6-23-2009

In Pakistan, a young, Christian man got off his bus and bought a cup of tea from a local stand.  The tea stall was run by radical Muslims: when the young man went to pay for the cup of tea he had consumed, the owner noticed he was wearing a cross around his neck. 

The owner seized the young man, calling for his employees to come and bring anything they could use to beat him.  In all, 15 Muslims beat the Christian with stones, iron rods, and clubs.  They stabbed him repeatedly as he pleaded for mercy.
 
The other bus passengers finally intervened and took the Christian to a local hospital.  There, the young man died of spinal, head, and chest injuries, as well as massive bleeding and brain damage.

What did he do to deserve such a violent death?  The Christian ordered tea with his fellow passengers, failing to notice a sign that warned, "All non-Muslims should introduce their faith prior to ordering tea. This tea stall serves Muslims only."  The sign was decorated with a death’s head and threatened "dire consequences" for those that violated the rule.  A Christian defiled a Muslim's cup--therefore the Christian must die. 

The murder was reported to the Pakistani police, but no action has been taken against the shopkeeper or his employees.

--adapted from International Christian Concern