CHRISTIAN GIRLPERSECUTED IN ISLAMABAD -- Just A Minute Radio for Tuesday 120911

We’re switching focus overseas just to let you know some things are still going on elsewhere – important things.

I really don’t know just how or why this story caught my eye. It was supposed to show up in the Wall St. Journal for Monday – but try as I might I couldn’t find it in the ‘unabridged’ version – but checking other news sources I did find the story coming out of Islamabad. What’s the significance of this showing up in another place? I’m not sure.

Obviously there are Christians who exist there – but it is the largest city in Pakistan and carries the title of ‘gamma’ or world city. To have this story of a young girl, who is suspected of burning pages out of a “Holy Book” and then being ‘protected’ or excused from this in a place where there would normally be persecution possibly even death – it’s more than a bit puzzling.

Then to have the story carried around the world via wire services and news organizations… well I don’t know what to make of it. ‘

Our news machine at the moment is busy with Congress coming back into session, and most of the news services are crowded with political information – just a little with the anniversary of the September 11^th Anniversary… -- and loads of stories crowding the wires with domestic stories… Well, I just don’t know what to make of it.

Perhaps we’ll find out before too long. I’m not one to make things up or shove them out there with no explanation. I just can’t explain – aside from the ‘human interest’ angle – why this unusual Pakistani story should make world wide papers and interesting headlines. Let’s pray for the young Christian girl and her family. Undoubtedly they are in need of some kind. God answers prayer.

Meanwhile we’ll be back tomorrow with our usual group from Playfair – perhaps they have unusual news notes also.

Cordially, IN HIM

Jack

==============

“JUST A MINUTE”

CHRISTIAN GIRL PERSECUTED IN ISLAMABAD

Just a Minute: A Pakistani court granted bail last Friday to a young, mentally deprived Christian girl who was accused of insulting Islam by burning pages of Islam’s holy book. The court granted leniency last week to a 14 year old – who was alleged to have mental capacity of only 7 years and accused of blasphemy.

This is seldom charged in a Muslim-majority country where allegations like this are often manufactured in order to persecute minorities or just to settle personal disagreements. Activists warmed to the decision because the case highlights propensities of the harsh Pakistan blasphemy laws used to persecute enemies or minorities or to get back at other individuals.

Judge Mohammed Azam Khan set bail at about $10,500, a very impossible sum, in a nation where many families must live on only a few dollars a day. A coalition of prominent Muslim clerics as well as the Interior Minister, virtually pronounced the girl innocent because of her mental situation.

<> I’m Jack Buttram. (END)

Jebco Editorial Service

www.wmuu.com

E-mail n4zhk@arrl.net

=================================================================================================

Monday, September 10, 2012