We had been wondering about Asia Bibi the other day. Our prayers have been continually going out for her. We were concerned that people had forgotten her plight. This latest article from Gatestone Institute (see below) is a timely one.
Before I get to that, I must confess frustration at what I consider to be prominent celebrity religious leaders talking popular points. These people tend to comment a lot about the dangers of Climate Change and things like welcoming Middle East refugees into Europe. The former is debatable. The latter has some points to commend it, even though the very real associated problems are ignored.
Still on the latter, some time ago Pope Francis made a show of washing and kissing some of these refugees’ feet. It was a symbolic act which understandably drew praise. I remember thinking at the time that he ought to also have washed the feet of those who suffered abuse by the Roman Catholic Clergy. Am I being unnecessarily cynical?
And what about the Christians who are still being persecuted and martyred in the countries where the refugees have escaped from? What about Asia Bibi? Do any of these celebrity religious leaders speak out for her?
From Gatestone Institute:
- “I will not convert. I believe in my religion and Jesus Christ. And why should I be the one to convert and not you?” — Asia Bibi.
- It is the West’s indolence and cupidity that has condemned Asia Bibi to death. No one in Europe has filled the streets to ask for the liberation of this courageous woman, or even to protest Pakistan’s anti-Christian laws.
- Even Pope Francis stood silent. The emblem of his reticence is the 12 seconds of face-to-face time the Pope had with Bibi’s husband and her daughter in St. Peter’s Square. Francis barely touched the two. His predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, publicly called many times for her release.
- The mainline Protestant churches of America, too busy demonizing Israel, also stood silent. Meanwhile, Christianity is being erased from its own cradle.
The death sentence for Asia Bibi is like Chernobyl’s nuclear cloud: it contaminates everything around it. After Asia’s arrest, her husband, Masih, and her children went into hiding. They have moved house 15 times in five years. They could not even attend Asia’s judicial hearings. It is too dangerous for them. Her husband was forced to quit his job.
Asia’s “crime” was to use the same water glass as her Muslim co-workers. She was sentenced to death because she is Christian and she was thirsty. “You defiled our water,” the Muslim women told her. “Convert to Islam to redeem yourself from your filthy religion.”
Asia took a deep breath and replied: “I will not convert. I believe in my religion and Jesus Christ. And why should I be the one to convert and not you?”…keep reading
Please remember to keep Asia Bibi in your daily prayers.
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