Posted on 02/24/2011 7:38:20 AM PST by Mrs. Don-o
Pressure is mounting for the release of an Afghan Red Cross worker who was arrested last summer for converting to Christianity.
The worker, Said Musa, 46, who left Islam roughly eight years ago, was arrested in May. A father of six, he lost a leg to a land mine and was working to help other amputees when he was arrested. [Musa has been] threatened with death if he does not renounce his faith.
"Since his arrest, Mr. Musa has experienced beatings, sexual assault and sleep deprivation. Our current administration appropriately condemned this kind of treatment of our own terror suspects," Richard Land, president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, wrote in a letter to President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Monday. ... Denny Burk of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, [and] John Piper at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minn., appealed Sunday to Obama via Twitter to "persuade the Afghan govt. not to execute our brother Said Musa."
Rick Warren...tweeted to his nearly 250,000 followers, "Media CLAIM to champion free speech but if they really did, they'd report these stories everyday." ...
It's a "very sensitive time," said Mark Helmke, a spokesman for Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., who has been working on the case. "Prosecution has been halted. Quiet release (is) hoped for soon. … Our embassy is doing a good job to resolve this important human rights matter."
... Jeff King, president of the International Christian Concern, which has been working on the case from its inception, [noted] "There are numerous encouraging recent developments that should shortly come to light. Until these events are made public, it is counterproductive to talk about them openly," he said. "Regardless, we need to remain vigilant until he is released. Public pressure needs to remain high."
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
We have provided sample text for email messages below to save your time, but writing in your own words is even better if you have the time.
STEP 1: Send to your Member of Congress at https://writerep.house.gov/
Dear Representative -
I am deeply concerned that an Afghan judge has threatened to order the execution of Said Musa within days if he does not re-convert from Christianity back to Islam against his will. Please personally call the Afghan ambassador TODAY and demand that the execution of Said Musa be stopped and that Afghanistan free Said Musa and Shoaib Assadullah Musawi immediately and permit them and their families to depart the country without further threats or assaults.
Freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and the rights to life, liberty, and due process of law are some of our fundamental American values. Please convey to the Afghan ambassador that if the Afghan government does not show basic respect for the right to life, liberty, and freedom of religious choice, many Americans will begin to question whether we should continue to send our own children to fight and die on its behalf or continue to support it financially.
Please ensure that Afghanistan fulfills its obligations as a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and that all Afghans are free to practice the religious faith of their choice without fear of prosecution, intimidation, or harm.
Sincerely,
[Signed]
Please ping this far and wide, if you get a chance. This guy needs some advocates. Thanks.
Could you send ONE e-mail for a brave and good man who is in a heck of a lot of danger?
http://www.persecution.org/2011/02/24/imprisoned-afghan-christian-released-from-prison/
This says he has been freed.
Admin Morderator: can we change this headline to: Said Musa Freed! (Christian convert in Afghanistan released from prison: details at #5)
In a letter dated February 13, Said Musa described a visit by representatives of the U.S. and Italian Embassies offering him asylum. According to the letter, after the foreign representatives left the room, Musa was visited by three Afghan officials who told him that he would be released within twenty-four hours if he wrote a statement declaring that he regretted his conversion to Christianity. “I laughed and replied, ‘I can’t deny my Savior’s name,’” Musa wrote. “Because my life is just service to Jesus Christ and my death is going to heaven [where] Jesus Christ is. I am a hundred percent ready to die. They pushed me much and much. I refused their demands.” Musa was then transferred back to his prison cell.
Still, ICC sources in Afghanistan remained hopeful that the release would occur soon. The call came on February 21 from an official from the U.S. Embassy in Kabul confirming that Said Musa was released and safely out of the country.
“I’m so thankful to the Lord that he is free and know it was a concerted effort on the part of so many people,” said an ICC representative in Kabul. “The Lord has allowed us to take part in this momentous event and I praise Him that it has ended with the freedom of Said Musa. Through Said’s letters, he spoke publicly to the world a powerful testimony of his faith and perseverance.”
However, Shoaib Assadullah, an Afghan Christian who was arrested for giving a Bible to a man who later reported him to authorities, remains behind bars. Assadullah currently faces the same charges for apostasy that Musa was rescued from. In a letter dated February 17, and smuggled out of Qasre Shahi prison in Mazar-e-Sharif, Assadullah expressed fears that his execution is imminent. “The court’s decision is most definitely going to be the death penalty for me, because the prosecutor has accused me under the Clause 139 of the criminal code which says, ‘If the crime is not cited in the criminal code, then the case has to be referred to Islamic Sharia law,’” he wrote.
Aidan Clay, ICC Regional Manager for the Middle East, said, “We cannot be more thrilled about Said Musa’s release. It has been encouraging to see the international community, including churches, reporters and government officials in Europe and North America, work together for the common goal of freeing Said. Many sleepless nights, prayers and tears have paid off. However, the battle has not yet been won. Shoaib Assadullah is still imprisoned in northern Afghanistan and fears the death penalty. We still have a long road ahead before we witness religious freedom in Afghanistan. We must remain vigilant and keep the public and diplomatic pressure alive by continuing to shout with one voice for Shoaib Assadullah until together, we can also celebrate his release.”
From:
http://www.persecution.org/2011/02/24/imprisoned-afghan-christian-released-from-prison/
Wow! Thanks be to God!
ping
http://tinyurl.com/Said-Musa-Released
If I have double-pinged anybody, please forgive me. I am just so grateful to everybody who prayed or worked for this brave, good man's release.
Thank you Jesus! Thank you everyone!
This is wonderful news thank you for all you did to get the word out.
BTTT
Hallelujah!
My understanding is that he must leave the country.
He cannot stay in the new “democracy” we have shed our most precious blood and treasure for.
Thanks be to God! ... Now, we need to get him (and his entire family) out of there so some self-righteous mooselimb doesn’t murder him in service to the demon god allah.
His family is in Pakistan, having taken refuge there. I hope he can join them immediately.
prayers continue for Shoaib Assadullah.
Good job there Mrs. D!
Prayers were answered. ;)
I guesss “Happyu Moses” really is happy today.
The power of prayer and faith in Christ continues to amaze.
(I credit prayer of believers with helping me beat 4th stage cancer twice.)
Prayer works... and yes, Thanks you, Jesus.
The best course of action. Let HIM laden the hearts of those that are in a position to make a difference, to do so.
Thank You, Lord, for our new brother in Afghanistan, and for protecting him from those who do not truly know You.
Be with him, Father, until he is reunited with his family, and keep them all safe from evil.
Let others follow his path, knowing that, although it is a dangerous one, it is the only true path to Your glory. Let all Christians know that we may one day be called upon to declare our faith in You.
You, Jesus, are the Way, the Truth and the Life.
Amen!
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