Pray for Arshed Masih and His Family - a Martyr in Our Time

After reading the story I have copied below,  I began following the comments over at Patrick Madrid's blog and FB page. There was a recommendation to read Belloc's book on heresies. The commenter, Alicia Huntley, said, "his chapter on the heresy of Mohammed is so eerily familiar . . . . . I recommend this book to those who would like a historical perspective."  I think I will take her advice.

I had just read this:

Saturday, March 20, 2010 (12:06 pm)

By BosNewsLife Asia Service reporting from Pakistan

RAWALPINDI, PAKISTAN (BosNewsLife)-- A Christian man was fighting for his life in Pakistan's Punjab province Saturday, March 20, after Muslim leaders backed by police burned him alive for refusing to convert to Islam, while his wife was raped by police officers, Christian and hospital sources familiar with the case told BosNewsLife.

Arshed Masih was burned Friday, March 19, in front of a police station in the city of Rawalpindi near Pakistan's capital Islamabad, following apparent death threats from his Muslim employer Sheikh Mohammad Sultan, an influential businessman, and religious leaders, said the Rawalpindi Holy Family Hospital.

His wife, Martha Arshed, was allegedly raped by police officers. Their three children -- ranging in age from 7 to 12--  were reportedly forced to witness the attacks against their parents.

"Both [Masih] and wife were rushed to the Holy Family Hospital and are under treatment," the hospital said.

He was listed in serious condition with about 80 percent of his body burned. (A later article states that he is not expected to live)

POLICE INVESTIGATION

Local police officials said they were "aware" of the attacks carried out by Muslim leaders and apparently at least some officers and added that an investigation was underway. No arrests were reported yet late Saturday, March 19.

Sheikh Mohammad Sultan could not immediately be reached for comment and it was not clear whether he had been in contact with police Saturday, March 20.

Before tensions emerged about their Christian faith, Masih worked as a driver and his wife as a maid for the Muslim businessman since 2005, Christians said.

The couple apparently lived with their children in the servant quarters of Sultan's estate in Rawalpindi, a key trade and tourist destination. In January, religious leaders and Sultan allegedly asked Arshed to convert to Islam with his whole family.  After he refused, the group reportedly threatened him with "dire consequences".

DEATH THREAT
Arshed offered to quit his job, but the businessman allegedly said he would "kill" him if he were to leave.
He apparently also told Christian mediators that he would never allow the Christian family to live somewhere else.

Whole article here.

SOURCES:
http://patrickmadrid.blogspot.com/2010/03/heroic-christians-pay-terrible-price.html
BosNewsLife