Another Christian Martyr in Pakistan

Until yesterday, Shabaz Bhatti was Pakistan's Minorities Minister and the only Christian in the Pakistani cabinet. He opposed Pakistan's blasphemy law, which makes insulting the founder of Islam a capital offense. Yesterday, the predictable happened: Bhatti was assassinated, gunned down in his unguarded car.

Two months ago, Salman Taseer, a Pakistani provincial governor and a defender of Aasia Bibi, a Christian woman sentenced to death under the blasphemy law, was assassinated by a Muslim guard assigned to protect him.

Shabaz Bhatti, a Roman Catholic, knew that his days were numbered if he did not stop speaking for Pakistani's Christians and other minorities. Four months ago, he sent the following interview to the BBC to be shown in the event of his assassination:

In it, Bhutti stated:

The forces of violence, militant band organizations, the Taliban, and al Qaeda: they want to impose their radical philosophy on Pakistan and whoever stands against their radical philosophy threatens them. When I am leading this campaign against Sharia law for the abolishment of blasphemy law and speaking for the oppressed and marginalized, persecuted Christian and other minorities, these Taliban threaten me.  But I want to share that I believe in Jesus Christ who has given His own life for us. I know what is the meaning of [the] cross, and I am following the cross, and I am ready to die for a cause. I am living for my community and my suffering people, and I will die to defend their rights. So these threats and these warnings cannot change my opinion and principles. I prefer to die for my principles and for the justice of my community rather [than] to compromise on these threats.

Thanks to the Right Scoop, where more video and information is available.
__________

Related posts:  

• Pakistani Pol Assassinated for Trying to Help Condemned Christian Woman, Aasia Bibi
• Pakistani Mom Gets Death Sentence for Defending Christianity