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Pakistan-Two days ago, a lower court in Faisalabad, Pakistan unexpectedly acquitted Shahid Masih of blasphemy. What's unusual is that the lower courts of Pakistan rarely acquit "blasphemy" suspects.The case stems from an accusation made by a Muslim teenager, Muhammad Ghaffar, on September 10, 2006. Ghaffar claimed he saw Masih rip up pages containing verses from the Quran during a theft of books from a medical clinic in Madina Town district of Faisalabad.The court cleared the case after prosecution witnesses changed their original testimonies. Voice of the Martyrs' Todd Nettleton says it's an answer to prayer. "It gives hope to the Christians in Pakistan that they have the opportunity for some kind of a just verdict even early on in the case without going through the appeal process, going all the way to the Supreme Court. I think, obviously, that is a good development."The unexpected acquittal drew a shocked response from both Christians and Muslims. Nettleton cited Compass Direct's report of the reaction, as described by Masih's lawyer."There were about 100 fanatics inside and outside the courtroom who were astonished when their own witnesses claimed that the accused was innocent. They were very, very angry."At least 23 people involved in "blasphemy" cases have been murdered in Pakistan since the notorious laws were instituted in 1986. Nettleton asks believers to pray that the publicity from this case will draw non-believers into the knowledge of Jesus Christ."I think we can pray for the church in Pakistan with the political turmoil that's going on in their country. We can pray that the church will stand strong and that even as there's so much upheaval going on that they will be a witness for Christ and we'll see new people come to know Christ in a personal way."There are also concerns for the safety of Masih's family. Compass Direct reports that a mob of Muslim fanatics attacked his home in 2006 after rumors of his alleged desecration of the Quran spread throughout the neighborhood.That security concern is repeated throughout the country.There are many reports of Pakistani Christians who have received threatening letters telling them to convert to Islam or they will be bombed.Christians make up approximately 1.5 percent of Pakistan's population, according to the U.S. State Department's most recent report on International Religious Freedom.Source:MNN
As in the days of Noah...
