Religious Freedom: Is it only applicable to Muslims?

  I don't usually like to write about the ills of another community, but after having heard this story I cannot stop  myself from writing what I feel. But let me say at the outset that I have no ill intention towards the muslim community. I respect them and have only good will towards them. On a personal level I have had several friends from the Muslim community.

  The story is about a poor Christian woman from a village in Pakistan who has been condemned to death by the courts for allegedly blaspheming against the Prophet. Another report on the same is here. After reading about her, I could not help becoming disgusted about the reasoning behind such a verdict.  

  What does the Pakistani State hope to achieve by killing a poor, uneducated woman who  lived  a simple life of a Wife and Mother. Her only crime was trying to say a few words defending her Faith which every Christian (who really follows Jesus) including myself would gladly do without fear. But her own women co-workers have turned that into Blasphemy.

   Now what I find most disconcerting is the fact that the Muslims (Intellectuals, activists and society) who would go up in arms against the slightest taunt against their faith remain silent. So have the mainstream news channels who go crazy even if there is an alleged threat to burn a holy book or a plan to ban the face veil .(I haven't seen any major Muslim organization take a stand against this cruelty nor seen any report in mainstream media. Only a few christian Media have brought this story out. But it is entirely possible that I may have missed something, so forgive me if I have.)

 The Hypocricy involved here is amazing. And this is not an isolated incident, only this is the first time a woman has been condemned. Nor is this confined to Pakistan, most Islamic republics and sultanates have laws like these. Is it that the poor non-Muslim people in Islamic countries are somehow lesser human beings, who are condemned to live in humiliation and fear for their entire lives.

Whatever happens to this poor woman, she can be glad of the fact that she never denied her faith in Jesus. For Jesus has told that whoever affirms to him on earth, He will not deny them before the Father.