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Martyrdom


Catholic Pakistani Minister Killed for Protecting Christians

Comments

  1. Looks like it's open season on Christians in Pakistan.

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  2. Looks like you still don't get it, Lucia Maria.

    He wasn't killed because he was christian, he was killed for opposing the privileging of religion in Pakistan. Salmaan Taseer, a muslim, stood with Shahbaz Bhatti in opposing Pakistan's blasphemy laws and was also murdered. The third member of this valiant triumvrate, Sherry Rehman, also faces murder.

    I do not know her religious affiliations, but as a member of Pakistan's People's Party, I am guessing she is probably an atheist / humanist. In all the photographs I have seen of her she is unveiled.

    So, here we have a Muslim, a Christian and (probably) an Atheist, yet you see it as persecution of christians.

    Blasphemy laws do not persecute christians, they persecute all who want to be free thinkers.

    http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jan/23/sherry-rehman-pakistan-blasphemy

    http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/02/sherry-rehman-pakistan-blasphemy-laws-hitlist

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  3. LRO,

    Always ready to jump, aren't you?

    Both men are connected to trying to save Asia Bibi, a Christian mother of 5 who is in prison for blasphemy. Mostly Christians fall foul of this law which prosecutes only supposed blasphemy against Islam. So, while atheists or agnostics may get caught up in the net, they are not the prime target. Anyone seen to be defending Christians or trying to take down the blasphemy law so that this persecution cannot occur is also going to be taken out.

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  4. I am well aware of the story of Asia Bibi. But this campaign is NOT just about Asia Bibi, it is not just about xianity, it is about people being free from religious persecution.

    Do you not think that atheists have as much to fear? Are as much in support of Asia Bibi?

    I did a quick search of this site for blasphemy and the only posts I can find you making are when a xian is a victim. No mention of any other poeople persecuted under blasphemy laws. Nor do I recall you posting on Ireland's new blasphemy laws. I am happy to be corrected if I missed it. Nor do I recall you ever posting in opposition to New Zealand's blasphemy law Section 123 of the Crimes Act 1961).

    My point stands 0- thsi murder was not, as you claimed, "open season on Christians in Pakistan".

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  5. LRO,

    " ... it is about people being free from religious persecution."

    Not disagreeing.

    "I did a quick search of this site for blasphemy and the only posts I can find you making are when a xian is a victim. "

    Christians are the most persecuted people in the world right now. It is far more dangerous to be Christian than anything else. So, yeah, I'm kinda interesting in blogging about it and highlight it.

    "Nor do I recall you posting on Ireland's new blasphemy laws."

    You must have a memory like a sieve. You've mentioned this before, and I've said it's not a big deal as no one is being persecuted under this law.

    It's like jaywalking laws, we presumably have them in NZ, but they don't prevent anyone from jaywalking as they are not enforced. So why get all excited about something that is not a problem?

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  6. Christians are the most persecuted people in the world right now

    And the proof for this is ...?

    I've said it's not a big deal as no one is being persecuted under this law.

    Odd how the Irish catholics seemed to need to apss a alw that won't be enforced. Let's wait a bit beofere passing judgement, its only been in force since Jan 3.

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  7. 150,000 Christians a year are killed for their belief in Christ. See this post: European Parliament resolution condemning persecution against Christians

    We have a anti-smacking law that isn't being enforced. Don't know why people do that, but there you go.

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  8. Need to do better, Lucia, all I can find is an unsubstantiated claim. No hard numbers. Were any Rwandans included in that figure?

    And there have been prosecutions under the "anti-smacking law".

    But back to the main point - do you oppose blasphemy laws in general, or only when they are used against xians?

    As a humanist, I oppose all blasphemy laws.

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