A Christian husband and wife in Pakistan have been sentenced to death because they allegedly sent a text message with a comment that was insulting to the prophet Mohammed.
Shafqat Emmanuel and Shagufta Kausar from Gojra were sentenced after what has been described as a manipulation of the legal system to benefit a Muslim leader.
Maulvi Mohammed Hussain, a Muslim leader from a mosque in the couple’s home city, complained last year that Emmanuel had used his wife’s phone to send a message that insulted the prophet. Kausar, who did not send or receive the message, was sentenced to death because it was her phone.
The couple’s lawyer, Nadeem Hassan, said that the Islamists brought in a fake SIM card from a phone and claimed it came from the woman’s cell. However, Hassan said the “evidence” was just part of a well-orchestrated plot on the part of the Muslims.
“The complainant was involved in a dispute with the pair and had made a threat with the full knowledge that they would face the death penalty,” he said.
The area of Pakistan where the case was brought is notorious for Muslim residents claiming Christians insulted the prophet as a way to have them killed so their possessions and homes can be taken.
North Korea is preparing to execute 33 people for being Christians.
The official charge from the government is “attempting to overthrow the government.” In reality, the group was working with a South Korean Baptist missionary to set up underground churches.
Missionary Kim Jung-wook has been jailed and tortured for a year because of his attempts to start underground churches in North Korea. He was presented at a press conference last week where he apologized for his “anti-state crimes” and appealed for his release.
He was also forced to say that South Korea Intelligence services had provided him with information and equipment. The South Korean government said they had no involvement with Kim Jung-wook.
North Korean officials say the 33 people involved with Kim Jung-wook were planning to build a church on the site of a massive statue of North Korea’s founder after they overthrew the government.
Kim Jong-un has been on a murderous rampage including members of his government. His top deputy disappeared last week and some people have speculated that the North Korean leader has killed him.
The government of North Korea has murdered Christians for possessing a Bible.
A South Korean newspaper reports that the people labeled criminals by the North Korean government for owning a Bible were killed in public execution events arranged by Kim Jong-un’s government.
A source said in the city of Wonsan, those being executed were tied to stakes in a local stadium and shot to death with machine guns while over 10,000 residents were forced by military forces to watch. He said the bodies were so riddled with machine gun bullets that identities could not be determined.
Relatives or accomplices of those murdered were taken to prison camps.
Some North Korean experts say the executions are an effort by the government to quell any possible opposition.
The United Nations is reporting that on the heels of the Houla massacre observers have found 13 shooting victims apparently executed outside the city of Deir al-Zour.
The men were found with their hands bound behind their backs with most shot in the head. UN leadership in the country is characterizing the actions as an “appalling and inexcusable act.” Continue reading →
