Mission Network News has interviewed Todd Nettleton regarding how Pakistan is looking to try to outlaw parts of the bible. Click here for the full article.
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Assertions that Jesus is God, that he died and rose from the dead and that salvation comes through Him are also falling in conflict with Islamic teachings. Todd Nettleton is a spokesman for Voice of the Martyrs USA. He says the sect that's making the demands is calling for "At least those sections should be taken out of the Bible, if not the entire Bible banned in Pakistan. They say that there won't be trouble as long as the courts act in this case, as long as the courts do what they want them to."
Within Pakistan's Penal Code are penalties ranging from a fine to death for ‘blasphemy'. According to VOM, the law is often misused to target religious minorities, including Christians.
The law is a flashpoint for religious tensions in Pakistan. Just this year, because they supported the repeal of the law, assassins murdered Punjab Province Governor Salman Taseer, and Minister for Minorities Shahbaz Bhatti. Nettleton adds that the potential for violent reaction is possible. "There is a high level of concern right now in Pakistan because of the Asia Bibi case, because of anti-Christian and anti-American feeling that is the result of the killing of Osama bin Laden."
The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-S) party, a Muslim offshoot party out of India, is ready to launch their formal petition to ban the Bible should the courts not rule to outlaw the sections they complained about. When asked if such a petition would cause more trouble for believers, Nettleton says, "At this point, it's a lot of noise. If it starts to be motion towards actually banning the Scriptures, that will be a huge concern."