Lahore

The recent kidnapping of Shahbaz Taseer reminds us all of the continuing injustices in Pakistan. The name Taseer should ring a bell with many of you. Shahbaz's father, Salman Taseer was killed early this year by an extremist named Mumtaz Qadri. Mr. Qadri publicly confessed to the killing claiming that his actions were justified because Salman Taseer opposed the blasphemy law and publicly supported the case of Asia Bibi, also known as Asia Noreen, who received a death sentence under the blasphemy law.

Asia Bibi, like so many other Christians in Pakistan, watched a totally unwarranted accusation destroy her livelihood and threaten her life. The accusation of blasphemy came from a group of Muslims who refused to pay for a load of brick delivered by Ms. Bibi's family business. When Ms. Bibi demanded the money necessary to feed her family, the Muslims responded with their trump card, an accusation of blasphemy.

As we have seen so many times in Pakistan, once a Muslim makes an accusation of blasphemy against a non-Muslim the truth or falsehood of the accusation becomes meaningless. The accusation becomes an excuse for the Muslim community to punish non-Muslims for daring to exist. Like a bully smashing a small child's toy, Muslim extremists pack courts, intimidate judges, and force entire communities of Christians to flee. Unfortunately, what these murderous extremist smash are not toys, but the livelihoods and lives of innocent people.

Governor Taseer spoke out against this injustice. An extremist killed him for his courage and the government has allowed his killer's trial to drag on for months. Recently Governor Taseer's family began to speak out against the failure of the government to bring justice to their father's killer. Their courageous stand for justice brought death threats from extremists. Shortly afterward, Shahbaz Taseer was kidnapped in broad daylight.
The record is clear. Despite guarantees of religious freedom in Pakistan's Constitution, Muslim extremists accuse non-Muslims of blasphemy and threaten entire communities with violence, forcing them to flee. Christian women are raped and the rapists set free. Sikh and Hindu girls are kidnapped and forced to convert to Islam and the law refuses to recognize parental pleas. To sum up, the religious minorities of Pakistan are being ground down by violence and judicial inaction into dhimmis, the second-class position required for non-Muslims by Islamic Shari'a.
At the same time, the passage of laws guaranteeing Parliamentary seats to Christians shows that the people of Pakistan are open to change and justice. They just need a voice.GCIC joins Jubilee Campaign and believes that a Special Envoy can provide that voice. The Special Envoy will be able to strengthen and support local reformers and the extremists will not be able to silence him.

We ask you to contact your Senator and ask them to support S. 1245 Full Text Here.
Mail in the sample letter below or use it as a script when you call. Feel free to personalize the letter.

As we continue this campaign, we hope you get the sense of how important this bill is. A Special Envoy would be a strong ally on almost every issue we are fighting for. Not many advocates fight for the human rights of religious minorities, particularly in the Muslim world. So many times we find ourselves fighting not just the corrupt local governments but also the forces of our very own State Department. An ally in our nation's foreign service could mean the difference between life and death for some of our cases.

Here is the contact information for the Committee
U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
446 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510-6225

Majority Phone: (202) 224-4651
Minority Phone: (202) 224-6797

We understand that some of you cannot pick up the phone and call your Senator every week. (Though we praise God for those who can and do). We hope that all of you share these updates with your friends and church family and as issues strike their hearts, perhaps they can contact their Senator.

In HIS Grace
Ann Buwalda
Executive Director, Jubilee Campaign
Sample Letter to Senators

Senator ____________

The consistent pattern of injustice in Pakistan demands a clear response from the United States Government. Religious minorities suffer terribly under Pakistan's blasphemy law, which promotes impunity for those who attack non-Muslims. As a result of the climate of impunity Muslim extremists threaten entire communities with violence, forcing them to flee. Christian women are raped and the rapists set free. Sikh and Hindu girls are kidnapped and forced to convert to Islam and the law refuses to recognize parental pleas. To sum up, the religious minorities of Pakistan are being ground down by violence and judicial inaction into dhimmis, the second-class position required for non-Muslims by Islamic Shari'a.

We must also remember that Muslims extremists in Pakistan gave shelter to Osama Bin Laden. The U.S. must step in and demand that Pakistan restrain its religious extremists. Those who attack religious minorities or reformers in the name Allah clearly label themselves religious extremists and in practice have ties to Al Qaeda. Tolerating their presence is unacceptable for an ally that receives over a billion U.S. dollars in aid every year.

The "Near East and South Central Asia Religious Freedom Act of 2011" recognizes that the issue of religious minorities and U.S. national security are tied together. Senators Roy Blunt and Carl Levin introduced this bill in the Senate as S. 1245. It already passed the House 402 to 20 in a massive showing of bipartisan support.

As my Senator, I would like to ask to you to support this Bill. If extremists of Pakistan, who sheltered Osama bin Laden are allowed to continue operating freely, Pakistan will not be able to remain an American ally. I ask that you do everything in your power to support freedom and genuine democracy including religious freedom.

Sincerely
Your Name