Praise the Lord, there's a revival starting!

It's just about 2 am here where I am and I was just doing my usual pre-bedtime gander through internet news and social media, when I happily came across an article on the BPCA blog by the newest edition to their writing team -- one Tejas Kumar.

I just about whooped and accidentally disturbed my parents because I was SO happy to see another young person from a similar background to my own who clearly really wants more of Jesus. I don't know where Mr. Kumar is from but I am going to assume that he is from South Asian heritage.

Here's a link to his personal blog.

I'm so pleased to see such a positive kingdom focused piece written by a "desi" brother and I really really needed to share it here on my blog as well because I want everyone out there who has felt a little winded with all the politics and societal issues in the community -- who crave spiritual fellowship with like-minded individuals to know that it's OK! Come on out guys.. this past year has shown me that if we are willing to let go of our pride, our positions, our possessions, our ambitions, our greed, our shame -- let it all go and turn back to God that there are doors opening all over for us like never before.

There's a revival starting and I for one am THRILLED.

________________________________________________________________

Tejas writes:

The Truth About Christianity

"Dear friends, I'd like to present to you, the truth of Christianity. It is this: Christianity is always about the man Jesus Christ. That's from where it gets its name! Christianity revolves around, is worshipful of, is founded by, and has as the hero, none other than God who became a man, Jesus Christ. I tell you this because as Christians, often times we individualize it and turn ourselves into the prime focus. I'm here to say no: it's not about me or my Christian blog or my career as a web designer and web developer, it's not about you, it's about Jesus Christ."

 

Click here to read the full article. I insist. 

Author's note: I am well aware that what I have written by no means indicates nor provides concrete evidence of a starting revival, but I have faith that God wants to do BIG THINGS -- and readers, if you don't believe there is one how about we start one anyways?

Students Invited to Ottawa!

There’s an exciting opportunity taking place in a couple of weeks for Canadian students in the form of three unique events:

	Tickets
The National Student Forum (including panel, round table discussions, & meals)	$65
Leadership Dinner	$60
Canada’s National Prayer Breakfast	$55

These events give students the exclusive opportunity to mingle, network and learn from other students, and politicians – in the nation’s capital Ottawa!

Watch this video from '100 Huntley Street' featuring an interview with the brilliant Joycelin Ng (from the office of MP David Anderson) to get a better idea of what this forum is about:

The three day program for students includes:

April 29

Arrival: 1:00 – 1:30pm

Opening Remarks and Stories from the Hill: 1:30 – 2:30pm

Tour of Parliament: 3:00-4:15pm

Reception & Dinner: 5:00 – 6:00pm

Faith, Culture and Politics: 6:30 – 8:00pm

April 30

Opening Remarks: 9:45am – 10:30am (1 Wellington Street)

Round Table with Parliamentarians: 10:30 – 12:00pm

Luncheon: 12:00 – 1:15pm (Centre Block)

Service in Government Panel: 3:30- 5:00pm (1 Wellington Street)

Faith and Politics: 5:00-5:45pm

Reception and Leadership Dinner: 6:30 – 9:00pm (Westin Ottawa Hotel)

May 1

46th National Prayer Breakfast: 7:30 – 9:15am (Westin Ottawa Hotel)

National Prayer Breakfast Seminar: 10:00 – 11:15am (Westin Ottawa Hotel)

Q&A with guest speakers: 11:15 – 11:45am

Concluding Remarks & Debrief: 11:45am – 12:15pm

I’ll be there, and I look forward to seeing more students from our community there as well! Take up the opportunity to represent your local and cultural community and share your thoughts with others!

Purchase your tickets by clicking here and get more information about the events from the National Student Forum website.

VOM -- Trip Lee ft Lecrae rap about the Christian perspective of being persecuted for Christ.

Check out their website here.

Lyrics:

I hear that troubles coming for me death is at my doorway
Fear says Imma perish but that ain't what my Lord say
He said I ain't guilty though I still ain't have my court date
Tasted and I've seen even though it's just a forte
I don't know what they feeling I don't know what they thinking
But my soul's invincible like Mario when he blinking
They see me full of joy like "I don't know what he drinking?"
Cup is full of living water bro I sip it and thank Him
Yes sir may not win grammy or get another stellar
But I get rewards from my Lord there ain't nothing better
I may not jot again I may not sell a milli
But I've been purchased by my King He's forever with me
So what they talking bout no they can't knock me down
Yes sir I do feel pain but Jesus got me now
That's why I'm making noise that's why I'm running hard
That's why I go gorilla spitting monkey bars

Partner now you know I'm good to go
Pressure creates diamonds and fire refines the gold
Ain't nothing on this planet that satisfies my soul
I'm living for tomorrow today is out of control for sho
I'm good take all my money
I'm good here come the pain
I'm good ya they can kill me
I'm good to die is gain
I'm good I ain't saying that we don't feel any pain
I'm just saying you can't take us out the game
Cause homie we good

I done been through the fire I survived all the floods
And them writers is with me they all covered in blood
Drag my name through the mud they can hate they can gossip
But my passion for Jesus they ain't never go'n stop me
I was dead I guess that made me better than I ever was
Look at me I'm good partner I'm on my forever buzz
If everything I have is taken I can take it
They say I never make it I know the person who made it
My life is hidden in Him so when I die I gain
And Jesus really be walking with me so how I'm lame?
My life is full of pain problems and such
But I'm focused on forever in eternity's touch
While the world try to fight me Pharisees try to stone me
I am Tebow in the fourth quarter they can't hold me
Ya the Lord is my coach got me off in the zone
Tell my mama that I'm good when he carry me home

Partner now you know I'm good to go
Pressure creates diamonds and fire refines the gold
Ain't nothing on this planet that satisfies my soul
I'm living for tomorrow today is out of control for sho
I'm good take all my money
I'm good here come the pain
I'm good ya they can kill me
I'm good to die is gain
I'm good I ain't saying that we don't feel any pain
I'm just saying you can't take us out the game
Cause homie we good

Hey man we been beat down we been persecuted beat down and mocked but that ain't go'n stop us. No sir. We good. We know where our eternal resting place is at! Hey trip talk to em man.

I know that Imma suffer that will only make me tougher
Death is just a doorway to take me to my faithful lover
The lover of my soul is with me you can shake me brother
But you can never knock me down and take me under bring the thunder
Let the storms come to hunt us and hurt us
They can't take our Lord from us bro we got us a verdict Not Guilty
He's with us and He stays present He never leaves me
He even gives me stage presence

Partner now you know I'm good to go
Pressure creates diamonds and fire refines the gold
Ain't nothing on this planet that satisfies my soul
I'm living for tomorrow today is out of control for sho
I'm good take all my money
I'm good here come the pain
I'm good ya they can kill me
I'm good to die is gain
I'm good I ain't saying that we don't feel any pain
I'm just saying you can't take us out the game
Cause homie we good.

Word Games with "Friends"

As of late, my statement in a recent interview with Michael Coren regarding “government sponsored persecution” has been brought up in several discussions I've had with people that oppose this issue. I think it’s interesting how our choice in words can both aggravate or appease people; I am aware that the same thing can be said in more appeasing terms – but I choose not to beat around the bush when I say THERE IS GOVERNMENT SPONSORED PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS IN PAKISTAN.

Stings does it?

Never have I been provided with an argument contrary to this statement, but I was told by one such fellow that this “propaganda was INTOLERABLE.” Intolerable he said – words are intolerable, persecution of Christians non-existent but there are "issues" that religious minorities face in Pakistan. It’s the most confusing assembly of thoughts in one argument I’ve come across yet.

Why are so many people so abhorrently staunch in their refusal to accept that there COULD be something wrong with the way that the Pakistan government has treated religious minorities?

Let’s play the word game then shall we?

WHAT IS GOVERNMENT SPONSORED PERSECUTION?

Unlike the widely known term of “government sponsored terrorism”, persecution has for some reason become a matter of opinion. What I consider persecution – my muslim brother and sister would call unfortunate situations brought about by social status of minorities.

Persecution as defined by Google is:

Now let's look up hostility for good measure before someone tries to argue that there is no hostility in Pakistan -

(I threw in the synonyms there for some added awareness).

Look at these words:

Persecution = HOSTILITY (UNFRIENDLINESS, OPPOSITION, ANTAGONISM, ILL WILL), ILL-TREATMENT, HARASSMENT because of RACE/POLITICAL AFFILIATION/RELIGIOUS BELIEFS.

Now that we have the words straight, the next argument everyone has is "Oh well muslims are far more persecuted than Christians." -- In a country where the majority of the population IS muslim, and they are at times targeted by the same laws that persecute Christians - you would think they would more than anyone else be AGAINST government sponsored persecution; only they're not - and many in the majority consistently fail to recognize it.

Let's give some examples here:

1. In the 1970s Christian schools and hospitals were permanently institutionalized by the government of Pakistan; one of the issues that has directly lead to the inability of the majority of Christians to have equal access to their own academic institutions.

2. Since the creation of Pakistan, government census has been unable to properly account for the POPULATION of Christians in Pakistan. It has remained consistently around the currently assumed percentage of 2.5% total population (a number nearing 4.5 million Christians). This number has been disproved by various NGOs and Church Records.

3. The Blasphemy Law. Not much needs to be said for this. By no means do I believe that Pakistan is going to become a secular nation in which laws reflect the belief that human rights are more important than religious rule -- since the unjust law IS there; and Christians DO respect it (more like fear it) - why is it that they are constantly subjected to it's punishment without proper trial or cause - AND without any action by the government to somehow amend (not even repeal) the law to ensure misuse is stopped??

4. What about unequal representation in government? Thank God for Shahbaz Bhatti and his hard work getting minorities four seats in the senate. But STILL those seats do not yet reflect representation equal to minority population - not by Pakistan's own census, and especially not by the amount of people reflected in our churches.

THAT my friends is government sponsored persecution. They fail to protect the rights of minorities to exist and practice their religions freely without prejudice - they fail to represent the minorities accurately - and they fail to create/amend religious laws to reflect the nature of their use (or misuse) against human rights.

My final word on the matter. Convince me that none of this has happened with some actual evidence, until then don't bother arguing. By the way -- God bless Canada, it's such a joy living in a place where I CAN say that, and no one can stop me.

Hindus in South Asia and the Diaspora: A Survey of Human Rights 2011, Executive Summary

Taken from the Executive Summary of Hindus in South Asia and the Diaspora: A Survey of Human Rights 2011. To read the full summary online click here.


Religious minority issues are clearly, as the majority of us know, affecting ALL non-muslim communities. Here's a portion of the summary as it pertains to the Hindu minority of Pakistan --

_____________________________________________________________

Islamic Republic of Pakistan

In 1947, Hindus were approximately 25% of the population of Pakistan. Now, Hindus constitute less than 1.6% of the population. Pakistan officially and routinely discriminates against non-Muslims through a variety of discriminatory laws, such as blasphemy laws.

 

 

 

• On March 24, 2005, Pakistan restored the discriminatory practice of mandating the inclusion of religious identity of individuals in all new passports.
• School textbooks continue to promote Islam and hatred and intolerance towards non-Muslims, including Hindus.
• Islamists continue to extend their influence throughout the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), and other parts of Khyber Pakthunkhwa Province, where they are increasingly enforcing Islamic law.
• Recurring reports point to an alarming trend of Hindu girls being kidnapped, raped, held in madrassas (Islamic seminaries), and forcibly converted to Islam.
• Poor Hindus continue to be subjected to inhumane conditions through the bonded labor system.

HAF Recommendations

1. The Government of Pakistan must take immediate steps for the protection of Hindus from rape, kidnapping, and forced conversions
2. Religious minorities must be allowed to independently manage their own religious institutions free from government interference and representatives from the Hindu and Sikh communities should be given full control over the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB).
3. Pakistan should reform its education system in order to remove inaccuracies about other religions and promote tolerance and pluralism.
4. The United States should demand that Pakistan stop all support and financing of Islamic militant groups operating in the subcontinent. The United States must place strict conditions on any financial assistance to Pakistan and demand accountability for human rights violations.
5. Pakistan should establish a truly independent Human Rights Commission and a National Minorities Commission to monitor the human rights condition and to enable minorities to enjoy the rights provided to the majority population.

CHAKRANEWS.COM -- Human Rights Report Released Amidst Worsening Plight of Minorities In Pakistan

South Asia Hindu Survey of Human Rights 2011

(CHAKRA) HAF (Hindu American Foundation) released its eighth annual Hindu human rights report today amidst increased concern over the worsening plight of Hindus in Pakistan. The report, Hindus in South Asia and the Diaspora: A Survey of Human Rights, 2011, documents human rights violations against Hindus in Pakistan as well as seven other countries and regions around the world, including Bangladesh, Bhutan, Fiji, the Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and Trinidad and Tobago. It also summarizes the situation facing the small Hindu populations in Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia.

According to the Foundation, Hindu minorities continue to be subjected to violent attacks, restrictions on religious freedom, discriminatory laws, and economic and social marginalization in many of these nations. In Malaysia, for instance, HAF asserts that the Bumiputra (Sons of the Soil) policies, enshrined in Article 153 of the Constitution, provide economic and social benefits to the majority ethnic Muslim Malay population, while explicitly discriminating against Hindus and other minorities. Moreover, non-Muslims are increasingly compelled to adjudicate family law cases through the Islamic Sharia law court system. This past November, the Foundation sponsored a Congressional briefing, Institutionalized Racism and Religious Discrimination in Malaysia, with exiled Malaysian Hindu civil rights leader, Waytha Moorthy, in order to raise awareness on these issues.

“While we are encouraged by improvements in the condition of Hindus in countries such as Fiji and Trinidad and Tobago, the situation for Hindus continues to significantly deteriorate in other areas, particularly Pakistan and Malaysia,” said Ramesh Rao, PhD, HAF’s Human Rights Coordinator and author of its 2011 report. “It is absolutely imperative that the international community and the U.S. government urgently address the systematic and rampant denial of fundamental human rights in these countries.”

The recent kidnapping and forced conversion of a young Pakistani Hindu girl, Rinkle Kumari, is indicative of the danger faced by the Hindu community in Pakistan, allege several human rights groups. Kumari was reportedly kidnapped from her home in Sindh province, forcibly converted to Islam, and married to a Muslim man with the assistance of a leading Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) politician’s son. The case has attracted widespread media attention and has shed light on the common practice of kidnappings and forced conversions in this South Asian nation.

According to numerous sources, including the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) and the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), at least 20 – 25 Hindu girls are kidnapped and converted to Islam every month in the southern Sindh province alone. HRCP further contends that local politicians, police authorities, and the courts are frequently complicit in such kidnappings and conversions, or fail to adequately protect the victims.

Kumari’s case has also garnered the interest of U.S. Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA), who wrote directly to Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari earlier this week, urging him to intervene on Kumari’s behalf and ensure her safe return to her family. Rep. Sherman’s letter further called on President Zardari to put an end to the kidnappings and other acts of “harassment” of the Hindu community in Pakistan.

“Rinkle Kumari’s case is a heartbreaking example of the desperate plight faced by Hindu girls and their families in Pakistan,” said Samir Kalra, Esq., HAF’s Director and Senior Fellow for Human Rights. “Unfortunately, such kidnappings are only one of a litany of abuses Hindus confront in that country.” The Foundation’s latest report notes that Hindus and other minorities are subjected to a wide range of violence and persecution in Pakistan, including abductions for ransom, attacks on places of worship, and institutional and legal discrimination. Poor rural Hindus are also victimized by the bonded labor system, where they are unable to pay off debts to feudal landlords.

The majority of Pakistan’s remaining Hindu population reside in Sindh, with smaller concentrations in the provinces of Balochistan, Punjab, and Khyber Pakhtunkwa. Many Sindhi advocacy groups, such as World Sindhi Congress (WSC) and the Sindhi American Political Action Committee (SAPAC) have been active in raising awareness about the plight of Hindus in Sindh.

Fighting Militant Atheism - by Brian Lilley

As ever, my respect for this incredible outspoken journalist grows with every article he writes; but here's an especially important one for all of us Christians here in Canada with Good Friday being, well, in a couple of hours.. I re-post it here to ENSURE that you are able to recognize that there ARE people here with the courage and audacity to stand up for their rights as Christian citizens of this amazing country! Let's all continue to follow in his example. Thank God for this guy!!

Btw for those of you who haven't had the opportunity to speak with/meet Mr. Lilley I just have to say: -- YES, he IS that cool, and that honest!!


Original article can be found at this link, and please please please get on to http://blogs.canoe.ca/lilleyspad/ and read and support Brian Lilley!
 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Brian Lilley - April 5th, 2012 
 

It is Easter weekend. Tonight is the night Christians mark the day when Jesus Christ held the last supper with his apostles. Tomorrow, Good Friday is a statutory holiday, as is Easter Sunday. 

 

Yet in spite of all this we are forever told by our better thans that Canada is not a Christian nation. 

 

Some even want to push any mention of religion any attempt for people to live out their faith completely out of the public square. They want people of faith to be silent, to give up their rights whether in teaching their own children, running their own schools or in matters of conscience when it comes to certain jobs. 

 

I wonder how many of those people will be at work tomorrow slaving away at their desks? 

 

While the new militant atheists seem to want to push religion out of the public square they have no problem living in a society built on the Judeo-Christian foundation. 

 

And make no mistake our society is built on that foundation. 

 

Our laws, our customs, our court systems all stem from that tradition. 

 

Did you know why we don’t execute people that are mentally ill? 

 

That goes back in the ages and was established because those not in a proper state of mind would not be able to make a proper confession of their sins and therefore killing them would also be condemning them to hell. It was seen as the compassionate thing to do. 

 

Today in those places that still have the death penalty they still don’t execute the mentally ill and if it is suggested people even here in Canada are horrified. 

 

Those that want nothing to do with religion will claim people have died in the name of religion, wars have been started and it is a source of pain so we should get rid of it. 

 

True wars have been started including the crusades but wars have been started for all kinds of reasons including women – we haven’t done away with women have we? 

 

Now about the killing and violence. The claim is that if we did as John Lennon suggested and imagined there was no religion then there would be no violence. 

 

Let’s examine that. 

 

The most vicious regimes of the 20th century were officially atheistic and also committed more mass killing than anyone in history. 

 

Stalin – the communist leader of Soviet Russia oversaw the slaughter of and Mao Tse Dong the communist revolutionary who took over China is responsible for deaths. 

 

Look, I’m not saying that if you are an atheist that you are in favour of murder or are steps away from going on your own killing rampage I’m just pointing out the fallacy of the lazy arguments passed off as deep thoughts these days. 

 

In fact while as a Christian I believe that everyone should join my religion, if you don’t, I don’t have a problem with that.

 

I believe the theory is live and let live. I can put forward my views, you can put forward yours and we can all make up our own minds. 

 

But with the new militant atheists and secularists that doesn’t appear to be an option. 

 

From pushing for God to be dropped from our national anthem, trying to make sure you can’t mention Easter or heaven forbid Christmas in a school to now conscience rights – trying to force doctors who have religious convictions to perform abortions against their will – there is no rest for the other side. 

 

Except for tomorrow, and Sunday of course. 

 

I hope as those people rest that they consider that there may be room for more than one world view in our society. 

 

And that’s the Byline.

More of Gary S. Chapman's Photography of Pakistani Christians

Gary S. Chapman has quickly become one of my favorite photographers, and not just because he's done so much work with my own Pakistani Christian community; although that is a bonus! There is so much beauty in his work. He shows people and places exactly as they are through the lens of his camera. The use of color, shadows and mystery in his photographs tell the dark stories of the Pakistani Christians he encountered in an almost enticing way.. attaching you to the people in them; making you want to know more about their stories.

Mr. Chapman, a humanitarian photographer, and his wife Vivian Chapman, a writer and editor; are a wonderful Christian couple who travel the world working on assignments working with NGOs, Non-Profits and Corporations that want to share their vision. Their photography has been used in advertising and picked up by many huge news agencies like CNN.

I wanted to re-post some of his best pictures from Pakistan, along with some stories about the people in them. In many of the pictures the faces of the people are hidden to keep them safe and prevent any undue backlash from their Muslim neighbours. As always all of Mr. Chapman's photographs are copyright and I would ask that if any of you would like to use them in any gatherings or for your publications to please contact Mr. Chapman at the email linked here; the main reason for posting them is to show you - my Pakistani Christian brothers and sisters a reminder of where we come from - the beauty of faith in Christ, the horror of persecution, and the eternal hope that keeps us going.

Some of these pictures and the stories behind them are also in his book called "Persecuted... in Pakistan", which I bought - only about $6 for the epub download located here on www.blurb.com and about $60 for the hardcopy; I fully encourage all of you to purchase this book not only to support our dear brother in Christ but also because it's a beautiful reminder to us, and others that we meet to show them what it's like for a Christian in Pakistan. Feel free to also check out his blog and more of his photographs at www.garyschapman.com.

A Christian Pastor hold his young sons hand.

A brick maker tending to her baby while working.

A matriarch (grandmother) prays.

A matriarch holds her granddaughter's hand during a time of prayer/worship.

Sanitation work is one of the few jobs that are available to Christians in Pakistan.

The man far left, uses his motorcycle to visit Christians in rural areas where he teaches the Bible.

Christian women rarely have the opportunity to gather in large groups in Pakistan. These are the shoes outside this women's meeting. These are the shoes of over 80 women that were crowded into a small room for several days of intense prayer and teaching.

"While the women were meeting in another part of the town, male pastors, elders and church leaders were also together for prayer and teaching. Some traveled great distances to attend."

Christians often hire armed guards for protection at large gatherings.

A Christian in Pakistan voiced her fear that the group of believers she was with was singing too loudly and might be heard by Islamic students in the madrassa next door.

Shortly after this photo was made, this young Christian man in hiding was caught and imprisoned on a false charge of blasphemy. He was released after a year and a half.

A resident of Gojra stands in the doorway of what was once his home.

Charred remains of household goods in Korian.

Pakistani Christian Playwright Presents Stage Drama: “295 C - A play about the inhuman 'Blasphemy Law' in Pakistan”

Supporters of various religious parties demand punishment for Asia Bibi, a Pakistani Christian woman sentenced to death for blasphemy against Islam, at a rally in Lahore on December 24, 2010.

Interesting article, I'd love to hear how this play turns out and the response it receives from the public..

Pakistan Christian Post Reports:

Islamabad: March 30, 2012. (PCP) A prominent Pakistani Christian playwright Adeel Salman will present a stage drama “295 C - A play about the inhuman 'Blasphemy Law' in Pakistan”

295 C is a play about the inhuman 'Blasphemy Law' in Pakistan. This law mainly targets minorities and so far Christians have been its prime victims.

The law itself states that "295-C, Use of derogatory remarks, etc., in respect of the Holy Prophet. Whoever by words, either spoken or written, or by visible representation, or by any imputation, innuendo, or insinuation, directly or indirectly, defiles the sacred name of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) shall be punished with death..."

The play aims to create awareness about this inhuman law whose practice is constantly targeting the minorities.

Adeel Salman is a playwright from Pakistan. He is the first Pakistani playwright who has written original plays in English for the Pakistani audience.

His previous works include Ashbeel, The Unforgiven, Identity, Millie & Mo, Hope, One Blood etc. He is the recipient of the prestigious Fulbright Scholarship and is a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College. He is the first Pakistani and first Pakistani Christian to have graduated with an MFA in Theater from Sarah Lawrence.

295-C is a work of fiction built around actual historical events. It focuses on the ‘Blasphemy Law’ in Pakistan. The law stands in clear violation of human rights as secured by the UN. In 1927, the British colonial rulers of the sub-continent made it a criminal offence to commit “deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religious belief”. The law then did not discriminate between religions. The law was retained when Pakistan gained independence in 1947 under the rule of the country’s moderate founder Mohammad Ali Jinnah.

Ten blasphemy cases were reportedly heard in court in the 58 years between 1927 and 1985. The death penalty for anyone found guilty of defaming Islam was introduced in 1986 and since then more than 4,000 cases have been handled. More than fifty percent of these were non-Muslims, who represent only 3% of the national population. No judicial execution for blasphemy has ever occurred in Pakistan, but more than eighty percent of those charged were murdered by the fundamentalist muslim majority.

The most recent victim of this law’s brutality being Aasia bibi who was accused blasphemy in 2009. She has not been released despite international pressure and is in police custody where she is reported to be tortured and humiliated constantly. Her family lives in constant fear of their lives and has been attacked many times

People supporting a victim of blasphemy law are also met with similar fate. The then Governor of Lahore Salman Taseer supported her case and appealed to the government on her behalf for pardon. The Governor was shot dead on January 4th, 2011 by his own security guard who shot him 23 times and later was hailed as a hero who killed a supporter of the infidel (Aasia bibi). The advocacy work was continued by the then Minister of Minority Affairs, Shabaz Bhatti. He was also shot dead by Muslim extremists on March 2nd, 2011. Federal Minister for Information Sherry Rehman raised her voice in support of Aasia Bibi, but due to the radical opposition including death threats from the Muslim majority, she had to resign from her position.

At present the situation in Pakistan is extremely volatile. Anyone found guilty of blasphemy or supporting the decision to amend this law is met with dire threats to their life including the playwright himself.