Salmaan Taseer, the Governor of the Province of Punjab is assassinated by the man who was supposed to protect him and whilst the police call for justice many others see him as a hero and celebrate him (whilst others still, through fear of reprisal, stay silent). The Minister for minorities, Shahbaz Bhatti, dies in a hail of bullets - the response to an appeal against the blasphemy laws.
Qamar David, a Christian, dies in prison whilst being held on claims that he'd insulted the prophet Muhammad.
And today we have the news that a mentally impaired fourteen year old girl, Rimsha Masih, who has been in custody for two weeks now on charges of blasphemny appears to have been set up by Iman, Khalid Chishti! Witnesses have come forward to say that Chishti planted the remains of burnt pages of the Koran in her bag, persumably because she was from a Christian family.
Can I ask my Muslim friends and colleagues how Taseer, Bhatti, David, Rimsha Masih and the many others who have suffered death, or been abused, honours the prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) or does anything to show Islam in a positive light? How can those who believe other than them or have the courage to stand and speak out for justice (and mercy) be so sorely treated?
In the same vein perhaps is the fact that this week three British people are appealing to the European courts over their apparent loss of the right to choose and act as their faith demands. Integrity, honesty and tolerance are at a premium everywhere it appears - how sad :-(
Pax