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Pray for Sayed Musa: Afghan Christian Set to Be Hanged within Days? (Updated)

The Daily Mall and others are reporting on Said (or Sayed) Musa. Earlier I had posted a link to his letter from prison describing sexual and physical abuse. Here’s the new report:

An Afghan physiotherapist will be executed within three days for converting to Christianity.

Said Musa, 45, has been held for eight months in a Kabul prison were he claims he has been tortured and sexually abused by inmates and guards.

Mr Musa, who lost his left leg in a landmine explosion in the 1990s, has worked for the Red Cross for 15 years and helps to treat fellow amputees.

He was arrested in May last year as he attempted to seek asylum at the German embassy following a crackdown on Christians within Afghanistan.

He claims he was visited by a judge who told him he would be hanged within days unless he converted back to Islam.

But he remains defiant and said he would be willing to die for his faith.

He told the Sunday Times: ‘My body is theirs to do what they want with.’

You can also read the Compass Direct News report, which begins:

An Afghani amputee in prison for his Christian faith since May will face a judge this Sunday (Nov. 21) without legal representation or knowledge of the charges against him, according to local sources.

Denny Burk suggests that if you have Twitter, you post one of the following:

Mr. President, speak wisely and boldly, in private if necessary, for Said Musa, imprisoned in Kabul. http://dsr.gd/ezR3jW @BarackObama

Mr. President, please persuade the Afghan govt. not to execute our brother Said Musa. http://bit.ly/bQ5RLQ @BarackObama Prov. 24:10-12

Update: A valid point by Paul Marshall:

If the actions of a Florida pastor who threatened to destroy a book holy to Muslims deserved public and presidential attention, then the actions of the Afghan government, ostensibly a ‘democratic’ ally, to destroy something holy to Christians, a human being made in the image of God, also deserve public and presidential attention.

Clarification and Reminder: Two things to keep in mind here:

  1. It’s very difficult to get reliable information in a situation like this. I’ll do my best to keep folks updated. There are rumors he is to be executed; other rumors that he is soon to be released. It’s almost impossible to know for sure what might be going on behind the scenes. All we know this far is that this man is imprisoned for his faith, and Scripture gives us good guidance for how to respond when one of our brothers is on trial for his faith.
  2. It is appropriate to appeal to authorities. Paul did it: “If then I am a wrongdoer and have committed anything for which I deserve to die, I do not seek to escape death. But if there is nothing to their charges against me, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar” (Acts 25:11). At the same time, let us remember that there is a King of Kings and a Throne of Grace and that because of our Savior and by the Spirit we may approach our prayer-hearing God with confidence, making an appeal for our dear brother. Like the Apostle Paul, Mr. Musa is ” suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But,” as Paul is quick to point out, “the word of God is not bound!” (2 Tim. 2:9). May God be glorified.

Update:

Bob Smietana reports in The Nashville Tennessean that (1) Mr. Musa has been moved to a safe prison, that (2) the authorities in Afghan are feeling pressure to release him, and that (3) his family have fled the country.

Denny Burk writes:

Please keep up your prayers for Said Musa. Even if the authorities decide to release him, he will be in a precarious situation. His conversion is now national news in Afghanistan. When/if he is released, he will be exposed to a great many people outside of prison who might try to kill him for his Christian faith. So pray for Said and for a speedy reunion with his family. Pray that he would be a faithful witness for Christ no matter what happens.

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