One has to wonder, if Islam is so great, why did its founders decide that the penalty for leaving was death?  While Christianity went through a period where we persecuted those who left the faith, I think it is clear that was always a result of time and place and not built into the very laws of the faith.

The United States should never have allowed the current government in Afghanistan to have such a law on the books.  It is to our shame that after throwing out the Taliban, that we only moderated, not eliminated the extremism in the country.

I am going to write to my congressman and senator.  Everyone should do the same.

It’s stories like this that show how many of us are just play acting at our faith. Said Musa is my hero.

I totally agree with all the previous posts. Said Musa is an example of what the early Christians of the first century experienced. When you read about Christians like Said Musa, you realize how weak and shallow our faith is. And yet those of the Muslim faith come to our country and demand that we accept their repressive and intollerant traditions. We as a country should take a stand and demand the release of Said Musa. Here we are putting our young men and women in harms way so that girls can go to school, and they would execute a father of six children just for being a Christian. What insanity! And if this request is denied, we should pull out of this country and let them fight it out amongst themselves. Wake up Mr. Harper, wake Mr. Obama and all the other leaders of countries involved in Afghganistan and stop this madness!

“But Afghani officials have insisted that ‘the sentence for a convert is death and there is no exception.’”

This is a religious tenet of the Islam religion.  How do you counter that in a Muslim Country?  How do you stop a tenet from being taught and practiced?  If you are in such a country, you can’t make a law that violates their religious teachings and practices.

And there in is the problem - for us.  The best way to promote Said Musa’s plight is to use his story, and others, as the reason we need to add a new amendment to our U.S. Constitution concerning First Amendment Rights.  Why?  To protect against that spreading in the U.S. through all religions’ First Amendment Rights.

Here is a suggested wording:

“All religions have the right to freedom of speech, worship and assembly in fulfillment of their pursuit of happiness as long as those religions do not advocate in their writings, speech, and practice physical harm to non believers.  Any religion that uses tenets of belief to justify murder or physical harm to non believers, or to former believers who have rejected their religion, shall not be allowed to have the protection of the First Amendment, and shall not be allowed to practice their religion in the United States of America and her territories unless they publically reject such tenets and strike them from their religious books, writings and teachings, and submit to appropriate monitoring to verify their compliance to this Amendment.”

If you agree with the need to set up a “fire wall” in America with such a Constitutional Amendment, please feel free to pass this on to others, as well as your federal and state representatives.

Unbelievable…we have been in Afghanistan now for nearly a decade and haven’t been able to make any progress.  Our Western governments need to apply pressure on Kabul to free this guy.  If Afghanistan is going to change they need to allow freedom of religion and thought.  I am going to talk to my member of Parliament about this and other Christians as well.

We should also petition through AZAAZ - can you contact?. It will disclose a level of multi-racial support.

As suggested we must make representations to our MPs.
Finally, all Christian Communities must stand up and be counted.

Thank-you for publishing this story on your blog National Post.  It is important that Canadians become aware that such atrocities are still occurring to individuals simply for making a conscious choice to embrace a faith other than the predominant faith.

I also urge Muslim Canadians to express their strong concerns to their religious leaders and to their Parliamentary representatives on behalf of Said Musa and others with the same experiences as his.  For, the perpetuation of such atrocities in the name of Islam will only serve to soil the good name of their Muslim faith in the eyes of the world.

“For, the perpetuation of such atrocities in the name of Islam will only serve to soil the good name of their Muslim faith in the eyes of the world.”

The Muslim faith has a good name in the eyes of the world?

The Muslims have been doing this since 622 AD.  That is how they conquer a territory/land. You either convert or you die by the sword. And usually it is the cutting off of the head. The Crusades were a response to this crazy belief. They tried to conquer Europe many times and failed.  I think Vienna was the last armed event. Now they do it by introducing Sharia law then using our laws against us saying it is their religious practices we are trying to suppress.  They have no reverence for life.  The moderate Germans did not speak up just like the moderate Muslims are not speaking up and look what happened in Germany.

we need to pray that he may be free and to have a love for Jesus and a trust like this man has…  When Christ touches our hearts, the worst thing would be to deny His love..

Afghanistan:  Where becoming a Christian makes you worthy of torture and death but buggering boys is fine.  It’s very hard to love a people like that.

How did this man get the letter out of the prison? Just wondering about it. I agree with Peter’s post and Jim Przedzienkowski’s post. When is our government going to understand that the U.S. is ours and we are governed by the Constitution of the U.S., therefore live under American Laws. Sharia kills, it is against the laws of our country to kill or harm anyone. (even a dog) You go to prison for killing people. Any alien coming to this country should learn this before they are allowed in. I don’t care about what a person’s religion teaches, if it is against our laws, it is ‘out’. (The Catholic Religion is all for LIFE—-that is what I love about it)
Aliens have to understand that we believe in people having the freedom to practice their religion but it does not include freedom to kill. Remember the man who ran over his daughter with a car or truck “because she was becoming too Westernized”? They should make an example of him and his sharia law.
My grandparents & parents were aliens and they embraced the U.S. and its governing laws.  They melded into the U.S. community & culture. They did not INSIST on things changing to their ways like SOME of the Mexicans and Muslims. They spoke to us in English.  We need to do something about the advocates of these people,  who are just as harmful. 
Read Jim Brzedzienkowski’s post again—it is happening in Germany, France and England right now.  You cannot have multi-cultural people and run a country safely. WE IN THE U.S., ARE AMERICANS FIRST and LAST. Either accept the American Way or go back to your country—-don’t try to change US.  My parents flew the American Flag, not like the Mexicans who flew their flag on their holiday. American kids being chastized for wearing an American Flag on their shirt on a Mexican holiday?  Ridiculous! You can bet that I shall be wearing my flag and flying it on the next Chico de Mao.
My husband fought in 5 battles in WWII for our freedom and died young because of it—-there are times when I am glad he is not here to see what is happening to our country.  He suffered all those battles, for what? To lose our freedoms and culture; our United States to another?

The world looks the other way or is asleep as Christians are murdered all over the world. Our president will not lift a finger; he is busy wanted the islamic tv station on American cable tv.

This man is already a martyr.  Those that think this cannot happen in other countries are fooling themselves. Let islamic law raign and you will either capitulate or die. Most will capitulate.

@magdalene:  I did not know that he wanted an islamic tv station on American Cable. If my Cable company does that, I shall leave for another cable company.  Our Pres. is a whuss (sp) He thinks we will learn about the good in the Islamic religion, he is always fooled—-we will be given propaganda.

Well, I think it does not hurt if we all call the Afghan Embassy demanding some explanation about this !

This is their phone number:

* In Canada:
(613) 563-4223

* In USA
(202) 483-6410

* In Australia
61-2-62827311

* In the UK
020 7589 8891

St. Stephen was stoned while St. Paul looked on. Now we are faced with a modern Stephen while much of the world looks on. Dear Lord forgive us.

Persecution of a Christian or a Muslim or of any religious sect nor secular group is a not an excuse nor reason to bend or follow one’s beliefs by means of torture or fear. Whether we like it or not, it’s unconscionable. It doesn’t even have anything to do with race as it is a stubborn fight for culture and faith and if you look at history, it’s almost like a segway of history repeating itself. This has nothing to do with Mr.Obama and the leaders of the great 8, this is an internal affair. And the United Nations, should be the one initiating action, along with leaders of faith.

@still believe:  I sent your post to Sue Myrick, my Representative.  She is definitely against Sharia Law in our country.

@Maria Olsen:  But many people have little faith in the United Nations today. Also the Pope has spoken out against it as I am sure other religious leaders have. I do agree it is history repeating itself and that it has much to do with faith and culture. I am sure though that my Representative will do as much as she can to educate her constituents and those in Congress.

In any dealings with any Muslims anywhere in the world, there is one unavoidable, sad, tragic, yet true and inescapable fact. Muhammed was a false prophet. As a false prophet his teachings are in fact evil in their very nature. Since his teachings are evil, his religion is evil, and those who practice it our under the influence of evil. For us to act surprised when this evil shows it’s ugly head is indeed childish. To expect anything else from Islam is the same as expecting reasonable actions from “moderate Nazis”. This is naivete at it’s worst and most dangerous. I pray for Said Musa. But we are the fools who put evil forces in power and then act surprised that they are evil.

re Kendallpeak
You have a firm grasp of the obvious. This ” religion ” was instituted to deny the divinity of Jesus Christ.  an anti-christ has been made an institution. The western world is only beginning to see the evil these anti-christs are capable of.

Everyone write their congressman and Senators.

We also need the media to report on this.. a little pressure by the media could help.
Along with our elected officials… send this story to the media.

May God bless this man.

Let’s see the D.C. bigmouths who were so fast to demand the resignation of Egypt’s president, demand protection of this brave man.

Remember when Bill Clinton dropped everything to protect that spoiled rich brat from being caned in some Asian country for vandalizing cars?

Remember when Clinton sent troops to bust down the doors of Elion Gonzalez’ relatives to send him back into slavery in Cuba?

Where are the calls for “social justice” now from Obama and his agents of “change?”

Speak up, White House!  Your microphone’s on!  And God is watching!

Anybody in the GOP want to risk public scorn by standing up for a man whose courage tops your own tenfold?

Where’s Code Pink on this one?  Where is Tony Perkins?  Jesse Jackson?  Jimmy Carter?  Bush Senior?  Sarah Palin?  I’ve already done more than all of you combined by writing this!

Let’s get busy, folks!

I will pray for Said Musa, a very valiant Christian being unspeakably tortured for his faith in Jesus Christ. May he ever remain strong before so much injustice.

@Jon: Hope you have written to your Senators and Representative like some of us have.  Writing what you think on this post does no good at all. We need to let Washington know. [possibly you already have]

Since 9/11; we here in the west have spent enormous resources , including the lives of our sons & daughters, to overthrow the Taliban. The action has been more than justified, since they thumbed their noses at the horrors of September 11, & refused to turn bin Laden over to face what would have been due process. So, we toppled the government of Afghanistan. We have supported, witnessed, & monitored its replacement. As someone mentioned earlier, this isn’t medieval tribesmen who have no qualms about burying their daughters alive, or whom we have bribed in order to obtain intelligence info, with cash & items like Cialis & Viagra. It is the legitimate governing apparatus to whom we obviously gave our nod of approval. The west; especially America;  has been accused of interfering with too many other countries whose traditions are different than our own, for purposes of obtaining oil. We didn’t steal it. We bought it, & at prices set by OPEC.And forgive us for wanting to heat our homes, schools, & hospitals, etc. Reality check time: we haven’t interfered often enough or thoroughly enough.I’m neither liberal nor conservative.It depends on the issue. But I am convinced that starting, ....oh, say,....yesterday; foreign aid shouldn’t come with strings attached. It should come with ropes attached. There are some religious & cultural practices that should not exist anywhere on any planet inhabited by human beings. They cease, or the aid packages disappear. I am not a religious person, although I grew up Catholic.Until we see the elimination of words from linguistics, like ‘infidel’, ‘heretic’, & even some like ‘sinner’.; pacem in terris will never be realized. Never. Jamais.

Funny I should come across this after looking through a book called “Jesus Freaks”, which is about Christian martyrs. I too am praying for Said Musa. May God help him through this.

H.(bart) Vincelette:  Very well written Bart. I agree with you wholeheartedly.  We must stop coddling some of these countries who do atrocious things.  We can get our own oil in Alaska and elsewhere, if the government or OPEC wanted to.

This thought has come to mind, right or wrong, I do not know:
The letter from Musa puzzels me. Many of you call him a good Christian, valiant, hero,  as those in the time of Christ. Wonder what happened to his wife and seven children?

I agree that official condemnation is necessary, but otherwise, it is not our country’s government’s job to do anything else.  Laws are laws.  This man and all captives are in our prayers, or should be.  All we could do officially would be to extradite this man from Afghanistan and then drop the charges, giving him refugee status.  In fact, we would have to declare that he is a citizen of Canada.  I don’t think that would set a good precedent.  Lord have mercy upon him.  There is no shame in martyrdom.

“Jesus Freaks” is a great book to read!  It is time that we tell the government there that if this is the way they are going to be, we will leave immediately and leave them to eat themselves!!!  We must write and call our legislators!!

Sue, your challenge I accept as instructive.  My Congressmen shall hear my voice.
But Katia Korol, to merely say “laws are laws,” and “there is no shame in martyrdom” is about as uncaring a thing one could say.
Laws that contradict God’s Law are “law-less.”  Romans 13 describes governments armed to punish wrongdoers, not the righteous.  Did Daniel deserve to be devoured by the lions for his “illegal” act?  What about the other three Hebrew children?  Outlaws?  By your logic, they were.  No, I don’t think you would allege that, nor are you truly uncaring.  But a feeling of helplessness is no reason to write somebody off.
And although there is more than “no shame” in martyrdom, but actual glory, there is also tremendous shame in turning a deaf ear to your brother.
What good is “Go, I wish you well.  Keep warm and well fed,” if you do nothing for Said’s actual situation?
I feel small too, but John Quincy Adams once said of his seemingly futile and endless abolitionist crusade: “DUTY IS OURS. THE RESULTS ARE GOD’S.”
How about a letter to the editor or your representatives?  Expose the works of darkness as you pray.
Sue challenged me. . . what about you?

One might propose that, Christianity being so objectionable to the people of Afghanistan, Christians and all freedom loving people will henceforth cease to support any state that so objects, not financially, not militarily, not even in commercial ventures. Let’s see just how firm their leaders are in their refusal when their pocketbooks are affected. Oh, I forgot, our fearless leader in the White House won’t hear of it.

It is a shame we wait for the final conquest when Christ shall win.

Religious Freedom is guaranteed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.  I don’t know if Afghanistan is a member of the United Nations but many Moslem countries are.  How have they been able to become members when they don’t uphold the documents of the United Nations.  This issue goes beyond national borders, it’s of international concern. I’ve written to our Minister of Foreign Affairs and Prime Minister and local MP. If Canada has no influence on the Afghani Government over this matter what are our soldiers doing there?  And what will they do after the soldiers leave. We are just propping up another repressive regime.

As I commented elsewhere the New Era of Christian Persecutions is truly under way in all Muslim countries. This is an apt description of what Islam Religion is all about : “This ” religion ” was instituted to deny the divinity of Jesus Christ.  an anti-christ has been made an institution.”.  How right this commentator is.  To all Muslims, Christians and in particular the Catholic Faithful, are infidels and must either convert to Islam by force, or be killed.  Did I read someone asking Obama to do something to help Said Musa?  Sorry.  Obama is a Muslim and he approves and is a firm believer what his Faith dictates. We shall need to look elsewhere to save Said Musa from his executioners, not Obama. Let us all pray for him that he stands firm for his Faith in Jesus Christ, and if it be God’s Will that he dies for Christ, his place of honour in Heaven is guaranteed

same kind of incidents have happened in Pakistan more than once. The book Torn veil by Author Gulshan explains how she saves her life after being in Jail for giving a true testimony of JESUS CHRIST.
    I wonder why other countries supports the people who wont allow some people to live with their faith. Of course we all will pray for him . Yet it is God who is giving a message to all of us through him . I think people out side Afghanistan or Pakistan are wise enough to understand the message . The message is we don"t have to trust these countries governments anymore if they do not allow a God"s child alive.

I(We)are keeping a close watch on what is going on with Said Musa! Hope something good very soon and I will definitely spread the word around!!!

Elena Monnereau

It will not be far when Islamic fundamentalists rule Europe Britain and France have sizeable population. They demand many things in the name of freedom Do they care for the freedom of Musa or Asia Bibi ? Yet the Western world is silent Is it not due to FEAR of Muslims ?

We can resort too much to isolating-literalism re certain *parts* of Church teaching without taking account of the *whole* of the Catechism and the *whole* of Church teaching. When such an *incompleteness-approach* is made in Bible interpretation, we get many hundreds of Protestant sects.
God allows just war and deception is a NORMAL part of such war. CCC 2483 broadens lying to both speech and acting. The very last sentence of 2483 gives the *context* for giving assent to Church teaching about “true lying”. And there is no conflict between faith and reason – which is also part of Catholic teaching.
In an allowed just war, camouflage “lies” to others’ eyes and brains about what is actually present and *deliberately designed* to draw them in so as to defeat them efficiently— as a result of our successfully fooling them.
In granting us free will which gives the ruthless an enormous advantage over peaceful society, God reluctantly allows just war, to compensate. The *incompleteness-approach* is often the enemy of understanding Church teaching.
In war, the whole nation is against its enemy; those protecting Jews can deceive the SS and it is not an offense against truth as comprehended by the *whole* of Catholic teaching.
That neighbors might be endangered by telling “lies” about your protecting Jews is just one example of bad things that do happen even in just wars.  They soon learn to simply shrug a no or say they don’t know and as for the protector, it is not an offense against truth when analyzed in its full relationship to total circumstances and the whole of Church teaching which combine to remove it from “end justifies the means”, etc..
We are in a just war with Planned Parenthood and must not resort to ‘isolationist-literalism’ regarding the *opinion* we can’t be in a just war UNTIL our unjust Government (as Roe & Doe protectors) declares it on Planned Parenthood. Again, the rules for just war have evolved and are not yet fully properly expressed for all warring conditions.

There may be prudential limits that vary with particular wars.

But deceiving Planned Parenthood to help save the innocent is well within just war operation and outside “consequentialism” and similar charges because the just war is real. The price of continually taking the *incompleteness-approach* is the babies and mothers continuing to lose *big time* while others going to PP suffer *other grave evils* done to them.
Engaging in isolationist readings of church laws means that one cannot dismiss the issue by saying Christ wants us to do it only in a certain way. We must first prove the deception way is in fact a SIN while NOT ignoring the wholeness of Church teaching in our “proof”. Yes, I do affirm Romans 3:8. See that it was foreshadowed in Sirach at the end of Chapter 15.

I apologize; my input at 10:13 AM (Feb. 17) was for the “Is Deception Always Wrong? I’m Not Convinced” forum. Thank you for removing it from above if feasible; it will not happen again.

I am ashamed of myself and any Christian who fails to tell others about Jesus Christ that He is the Son of God and died for my sins and theirs and they can have faith in Him and have eternal life…are we lazy or ashamed? and to hear the suffering this man has endured for his witness.I pray that the Holy Spirit of God will empower him and he will be first in line with other martyrs to be welcomed by Jesus when he does enter his eternal home.I also pray for his poor wife and children…and the people who are trying to help Said and his family.

I just heard from my Senator, Richard Lugar.  Good job everyone for the pressure!!!!

Thank you for contacting me regarding the reported detainment of Mr. Sayed Mossa (also spelled Mr. Syed Musa) in Afghanistan.  I appreciate this opportunity to respond.

My staff recently participated in a conference call with Ambassador Jim Keith, Assistant Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, regarding Mr. Mossa.  Ambassador Keith informed my staff that thanks to international pressure, particularly from the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, the government of Afghanistan has placed Mr. Mossa’s prosecution on hold.  Ambassador Keith believes that within a matter of weeks, Mr. Mossa will be quietly released and granted asylum in another country, possibly Pakistan where his family currently resides.

-Richard Lugar
US Senator, Indiana

@Kristi - WOW!!!!!!

Stillbelieve…  looks like prayers and pressure is going to save this mans life!  AMEN!

This is certainly hopeful news. But let’s hope that Mossa is granted asylum in a country *other* than Pakistan. Out of the frying pan and into the fire?

Amen, too, Kristi. God does not have a dust bin for Prayers.  He hears and answers when we all pray with a firm Faith.  Praise be Jesus Christ

I am French. My son is a soldier and he served in the NATO forces in Afghanistan for one year in order to protect that country from the Taliban extremists.
He is a very devout and pious catholic faithful and by obedience he is OBLIGED to tolerate this scandal of his christian fellow being executed because of his faith?
And he is told that he went to fight for this country’s freedom?
OK, NATO and the US troops will be defeated nextly, the Talibans will come back to power. Eventually the corrupt Mr Karzai will be beheaded if he doesn’t succeed to escape. And the situation will not be worse than it is today.
US an NATO go home!

OK good news. We may hope Mr Moussa will be freed nextly.
But nothing is changed in Afghanistan Christian: Christian faithfuls are persecuted and
will be always persecuted.
An the (ex-)christian countries are covering this in the name of “freedom”.
That is a masquerade.
The US MUST require these infamous laws in that country to be changed or they will withdraw.

islam = 666

I will pray very hard for him and will also call the Afghan Embassy as suggested by Peter A.  Thanks, Peter. for providing the phone #s.  You made it so easy that we have no excuse not to call!

I will pray for this man.  We should all pray for this man.

i will be praying that Said Musa will be released and they will stop there brutal acts towards him.

With our soldiers dying in Aftganistan whom are mostly Christian while the Aftgan Government condemns to death a man for being a Christian begs the question, what are we doing there? I will be forwarding this article to Our Prime Minister of Canada.

<quote> Posted by Kristi on Friday, Feb 18, 2011 8:25 PM (EDT):

I just heard from my Senator, Richard Lugar.  Good job everyone for the pressure!!!!

Thank you for contacting me regarding the reported detainment of Mr. Sayed Mossa (also spelled Mr. Syed Musa) in Afghanistan.  I appreciate this opportunity to respond.

My staff recently participated in a conference call with Ambassador Jim Keith, Assistant Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, regarding Mr. Mossa.  Ambassador Keith informed my staff that thanks to international pressure, particularly from the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, the government of Afghanistan has placed Mr. Mossa’s prosecution on hold.  Ambassador Keith believes that within a matter of weeks, Mr. Mossa will be quietly released and granted asylum in another country, possibly Pakistan where his family currently resides.

-Richard Lugar
US Senator, Indiana </quote>
—-
That is, I’m quite sure, a relief for Said Mossa.

this is so insane! why should someone be put to jail and even and even be persecuted to die just being a christian! each country should start practicing democracy!!! God bless Said Musa. I really admire your faith.

@fallsifide
thanks for the info