Just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 5:21
Bantu Masih (1992)
Blasphemy Charge
Bantu, a 65-year old Christian, was accused of blasphemy by a man named Shehzad Ahmed after a quarrel over money in Lahore. Pakistan’s “blasphemy laws” are often used by Muslims to settle personal grudges; Christians and other non-Muslims are particularly vulnerable to false accusations.
A procession of maulvis (Muslim preachers) took place, protesting against Bantu, and the police took him into custody on 4 May 1992. Some Muslim friends stood as guarantee for Bantu, but while they were signing the affidavit, Shehzad went to the police station and stabbed him. Bantu was taken to hospital, and a police document called an FIR (First Information Report) was registered against Shehzad.
On 8 May, Shehzad registered his own FIR against Bantu under Section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code, which carries a mandatory death sentence for “defiling the name of Muhammad”. Meanwhile Bantu was prevailed upon to withdraw his case against Shehzad. He spent 21 days in hospital but did not fully recover and later died.
O Lord of life, where’er they be,
Safe in Thine own eternity,
Our dead are living unto Thee:
Hallelujah!
Thy word is true, Thy ways are just;
Above the requiem, ‘Dust to dust’
Shall rise our psalm of grateful trust:
Hallelujah!
O happy they in God who rest,
No more by fear and doubt oppressed,
Living or dying they are blest:
Hallelujah!
F L Hosmer (1840-1929)