Pakistan: Christian teacher receives death threats
Dec 11 2007
Postings >> Pakistan

A young Christian teacher has received death threats after sheltering his cousin who is accused of blasphemy.

Mushtaq, 27, told RI's prison visitor Sohail Johnson that he had had a letter delivered to his home, warning that he should 'convert or die'. His cousin Martha Bibi, who was mentioned in the letter, went to live with Mushtaq south-east of Lahore after she was released on bail in May (7x7, May 15, 2007). She is unable to return to her home in Kot Nanak Singh, Kasur, for fear of being attacked by extremists.

Martha spent more than three months in jail after she was accused of making derogatory comments about the Prophet Mohammed while trying to retrieving building equipment she had loaned to a construction site. No verdict on her case has been given yet.

Martha told Sohail Johnson that she still feels imprisoned. 'I do not feel comfortable going out to even shop for vegetables,' she said. 'My lawyer has also suggested that I should not go out.'

• Ask God to protect Martha and her family. Pray that they will soon be reunited.
• Thank God for Mushtaq's willingness to shelter Martha, despite the risk to himself.