that are not being reported. And the poor class is being exploited everywhere. Pakistani Christian needs to be strengthening economically, he added.

   

Even now as I write this piece the father advised me that threats are being made to him, his friends and his family. However, he will keep his resolve and will get justice for his daughters. He said that God will see them through this difficult period.

 

Be Blessed,

 

Shamim Masih

 

Diplomatic Correspondent, Foreign Policy, Diplomacy, UN, F & S, MOST, CADD & Human Rights Activist

 

Daily Khabrian – in Urdu (PakBiz.com description – in English) & Channel – 5 (A project of Khabrian Group of papers)

 

For Americans especially, I have discovered the best way to donate to Shamim Masih is via Western Union sending this LINK to a Western Union agent in Islamabad. Include Shamim’s phone – +92-300-642-4560

_____________________________

Lecherous Men Gang Raped Two Christian Girls

 

Edited by John R. Houk

Text enclosed by brackets are by the Editor.

 

© Shamim Masih

 

Will the West Abandon Asia Bibi to an Execution in Pakistan?


Save Asia Bibi - VOM appeal mercy

John R. Houk

© October 17, 2014

 

Islam is peace – NOT. With Islam there is no compulsion of religion – NOT. So-called Moderate Muslims (like CAIR, IST and ISGOKC for example) claim Sharia is compatible to the U.S. Constitution – NOT.

 

In 2009, Asia Bibi—a Pakistani Christian and mother of five—drew a cup of water from a Muslim’s well and incurred the wrath of villagers who accused her of slandering Islam. Convicted under Pakistan’s blasphemy law, which is often used to punish Muslims as well as religious minorities, Asia Bibi has languished in jail as she tries to overturn her death sentence. (For Blasphemy, A Death Sentence; From book review on Daily Beast of Blasphemy: A Memoir: Sentenced To Death Over A Cup Of Water; 8/30/13)

 

Asia Bibi has been imprisoned by Pakistan found guilty of breaking that Islamic Supremacist nation’s Blasphemy Law. Her accusers became agitated that a Christian would drink from a well designated for Muslims. The Muslim gals at the well decided to solidify their segregationist agitation by screaming Asia had responded by saying unpleasant things about their pseudo-prophet Mohammed.

 

As is typical in Pakistan prejudice and greed are the primary reasons Muslims use against Christians not liked. Asia is a victim of this prejudice. She denies she made any slurs; however even if she did – SO WHAT! By expressing any kind of displeasure with a religion that denigrates Christianity in its holy writings you receive a death sentence for expressing any displeasure Islam. After some intimidation by Muslim mobs Asia was convicted with a death sentence. Some Pakistanis including Muslims saw the irrationality of this conviction and have made a public case for Asia. Asia’s lawyers have fled. Judges have postponed and/or proceeded with the death sentence legal procedures out of fear from Muslim mobs threatening the Judges and their families. One Pakistan official was even assassinated for the near success of getting Asia Bibi released.

 

On October 16, 2014 Asia Bibi’s appeal was officially denied, placing her on the fast track to be the first Pakistani convicted (one of many convicted or accused) under the Blasphemy Law that will be put to death.

 

 JRH 10/17/14

Please Support NCCR

**********************************

Death Sentence Upheld for Christian Mother Asia Bibi in Pakistan

 

By Morning Star News

October 16, 2014 06:39 PM EDT

The Gospel Herald

 

LAHORE, Pakistan – In spite of protests within Pakistan and abroad against the country’s blasphemy laws, the Lahore High Court today upheld the death sentence for a Christian mother accused of insulting Islam’s prophet.

 

Aasiya Noreen, commonly known as Asia Bibi, is the first woman to be sentenced to death for blasphemy in Pakistan. Arrested in June 2009 after Muslim co-workers in a berry field 60 miles west of Lahore beat her when she refused to convert to Islam, her death sentence was announced in November 2010.

 

Bibi’s husband, Ashiq Masih, told Morning Star News that they were hoping for some relief, but that the verdict had devastated the family.

 

“I met Asia in prison a month ago,” he said. “She’s fine and was hoping to hear good news, but, alas, our ordeal is not over yet.”

 

Bibi’s lawyer, Naeem Shakir, told Morning Star News that Justice Anwarul Haq and Justice Shahbaz Ali Rizvi had rejected her appeal even though there were glaring contradictions in the witnesses’ testimonies.

 

“I pointed out the conflicting accounts of the prosecution witnesses, as each one of them had a different narrative regarding the exact location where the local village council was convened in which Asia had allegedly confessed that she had spoken ill of Islam’s prophet and sought forgiveness from the villagers,” Shakir said. “There is also discrepancy in the number of people present as each witness gave different figures.”

 

In addition, the court did not take into account the fact that the First Information Report (FIR) against her was registered six days after the alleged incident, “which clearly shows that the case was a premeditated conspiracy against the Christian woman,” he said.

 

The lawyer said that the complainant in the case, Qari Salem, was not even present in the berry fields where the alleged incident had occurred.

 

“One of the witnesses, a female co-worker of Asia named Maafia, used to study the Koran from Salem’s wife, and we believe that she is the one who provoked Salem, a prayer leader of the village’s local mosque, to lodge a case against Asia as she and her sister, Asma, had an altercation with Asia in the berry fields over drinking water from the same bowl,” Shakir said.

 

Bibi’s appeal had been delayed several times, but he had been confident that the verdict would be overturned, he said.

 

“I was shocked when the judges decided to uphold the sessions court decision,” he said, adding that the court had said that Noreen’s “confession” before villagers was sufficient evidence while ignoring that any such confession might have been coerced by Muslim mob.

 

“We will appeal the decision in the Supreme Court,” he said.

 

Given huge backlogs at the court, however, Christian rights lawyers said it would probably be at least three years before the appeal would be taken up.

 

Islamists Rejoice

 

The courtroom was packed with clerics and members of Islamist extremist groups who supported the prosecution, and they erupted in celebration upon hearing the two-judge panel’s decision to dismiss Bibi’s appeal.

 

“Let us celebrate by distributing sweets!” said one cleric who recited verses from the Koran throughout the almost two-and-a-half-hour court proceeding.

 

“I am very happy,” said Salem, the complainant. “The judges have given a verdict on merit, and Asia deserved it.”

 

Salem’s lawyer, Ghulam Mustafa said the court’s decision, was correct.

 

“Asia’s lawyer tried to prove that the case was registered on a personal enmity, but he failed to prove that,” he said.

 

David Griffiths, Amnesty International’s deputy Asia Pacific director, called the ruling a grave injustice.

 

“Asia Bibi should never have been convicted in the first place – still less sentenced to death – and the fact that she could pay with her life for an argument is sickening,” he said in a press statement. “There were serious concerns about the fairness of the trial, and her mental and physical health has reportedly deteriorated badly during the years she has spent in almost total isolation on death row. She should be released immediately and the conviction should be quashed.”

 

The ruling is the latest chapter in a long ordeal for Bibi, whose case has focused international attention on how Pakistan’s blasphemy laws have become a weapon against religious minorities.

 

While Bibi’s death sentence led to international protests, the possibility of overturning it provoked outrage within Pakistan. Punjab Gov. Salman Taseer was slain by his bodyguard on Jan. 4, 2011 because of his support for Bibi and his criticism of the blasphemy law; the bodyguard believed Taseer, a Muslim, had blasphemed by criticizing the law.

 

Meeting with Bibi after her sentencing in 2010, Taseer had told her he believed the charges against her were fabricated and promised to recommend a presidential pardon. He called Pakistan’s blasphemy statutes “a black law” and called for their repeal.

 

Former Minister for Minority Affairs Shahbaz Bhatti, the first Christian, cabinet-level minister, was shot and killed on March 2, 2011 for calling for reforms to blasphemy laws following Bibi’s trial.

 

“The laws are often used to settle personal vendettas – both against members of minority religious groups and Muslims – while individuals facing charges are frequently targeted in mob violence,” Griffiths said. “Those who speak out against the laws face terrible reprisals. However, the blasphemy laws violate international law and must be repealed or reformed immediately to meet international standards.”

 

Death sentences have rarely been carried out in blasphemy cases, but that is in part because such allegations have frequently led to deadly vigilante attacks on the accused or their lawyers. Pakistan is nearly 96 percent Muslim, according to Operation World, and religiously charged court cases commonly involve clamoring crowds of Muslims and other pressures coming to bear on lawyers and judges. Christians make up 2.45 percent of the population.

 

Mother of two children and stepmother to three others, Bibi was convicted under Section 295-C of the defamation statutes for alleged derogatory comments about Muhammad, which is punishable by death, though life imprisonment is also possible. Pakistan put a de facto moratorium on executions into place in 2008, though one person has been executed since then.

 

In the harvest fields of Ittan Wali in June 2009, her co-workers objected to her touching the container for the water she had fetched, saying that her Christian faith made it impure for them, and they told her to convert to Islam, according to her husband. Her objections were taken as blasphemy, and they beat her before dragging her to a police station, he said.

 

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has stated that Christians and Ahmadis, a minority sect within Islam, are vulnerable to Pakistan’s draconian blasphemy law, according to The New York Times. More than 20 men have been sentenced to death under the blasphemy law, most of them Christians, though none have been executed, human rights groups say.

 

Pakistan’s blasphemy laws have been routinely misused to settle personal scores with false accusations. Police have found most blasphemy accusations to be false during investigation, but accusers can make innocent victims suffer months in jail with quick and easy registration of such cases.

 

Of 5,000 cases registered between 1984 and 2004, only 964 people were charged with blasphemy, according to the Pakistani newspaper Dawn. A recent study by the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) found that from 1953 to July 2012, there were 434 people blasphemy “offenders” in Pakistan, including 258 Muslims, 114 Christians, 57 Ahmadis and four Hindus.

 

Those acquitted of blasphemy charges also face threats from homicidal vigilantes. Of 52 people extra-judicially murdered after being charged with blasphemy in Pakistan, 25 were Muslims, 15 were Christians, five were Ahmadis, one was Buddhist and one was Hindu, according to the CRSS report.

 

Most blasphemy case acquittals take place at the appellate level, after courts have denied bail so often that the accused spend years in jail, as lower courts tend to decide based on fear of violence by Islamist groups rather than on merit.

 

Section 295-B of Pakistan’s blasphemy statutes makes willful desecration of the Koran or a use of its extract in a derogatory manner punishable with life imprisonment. Section 295-A of the defamation law prohibits injuring or defiling places of worship and “acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class of citizens.” It is punishable by life imprisonment, which in Pakistan is 25 years.

 

Blasphemy charges against Rimsha Masih, a girl whose mental age was determined to be less than 14 years old, were dismissed on Nov. 20, 2012 after a judge ruled that they were baseless (see Morning Star News, Nov. 20, 2012). She has since been relocated to Canada.

 

The original article was published on Morning Star News

________________________

Will the West Abandon Asia Bibi to an Execution in Pakistan?

John R. Houk

© October 17, 2014

______________________

Death Sentence Upheld for Christian Mother Asia Bibi in Pakistan

 

Copyright © 2013 The Gospel Herald. All Rights Reserved.

 

About Us

 

General Information

 

The Gospel Herald (www.GospelHerald.net) is a leading online publication that brings you the most updated Chinese Christian issues around the globe. We feature the latest online information technology from website publication to newsletters and searchable archives.

Executives

 

Publisher/CEO: Edward Shih
Editor: Eunice Or

Board of Directors:

Chairman: Edward Shih
Directors: Chris Mak, Eunice Or, Joanna Wong, Susanna Lam

Mission

 

Gospel Herald is an evangelical, transdenominational, christian media company which serves to provide direct, and current news information to the general christian public.

 

Gospel Herald upholds the dictum found in Mathew 5:9, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.” In the midst of immensely secularized teachings of the gospel, Gospel Herald partakes in delivering only the veracity of the words of Jesus Christ.

 

Gospel Herald views all denominations as equal constituents of the body of Christ and … READ THE REST

Sunday Services in Pakistan


Pakistan Church Burning

Intro to ‘Sunday Services in Pakistan’

Edited by John R. Houk

August 16, 2014

 

Shamim writes about the incredulous hypocrisy of Pakistan’s school system especially as it affects religious minorities and worse – the girls of those minorities. I believe I found a decent website that explains how education works in Pakistan. The information was put together by a Pakistani whose name is Umbreen Sabir Mian. I find it fortunate he put together the data in English. Mian’s website info is based on a presentation he put together in 2011. Here are some excerpts that will provide a framework for Shamim’s report:

 

The educational system of Pakistan is among the least-developed in the world. The system was based on the British colonial educational system, which lasted until 1947. In that year, Pakistan gained independence as a result of the partition of the Indian subcontinent into the states of India and Pakistan. The colonial system was elitist; it was meant to educate a small portion of the population to run the government. Despite changes since independence, the Pakistani educational system has retained its colonial elitist character, a factor preventing the eradication of illiteracy.

 

Structure

 

There are 3 main sectors of education system in Pakistan.

 

 

>Formal Education

 

>Informal Education

 

>Religious Education

…

 

The provincial Education Departments are headed by their respective Provincial Education Ministers. The civil servant in charge of the department is the Provincial Education Secretary. The provinces are further divided into districts for the purpose of administration. The head of the Education Department in a district is Executive District Officer (EDO). Literacy Department functions separately in case of Punjab and Sindh only it is headed by Executive District Officer (EDO) literacy. In the Provinces of NWFP and Balochistan, literacy is the part of Education Department. The hierarchy then runs down to the District Education Officer, Sub-district Education Officer, Supervisors or Assistant Sub-district Education Officers.

At the grass root level (the union council level), Learning Coordinators (LCs) provide academic guidance as well as supervise the schools. The administrative structure has been decentralized under the Devolution Plan. Village Education Committees (VECs)/ School Management Committees (SMCs) have been set up in the provinces at grass root level.

 

Performance

Despite the intentions of the Pakistani government, the educational system has failed to eradicate illiteracy in the post-independence era. It has also failed to train an adequate number of professionals to meet the needs of the country in different fields, which has been a major hindrance to the nation’s economic development. …

 

…  The government privatized the schools nationalized in the 1970s. It also reversed the process of promoting Urdu as the language of education and encouraged a return to English language in the elite private schools. Finally, the government emphasized Pakistani studies and Islamic studies as two major fields in the curriculum. This was a shift from colonial education’s emphasis on British history and English culture and literature.

 

…

 

The government of Pakistan recognized that education is the basic right of every citizen; therefore, access to education for every citizen is crucial for economic development and for poverty alleviation. …

 

…

 

… The targeted groups for EFA goals belong to disadvantaged communities with minimal opportunities. These groups are highly vulnerable, without access to learning facilities, or public sector facilities, which are functioning at sub-optimal levels.

 

Female Education

The Pakistani educational system has demonstrated a discriminatory trend against women. This bias is evident in the pattern of literacy, which shows a strong correlation between gender and literacy rates. …

 

…

 

Despite all shortcomings of private education mentioned above, PIHS survey indicates that enrolment rates in public schools have declined since 1995-96 particularly a large decline has been observed in rural areas. It is generally perceived by parents that quality of education in private schools are better than the public schools, therefore, those parents who can afford prefer to send their children to private schools. These trends indicate that the public education system is unable to meet public demand for providing quality education in the country.  (Education system of Pakistan; Pakistan – Higher Education System)

 

 

I realize this was a quite lengthy intro to Shamim Masih’s report on the lack of education opportunities for Pakistani Christians. Many might even feel this is superfluous info and as such unneeded. The Pakistani who put the data together not unsurprisingly failed to mention anything about religious minority discrimination let alone Christian discrimination.

 

Actually the treatment of Christians in Pakistan is symptomatic of all Christians throughout the entire Muslim world. So read and become enlightened to what the Western World has been sticking their heads in the sand for quite some time. AND PLEASE SUPPORT SHAMIM MASIH WITH YOUR GENEROSITY.**  

 

JRH 8/16/14

Please Support NCCR

*****************************

Sunday Services in Pakistan

Plight of Pakistani Christians

 

By Shamim Masih

Sent: 8/15/2014 7:08 AM

 

ISLAMABAD: When Church bells are ringing and you hear worship songs all around your surroundings on Sunday services, it sounds good. But it is only possible in a Christian country not in Islamic Republic of Pakistan. In Pakistan, on Friday, you will find that people block the roads for Friday prayer near and around the mosques. Although it is said that mosque is not for prayer but a base for recruiting Muslim youths to engage in terrorist activities. It sounds that Pakistan has become the hub to control religious extremism and discrimination.

 

On the other hand, religious minorities have been targeted; colonies, villages were being burned, accused in false cases of blasphemy, victims of intimidation, forced marriages, and force conversions is seen in this country. New church buildings are restricted unconstitutional, and you cannot arrange religious gathering at your homes even. During the last few weeks; we started Sunday service at our home but our landlord asked me to stop this service because we live in Muslims’ surroundings. According to the report, the greatest levels of social hostilities toward religion felt in Pakistan. Social hostilities include armed conflict, terrorism, sectarian violence, harassment, intimidation or abuse motivated by religious factors. Harassment against Christians has been increased in the recent decade.

 

Government has imposed unannounced restrictions on religious minorities’ which include political restrictions, limit preaching, and construction of the new church buildings. On the other hand when a Christian is accused of blasphemy, the people of a neighborhood gather to punish the accused, burning him alive or lynching him. The police and the government have never punished such acts.

 

Education is basic right of every child and [the] state is responsible to provide basic rights to every citizen. Ninety percent of the Christian girls remain uneducated and indulged in household jobs.  They are being sexually harassed and then being forced to convert to Islam. If girls from the minority go to school they face discrimination. They are not only forced to study Islamic studies but forced to do manual jobs like cleaning in the schools while other girls remain in the class rooms. Iffat Nasim, headmistress of the Government Khadija Girls High School in Rawalpindi, is reportedly involved in extra-educational activities by indulging the Christian students in cleaning/washing classrooms, toilets, verandas/corridors for hours and preparing burgers/buns from Muslim students for earning money for her.

 

Parents of the different Christian students submitted an application to the District [Executive] Education Officer (EDO) Qazi Zahoor ul Haq. He conducted an inquiry but it was not in letter and spirit, rather [it was] swept under the carpet. Parents provided rotated clips and pictures even then no prompt action is being taken. The above mentioned activity not only depicts her interest in education, but also shows her discriminatory attitude towards the Christian community. This is not the end; discrimination against religious minorities is seen in every walk of life in Pakistan.

 

Request: I want to make a documentary on the plight of the Christian women in Pakistan, please support me, if you can. **

 

[**Blog Editor: The information enabling you to support and/or donate to Shamim Masih is below.]   

___________________________________________

Edited by John R. Houk

Text enclosed by brackets are by the Editor

 

© Shamim Masih

Special Correspondents

Daily Khabrian (PakBiz.com description) & Channel – 5

Human Rights Activist

 

Snapshot of Human Rights Activism from 2011

Christian Rights Activist
Freelance Journalist 

Secretary General of Information

Pakistan Christian Congress

 

Shamim Masih’s Donate/Support info:

 

Editor: For Americans especially, I have discovered the best way to donate to Shamim Masih is via Western Union sending to a Western Union agent in Islamabad. Include Shamim’s phone – +92-300-642-4560

 

FOR USD TRANSFER.
Intermediary Bank:                         MASHREQ BANK, NEW YORK
Intermediary Bank SWIFT BIC:         MSHQUS33
Beneficiary Bank:                         JS BANK LIMITED
Beneficiary Bank SWIFT BIC:                 JSBLPKKA
Bank A/c # at Intermediary bank:         70008227
Title Of a/c                                Shamim Masih
Beneficiary Account Number:                 405527

Top of Form

IBAN #                                        pk80jsbl9530000000405227

FOR GBP TRANSFER.
Intermediary Bank:                         MASHREQ BANK, LONDON
Intermediary Bank SWIFT BIC:         MSHQGB2L
Beneficiary Bank:                         JS BANK LIMITED
Beneficiary Bank SWIFT BIC:                 JSBLPKKA
Bank A/c # at Intermediary bank:         00010855
Title Of a/c                                Shamim Masih
Beneficiary Account Number:                 405527
IBAN #                                        pk80jsbl9530000000405227

FOR EURO TRANSFER.
Intermediary Bank:                         MASHREQ BANK, LONDON
Intermediary Bank SWIFT BIC:         MSHQGB2L
Beneficiary Bank:                         JS BANK LIMITED
Beneficiary Bank SWIFT BIC:                 JSBLPKKA
Bank A/c # at Intermediary bank:         10847
Title Of a/c                                Shamim Masih
Beneficiary Account Number:                 405527
IBAN #                                        pk80jsbl9530000000405227 Bottom of Form

 

We Need Visionary Leaders


Albert David

Albert David

 

Intro to ‘We Need Visionary Leaders’

Edited by John R. Houk

July 8, 2014

 

This is not the first time Shamim Masih has written about corruption and/or political inactivity of leaders who claim to represent the Christian minority in Pakistan. In this report Shamim contrasts the failed subservient leadership of Julius Salik with Pakistani Christian leader Albert David the Chairman of the Pakistan United Christian Movement (PUCM).

 

Most of what I discovered on Julius Salik is in a positive manner pertaining to Christian activism in Pakistan. Shamim’s can be summed up in this paragraph:

 

There was something ironic about 11 August this year. I saw the biggest joker of Christian rights in Pakistan Julius Salik join the election campaign of Advocate Ashraf Gujjar for NA 48. Yes he is the same Gujjar who garland Mumtaz Qadri and who feels he must be released. He is the same Mumtaz, who took law into his own hands and killed Salman Taseer before his blasphemous guilt could be proved. This is an ugly side of one of our leaders who is a self-proclaimed champion of human rights while he has done nothing practically for their rights. I found Basharat Khokhar better helping Christians in Islamabad then this leader. J Salik arranged commiseration for Qazi Husain Ahmad after his death but not spoken a single word for Shahbaz Bhatti. Qazi Husain Ahmad was the chief of Jammet e Islami – JI, a fundamentalist religious organization. (Bold Print Mine – Constitution Avenue Will Remain Quiet Until you Sleep; By Shamim Masih; Salem-News.com; 8/26/13)

 

Here are some glowing words about Albert David from a 2012 post:

 

…

 

Unfortunately many so called Christian leaders are still shaking their tails behind them, thus not knowingly they became the part of it. I have been writing for the need of unity among Christians of Pakistan. Years back I asked J. Salik (Ex. Federal Minister), Col. (R) S K Tressler (Ex. Federal Minister), and Prof. Mushataq Victor (late) (Ex. Federal Minister), to unite Pakistani Christians, but they have been playing their own cards for own sake.

 

…

 

I along with many other social and political activists have been desperately looking for someone who could conscientiously lead the Christian nation with conviction, determination and above all love and care. Albert apparently ticks all these boxes but will have to convince and prove through his actions only then he would be able to muster support for the new political initiative “PAKISTAN UNITED CHRISTIAN MOVEMENT (PUCM)” [SlantRight Editor: PUCM on Facebook] that he and his team have announced to launch.

 

… READ ENTIRETY (Shamim Masih Emails; email – Chosen Vessel of Christ: Albert David; By Shamim Masih; SlantRight 2.0; posted 11/19/12 – email 10/25/12)

 

JRH 7/8/14

Please Support NCCR

***************************************

We Need Visionary Leaders

We Need Wise Leaders and Wise Followers

 

By Shamim Masih

Sent: 7/7/2014 1:31 PM

 

ISLAMABAD: Let us not talk of an ideal condition but there should be a balance and fair situation. We fool ourselves if we think we can hide behind masks and maintain a double personality. All insincerities will kick back.  They will come back to haunt us and make our true intentions plain for the entire world to see. Since my school life, I have been following former federal minister Julius Salik, then he was elected member of the parliament for the first time. I ran his election campaign, seeing him as a revolutionary leader but once he became a legislator, he neither brought reforms nor took solid steps to strengthen the community, so I stopped following him.

 

Currently there is a battery of Christian social and political leaders on the horizon currently, some have been there for decades but with a blank list of achievements, some from the most recent past have a tainted record with vested interests, and some are emerging as fresh blood, energetic, clear vision and not only aware of the socio-political issues of non-Muslims in the country but also an intellect approach towards their solution. Healthy self-esteem is important because some of us think too little of ourselves; on the other hand, some of us overestimate ourselves. However the key is an honest and accurate evaluation. When our leaders at any level are accused, discredited, denounce and charged with failure the word “impeach” begins to emerge. If a leader unable to do what he was placed in office to do by election or appointment, he becomes worthless and useless, this is a situation when public impeachment should be considered.

 

I could be wrong, but what I have seen during the last decade, a majority of Pakistani Christian leadership political, social or religious is self-centered. Reforming or leading a nation is not a game for armatures, it needs solid commitment, professional attitude combined with a national and international exposure and ability to represent the masses at all levels. When I look around there are a very few personalities that fit into the above criteria and one example I would like to share is Albert David MBE, Chairman of Pakistan United Christian Movement (PUCM). Albert has a proven and accomplished professional background, national and international exposure and experience of dealing with human rights issues, a strong grip over and awareness of socio-political issues whether related to the religious minorities or the country’s national issues and above all a vision and road map for non-Muslim Pakistanis to integrate into the national main stream, political and social. Albert strongly believes in social harmony and cohesion and advocates nationalism. I had a chance of going through his profile and would like to share a few of his achievements:

 

o   He is the first Pakistani Christian to be conferred MBE (Honorary Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) by her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, in recognition for outstanding services and contribution on issue of forced marriages.

 

o   He was invited by the White House as representative of Pakistani Christians for breakfast with President Barak Obama, an annual event to promote interfaith harmony between different religions in Feb, 2014.

 

o   A speaker and panelist at News Week’s conference “Women in World”, New York 2012, where he shared the stage with Foreign Secretary, Hillary Clinton and Angelina Jolie.

 

o   He was also the speaker and panelist on a debate jointly organized by BBC World service trust and BBC Urdu on the issue of forced marriages, honor killings and Gender Equality.

 

Locally he has served as the Member of the Provincial Minority Advisory Council, actively involved in the campaign against torture, a vibrant role in the promotion of child rights and leading on the advocacy campaign for Pakistan to accede to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Child Abductions. Another of Albert’s achievements was his role in signing of a Protocol between Judiciaries of Pakistan and UK on the issue of Child Abductions.

 

Along with the above mentioned and a very clear political agenda of prosperity coupled with intellectual thinking and prolific speaking skills in a number of languages, In my opinion he is emerging as one the more capable non-Muslim political leaders in Pakistan.

 

America and the West have a policy of ignoring the persecution of the Christians claiming it to be an internal affair but for some reason focus on individuals, however these individuals do not present a true picture here. Some local Christian politicians, civil rights activists and religious leaders have been making money on the pretext of safeguarding minority rights but these financial resources are being used in getting positions in other political parties and for their vest interests instead of spending those funds for achieving Christian prosperity.

 

Be Blessed,

Shamim Masih

__________________________________

Edited by John R. Houk

 

© Shamim Masih

Special Correspondents

Daily Khabrian (PakBiz.com description) & Channel – 5

Human Rights Activist

 

Snapshot of Human Rights Activism from 2011

Christian Rights Activist
Freelance Journalist 

Secretary General of Information

Pakistan Christian Congress

 

Shamim Masih’s Donate/Support info:

 

Editor: For Americans especially, I have discovered the best way to donate to Shamim Masih is via Western Union sending to a Western Union agent in Islamabad.

 

FOR USD TRANSFER.
Intermediary Bank:                         MASHREQ BANK, NEW YORK
Intermediary Bank SWIFT BIC:         MSHQUS33
Beneficiary Bank:                         JS BANK LIMITED
Beneficiary Bank SWIFT BIC:                 JSBLPKKA
Bank A/c # at Intermediary bank:         70008227
Title Of a/c                                Shamim Masih
Beneficiary Account Number:                 405527

Top of Form

IBAN #                                        pk80jsbl9530000000405227

FOR GBP TRANSFER.
Intermediary Bank:                         MASHREQ BANK, LONDON
Intermediary Bank SWIFT BIC:         MSHQGB2L
Beneficiary Bank:                         JS BANK LIMITED
Beneficiary Bank SWIFT BIC:                 JSBLPKKA
Bank A/c # at Intermediary bank:         00010855
Title Of a/c                                Shamim Masih
Beneficiary Account Number:                 405527
IBAN #                                        pk80jsbl9530000000405227

FOR EURO TRANSFER.
Intermediary Bank:                         MASHREQ BANK, LONDON
Intermediary Bank SWIFT BIC:         MSHQGB2L
Beneficiary Bank:                         JS BANK LIMITED
Beneficiary Bank SWIFT BIC:                 JSBLPKKA
Bank A/c # at Intermediary bank:         10847
Title Of a/c                                Shamim Masih
Beneficiary Account Number:                 405527
IBAN #                                        pk80jsbl9530000000405227 Bottom of Form