Patriarch of Moscow appeals to Pakistani president to pardon Asia Bibi, sentenced to death for blasphemy

While most other Christian leaders are busying themselves with “interfaith dialogue” as so many of their flock are beaten, tortured, and jailed for their Christianity in Muslim-ruled countries, here is a singular man of G-d.

“Patriarch of Moscow appeals to Pakistani president to pardon Asia Bibi, sentenced to death for blasphemy,” (thanks to Robert Spencer)

Now here is a bishop. Now here is a Christian leader. Has any other bishop or any other Christian leader of any denomination issued a similar call? I am not aware of any. Last January, Asia Bibi appealed to Pope Francis. I don’t think she got any answer from him at all.

ADVERTISEMENT

All too many bishops and other Christian leaders are unwilling to speak out about Asia Bibi’s plight or about the Muslim persecution of Christians in general — indeed, all too many are unwilling to allow any discussion of that persecution under their auspices, as they believe that discussion of such matters will harm their spurious and empty “dialogue” with Muslim leaders.

Most Christian leaders in the West today are disgraces to the positions they hold. If the Church and Christianity survive today’s jihad against them with any significant presence anywhere on earth, these pusillanimous and short-sighted “leaders” will be judged very, very harshly by future generations of those holding the faith they are supposed to be protecting and defending.

Patriarch Kirill appears to be made of stronger stuff.

“Patriarch of Moscow writes to Pakistani president ‘pardon Asia Bibi,’” by Nina Achmatova, Asia News, November 6, 2014 (thanks to C. Cantoni):

Moscow (AsiaNews) – Patriarch Kirill of Moscow has sent a letter to the President of Pakistan Himari Hussain asking him to pardon Asia Bibi, a Christian woman sentenced to death for blasphemy.

ADVERTISEMENT

The primate of the Russian Orthodox Church writes, “it would be an irreparable loss for her family, her near and dear, cause a great damage to the Muslim-Christian dialogue and could also aggravate tension between Christians and Muslims both in Pakistan and in the entire world”.

In the letter, published on the Patriarchate website, Kirill says he is convinced that the political authorities of any modern state ” should be aware of their responsibility for the destiny of representatives of religious minorities entrusted to them”.

“The Russian Orthodox Church – the letter continues – has shown serious concern over the judgment delivered by the court. Our multimillion flock joins their voice to that of the great number of people throughout the world who advocate for saving the life of this Christian woman”.

After years in prison and in solitary confinement “for security reasons”, on October 16th the Lahore High Court upheld the death sentence imposed at first instance on Asia Bibi, a Christian mother of five children. She is accused of blasphemy for insulting the name of Muhammad, but has always claimed innocence and denounced being persecuted for her faith.

In 2011, Islamic extremists killed the governor of Punjab Salman Taseer (Muslim) and the Federal Minister for Minorities Shahbaz Bhatti (Catholic), “guilty” of having defended Bibi. Human rights groups and religious minorities have long upheld that Pakistan’s infamous blasphemy law is often used to persecute purposes.

 

ADVERTISEMENT