Pakistan still held in the dark ages

I have written this blog entry on behalf of all Christians, and also specifically for a certain friend I have in Pakistan, whom I cannot mention by name as they live everyday in fear. Fear of offending Islam and being accused of blasphemy. This may sound like something from the middle ages, but I have heard these stories in person over Skype and I've read news articles on-line. Sadly it is the reality that many live with everyday in Pakistan.

I am no hero and If I was living in Pakistan, I would not be stupid enough to write this entry in my blog, as it would probably result in my being arrested and possible sentencing by Pakistani authorities. The situation is so out of control that even if the accusation was not proven in court, the chances are that I would be killed by some enraged mob anyway ... right outside the police station.

Did you know that in Pakistan you can be sentenced to death for offending Islam’s prophet and sacred texts. They are known as the blasphemy laws (Section 295–A and 295–C of the Pakistan Penal Code). Breaking these laws could get you the death sentence or life in prison, but once someone screams 'blasphemer' and the maddened hordes are directed onto the streets by the clerics, it normally doesn't end well. It's like accusing a teacher of paedophilia - it normally doesn't end well for the teacher.

Imagine you were a Christian, living in a Muslim state like Pakistan, and all someone had to do, was accuse you of blasphemy. Your life would be in danger. The police are all Muslims too, so you won't get much help there. In any case, if the clerics have stirred up the crowds enough, they will overpower the police and inflict 'justice' anyway. That's what has happened and will continue to happen.

Now I ask with tears in my eyes, what kind of religion requires such dedicated and radical protection of its God and religious writings? If a Methodist minister in England for example, encouraged his church followers to march to the Catholic neighbourhood and burn down someone's home because they blasphemed .. everyone would be shocked. But this happens fairly often in Pakistan .. and its supported by law.

So why not change the law? Well, because this law is in effect an extension of the religion of Islam, the mere questioning of the law is blasphemy. All the Pakistan leaders would have to be sentenced to life in prison or death. Get it?

Let this be a lesson to all those liberal Christians in the West who still believe that it is possible to live in a peaceful world with Islam. The very core of Islam is the need to submit to a higher being, and that is where the problem arises. Devout Muslims practice such a deep level of submission to Allah, that they cannot accept that others 'refuse' to submit to Allah too. 'It's for your own good' they will tell you ... and you had better listen.