International Interfaith Organisations Network

A new report suggests that the number of conversions to Islam in the UK  is growing, according to reports in the Independent and Daily Mail

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Pakistan‘s anti-blasphemy law has been in the spotlight since November when a court sentenced a Christian mother of four to death, in a case that has exposed deep rifts in the troubled Muslim nation of more than 170 million people.

While liberal Pakistanis and rights groups believe the law to be dangerously discriminatory against the country’s tiny minority groups, Asia Bibi’s case has become a lightning rod for the country’s religious right.

On Tuesday, the governor of the most populous state of Punjab, Salman Taseer, who had strongly opposed the law and sought presidential pardon for the 45-year-old Christian farmhand, was gunned down by one of his bodyguards.

Here some facts about the blasphemy law and its fallout.

* The law has its roots in 19th century colonial legislation to protect places of worship, but it was during the military dictatorship of General Mohammad Zia ul-Haq in the 1980s that it acquired teeth as part of a drive to Islamize the state.

* Under the law, anyone who speaks ill of Islam and the Prophet Mohammad commits a crime and faces the death penalty but activists say the vague terminology has led to its misuse. The law stipulates that “derogatory remarks, etc., in respect of the Holy Prophet either spoken or written, or by visible representation, or by any imputation, innuendo or insinuation, directly or indirectly shall be punished with death, or imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable to fine.”

* Christians who make up 4 percent of Pakistan’s population have been especially concerned about the law saying it offers them no protection. Convictions hinge on witness testimony and often these are linked to personal vendettas, they say.

* Blasphemy convictions are common in Pakistan, although the death sentence has never been carried out. Most convictions are thrown out on appeal, but angry mobs have killed many people accused of blasphemy.

* In 2009, 40 houses and a church were set ablaze by a mob of 1,000 Muslims in the town of Gojra, Punjab. At least seven Christians were burned to death. The attacks were triggered by reports of the desecration of the Koran. Police had already registered a case under Section 295C against three Christians for blasphemy.

Last July, two Christian brothers accused of writing a blasphemous letter against the Prophet Mohammad were gunned down outside a court in the eastern city of Faisalabad.

Hence a conviction or even an accusation under this law is often a death sentence, activists say.

* Some attempts have been made in the past to either repeal the law or try and amend the provisions to prevent their misuse, but each time the government has faced the wrath of religious conservatives. The current administration has ruled out scrapping the law altogether, saying such a move would hand a weapon to religious extremists and fuel militancy at a time when it is struggling to tackle it.

* Islamist parties have warned against any attempt to change the law, seeing it as a dilution of the country’s Islamist character under foreign pressure. On December 31, thousands of supporters led a nationwide strike warning any attempt to change the law would only be “over their dead bodies.”

* Earlier in December, a pro-Taliban Muslim cleric offered a $5,800 reward to anyone who killed the Christian woman, Bibi, in prison, angered by attempts, by among others governor Taseer, to save her from the gallows.

(Writing by Sanjeev Miglani; Editing by Robert Birsel)

The number of Britons converting to Islam  has nearly doubled in the past decade, according to one of the most comprehensive attempts to estimate how many people have embraced Islam. Following the global spread of violent Islamism, British Muslims have faced more scrutiny, criticism and analysis than any other religious community. Yet, despite the often negative portrayal of Islam, thousands of Britons are adopting the religion every year. Estimating the number of converts living in Britain has always been difficult because census data does not differentiate between whether a religious person has adopted a new faith or was born into it. Previous estimates have placed the number of Muslim converts in the UK at between 14,000 and 25,000.

report in The Independent  4.1.11.

Published date*: 4th January 2011

Official Statement of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom
regarding the New Year’s Eve at the Church of Saints Mark and Peter in
Alexandria

We are deeply saddened and disturbed that once again, days of joy and
celebration have been turned into a time of mourning and weeping. Our
immediate thoughts and prayers are with all those who were affected by
the bombing at the Church of Saints Mark and Peter in Alexandria:
those who have lost their lives, their families, those who were
injured, members of that parish, Christian communities in general, and
Christians throughout the land of Egypt.

This was a time when Christians went as families to pray in the safety
of the house of God. Men, women, children and the elderly gathered
together in prayer for a happy and peaceful new year. Instead, they
became the innocent victims of a most horrific, callus and cowardly
act of terror and violence.

As a Church that has lost millions to martyrdom throughout the
centuries we understand that dying for one’s Faith is a blessing and a
privilege; we also recognise the necessity of carrying our cross. At
the same time however, we believe life and liberty to be gifts from
God which we must honour and value. Advocating for these values,
whether for our own brethren or for strangers, is a matter of
Christian responsibility.

We are concerned that incidents of violence and terror against
Christians in Egypt are increasingly spiralling out of control. They
continue to go unchecked and unresolved, and their perpetrators are
not brought to justice. This passiveness has sent out the message that
Christians in Egypt are an easy and legitimate target. Today’s event
demonstrates this and puts matters on a wholly new level.

We therefore agree with the address
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12103248>
given by His Excellency President Mubarak in which he states that ‘a
red line has been crossed.’ This is indeed a turning point in
Egypt’s history. These are no longer sectarian scuffles or attacks
on Christian Churches and communities, but are premeditated acts of
terrorism and violence that are unprecedented in Egypt. A very
different solution is now needed to deal with a very different kind of
problem.

We pray for the peace of all, Christians and Muslims alike, and that
every Egyptian may enjoy freedom and security to live and practise
Faith without fear of violence or terror; protected by the various
arms of the nation state they call home.

Bishop Angaelos

General Bishop, Coptic Orthodox Church, United Kingdom and
Scholar-Consultant to the Christian Muslim Forum

The Archbishop of Canterbury made this statement: The new year’s eve
attack on Christians in Alexandria is yet another dreadful reminder of
the pressure of Christian minorities are under in the Middle East,
echoing the atrocities we have seen in recent weeks. The Coptic
community and other Christian groups in Egypt can be sure of our deep
sorrow at this terrible event and our continuing prayers and support
for them. We know the long and honourable history of co-existence of
Christians and Muslims in Egypt and are confident that the
overwhelming majority of Egyptian people will join in condemning this
and similar acts.

We ask all Christians and Muslims to pray for peace in Egypt, and
elsewhere, to build good inter faith relations in your churches,
masjids (mosques) and neighbourhoods and support those who build
bridges and work for peace.