Two Pakistani Christian girls were kidnapped recently by a wealthy businessman (with Muslim extremist links) in Punjab, Pakistan, and then were forcibly converted to Islam so that he could “marry” them.

Rebecca Masih and Saima Masih were kidnapped on May 24, by a group of men working for Muhammad Waseem, a rich local businessman. The girls had just left the market in Jhung, district of Faisalabad, when some men accosted them and forced them into a car that Waseem owns, Agenzia Fides said.

The following day, Saima was forced to marry Waseem. One of the guests in the ceremony was Muhammad Zubair Qasim, who is a member of the banned Sip-e-Sahaba extremist group, widely known for kidnapping Christian and Hindu girls and forcing them to convert and then “marry,” Agenzia Fides reported.

Rehmat Masih, father of the two girls, told Agenzia Fides that Waseem had warned him in the past that he would “marry” his daughters. As a result, Rehmat filed a police report, but no action was taken.

Upon learning of the abduction Rehmat again went to the police. The officers investigated but concluded that “there are false accusations against Waseem.” The police report speculated that Rehmat’s daughters ran away because their father drinks and assaults his daughters, Agenzia Fides said.

However, neighbors of Rehmat say that he is honorable and has never hurt his daughters. In the final interview that Rehmat had with the police he was told to “forget [his] daughters,” according to Agenzia Fides.

Common practice

It is not uncommon for Christian and Hindu girls to be kidnapped in Punjab, forced to convert to Islam, and then to marry Muslims. Catholic Culture said the police in the area are also either powerless to do anything, or don’t wish to interfere because they are corrupt.

Haroon Barkat Masih of the Masihi Foundation said, “Kidnapping Christian girls, conversion and forced marriages have become common practice in Punjab,” according to Catholic Culture.

Haroon, who is also working in the defense of Asia Bibi (the first woman to be handed a death sentence in Pakistan for alleged violation of the blasphemy law), said that he believes the police are corrupt, Catholic Culture said.

Haroon, whose organization focuses on giving legal aid to persecuted Christians, said, “The police have been bought; instead of serving the Punjab government they are servants of extremist groups. Muslim leaders openly call for violence in their sermons, without shame. Punjab is becoming heaven for these groups,” Catholic Culture reported.

Neither has the local government been helpful. Haroon said, “We have repeatedly appealed to the Punjab government, without receiving an answer. The government supports these groups,” according to Catholic Culture.

A Catholic nun in Faisalabad, who requested anonymity, echoed Haroon’s claims. She told Agenzia Fides, “There are countless similar cases every year, that the Church of Pakistan has denounced many times, asking for respect for basic rights. The Masih sisters’ is a common fate of many girls and young Christian women in a society that tolerates discrimination on religious minorities, especially on women.”

The nun, who wanted her identity kept secret for reasons of personal safety, told Agenzia Fides that her pastoral work involves “[Promoting] the social status of girls who, for reasons of caste or religion, are living in conditions of subordination and poverty, especially through education and professional training.”

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The first edition of a Christian literary magazine was released recently to cater to readers and writers who are interested in Christian literary fiction; even as a movie conference is slated for early next year.

Athanatos Christian Ministries released recently the first issue of Literary Apologetics.Mag, which is focused on apologetics through the venue of literature. It is their view that this can lend to the cultural climate and be a strong vehicle for ministry.

ACM is committed to the use of arts and film as a means to edify the church. Currently, aside from Literary Apologetics.Mag, they are hosting a Christian writing contest and entries are currently being accepted. There is a high school category and an adult category for those aged 19 and above. Poems are also accepted.

Literary Apologetics.Mag can be either read online or downloaded and printed. It is also available in Ebook and Kindle editions. Its first issue contains the award winning story “The Faceless One” by Robert Cely, as well as poems and commentaries.

Apologetics Conference on Culture and Arts

Another pending project under ACM is the Apologetics Conference on Culture and Arts, which will be held at the Athanatos Christian Ministry’s 2011 online apologetics conference on April 8-9, 2011.

Speakers include Jason Jones, co-executive producer of Bella, an award-wining, pro-life film. The conference will call on all Christians to use the arts to defend Christianity, marriage, family and life through movies and films, Christian Newswire reported.

The keynote address will be presented by Dr. Gene Edward Veith, Jr., a leading advocate for Christians in the arts. Another speaker scheduled is Dallas Jenkins, who created the newly-released film, What If? Dick Rolfe, CEO of the Dove Foundation will also be present, among others.

Anthony Horvarth, executive director of ACM pointed out the need to have a conference where the defense of family is key.

He said, “A defense of the family amounts to a defense of Christianity. Since the attack on the family often comes through the media and the culture, it makes sense to ponder how best to resist- and fight back.”

Because the conference will be held online, people from all over the world are invited to attend. It is hoped that included will be ‘culture warriors,’ artists, theologians, writers and film makers.

Those interested in participating may go to www.onlineapologeticsconference.com and register. There are special discounts for the first 50 registrants and for early birds, according to Christian Newswire.

A short film contest will offer more than $1,000 in awards and will be judged by sponsors, conference speakers, attendees and the general public.

Horvarth said, “Our video contest is our way to put our money where our mouth is, supporting Christians in the visual arts. Hopefully placing in our contest will open up other opportunities for them.”

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Bhutan’s government has proposed a new “anti-conversion” bill that is being used by vigilantes in other nations as a means to falsely accuse and imprison Christians.

The bill cites Bhutan’s Penal Code under section 463 which says, “A defendant shall be guilty of the offense of proselytization if the defendant uses coercion or other forms of inducement to cause the conversion of a person from one religion or faith to another,” Compass Direct News said.

The bill, which is expected to be passed in Parliament’s next session, has incited fear among Christian clergymen. One pastor said Bhutan always had a “virtual” anti-conversion law, but this new bill would set it on paper and it may be used to control the growth of Christianity, CDN said.

Under the bill misdemeanors will be punishable by one to three years in prison. A pastor who requested anonymity said the bill will permit the arrest of Christians even at frivolous complaints of local residents, CDN said.

Bhutan has a population of 683,407 people with 75 percent Buddhist and 22 percent Hindu. There are some 6,000 Christians, but no church building nor registered Christian body. The Bible has been translated into both Dzongkha (Bhutan’s national language) and Nepali (the ethnicity of most Bhutan Christians), CDN said.

Before Bhutan became a democracy in 2008 it was ruled by absolute monarchy which had prevailed for hundreds of years. Although the constitution allows freedom of religion, Christianity is not officially recognized, and it is not mentioned in Bhutan’s official website which mentions Mahayana Buddhism, Hinduism, Bon, animism and shamanism, CDN says.

Lyonpo Minjur Dorji, Home and Culture minister, said Bhutan had no argument with Christianity. “But Bhutan is a small country, with a little more than 600,000 people, and a majority of them are Buddhist. We have Hindus, also, mainly in southern parts. So why do we need more religions?” CDN said.

The country, which has largely lived in extreme isolation amid the Himalayas and between India and Tibet, has embedded Buddhism in its political and social life. Buddhism has largely kept the populace united and daily life orbits around its monastery, CDN said.

The country views culture, rather than its military, as a means to protect its sovereignty, and Dorji is equally charged with preservation of culture and internal security. Bhutan is also concerned that Tibet has become a part of China and Sikkim is now a part of India, CDN said.

Sikkim had been an independent Buddhist kingdom until Hindus from Nepal migrated gradually until they came to outnumber the Buddhists. Under a 1975 referendum 75 percent of Sikkim who were largely Nepalese voted to become a state of India, CDN said.

Bhutan authorities responded by harshly cracking down on ethnic Nepalese through ethnic cleansing in the 1980s which led to some 100,000 Nepalese, many Christians among them, to lose their homes, CDN said.

To further strengthen their cultural integrity they implement laws that require the people to speak their national language and wear their national dress. The architecture must also be uniform. Violators are fined and imprisoned, CDN said.

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Northern Ireland’s culture minister Nelson McCausland wrote recently to the trustees of the National Museums Northern Ireland, urging them add alternative views on the origin of the universe.

In an interview McCausland said, “There are a range of perspectives and I want simply to have in there consideration given to reflecting the diversity of views in Northern Ireland.

“It’s also in fact a human rights issue and an equality issue because culture rights, the rights of people in Northern Ireland, should be implemented.”

McCausland also asked museums to give more prominence to Ulster-Scots and the Orange Order, the BBC reported.

While his letter did not specifically mention creationism, it does open the door to the option of a creationism exhibit.  McCausland’s party colleague and North Antrim assembly member Mervyn Storey has actively campaigned to urge museums in Northern Ireland to add exhibits on creationism, according to The Guardian.

God gives the divine spark to Adam. Northern Ireland's culture minister urges national museums to include alternative views on universe's origins

McCausland noted that around one third of Northern Ireland’s population believed in creationism and intelligent design.

He said, “I have had more letters from the public on this issue than any other issue,” according to The Guardian.

In his letter, McCausland said he had “a common desire to ensure that museums are reflective of the views, beliefs and cultural traditions that make up society in Northern Ireland,” The Guardian reported.

McCausland’s letter has prompted strong opposition from some members of the media, the academe, and the government spheres.

Richard Dawkins, evolutionary biologist said “Scientific evidence can’t be democratically decided,” according to The Guardian.

Social Democrat and Labor Party spokesman Thomas Burns said it was “a mark of a liberal society that its cultural institutions should be free of party-political interference,” the BBC said.

Storey, who has chaired the Northern Ireland assembly’s education committee, has denied that man descended from apes, according to The Guardian.  He believes in creationism and intelligent design.

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