Word came in once again to hang

One's head in shame as a member of

The human family that still stands firmly

Divided by faith, which is okay but not

To accuse, each other of disrespect with

Sentences of death looming

Based on possibly twisted facts or self interest

Backed by laws that need review

On the basis of the religion itself which once

Liberated us from such injustice and ignorance


Christians and us drink from the same well

Of enlightenment as do the Jews

With Hindus we have had much interaction while

Sharing the land of the Indus since our history began

The Bible and the Gita have lived amongst us

Along with the Ahmadi and the Zikri people

Color added from our own cultural paintbrush

But the canvas was and is in the hands of the Creator

Who has taught us much about respect and

The meaning of justice


One helpless Bishop with a gun in his hand

Conduct usually unbecoming for a man of the cloth

Has pulled the trigger and extinguished god's gift of life

A last act of a desperate crusader for justice or

The parting cry of a human being to be seriously heard

Drawing attention to blasphemy laws as a tool of persecution

Against all believers who don't walk the same path and become

Verbal targets of accusers and sometimes much more

In the land which today absorbs his blood

And that of many other innocent spirits

Who have chosen to be different.




- Ras H. Siddiqui (5-8-98)


This writing is dedicated to two people. Bishop John Joseph of Khushpur who killed himself in protest against the current Blasphemy Law in Pakistan and Arif Iqbal Bhatti, a respected lawyer and judge, who was assassinated because he pardoned a Christian boy innocent of the Crime. It is also hoped that the Government of Pakistan will launch a full investigation to rule out any foul play in the matter of Bishop Joseph.