I worked as a journalist in the Middle East for many years before I started with The Good Book Company, so I have been following the dramatic upheavals in the region with interest. We continue to pray that the slow move from authoritarian regimes to more open and democratic ones would open a door for the gospel in those countries.
One country that has not yet been touched by the troubles is Pakistan, which is far more Islamic by nature than Egypt, Tunisia and Libya. Those who study international affairs in this region predict that any spread of public unrest to Pakistan could have far more bloody outcomes than what has happened so far. Pakistan has a much stronger and more influential radical Islamic population. Parts of it are hotbeds for terrorist training. The minority of Christians in the country are under constant pressure and persecution.
One constant source of fear is the way that Pakistan's blasphemy laws allow many Christians to be falsely accused of "dishonouring Islam" and imprisoned under threat of execution. It is routinely used by radical Muslims to persecute believers.
Which makes it even more tragic that the only Christian in Pakistan's government, Shahbaz Bhatti, the Minister for Minorities Affairs, has been assassinated by gunmen in the street as he left his mother's house for a cabinet meeting.
He was a Catholic in his 40s, and had made it his goal to overcome faith-based divisions. He had already built unprecedented bridges between religious leaders in Pakistan, but had predicted his death in a remarkable interview on the BBC website.
He is not the first to be removed from Government in this way. In January Salman Taseer, the Governmor of Punjab province, was killed by a bodyguard who said he was angry that the politician opposed the blasphemy laws. To the horror of Pakistan's besieged liberals, many ordinary citizens praised the assassin - a sign of the spread of hardline Islamist thought in the country.
Campaigning group Christian Solidarity Worldwides National Director, Stuart Windsor, commented: Shahbaz Bhatti was known personally to me for twelve years, and we worked closely with him on the causes which he passionately espoused. He was a true patriot who loved his country and wanted to see the realisation of Jinnahs vision of a harmonious, pluralist society.
"He never achieved what he dedicated his life to the eventual repeal of Pakistans blasphemy laws. But he tried, bravely, and his life was a blessing to many."
Tim Thornborough is the founder and Publishing Director of The Good Book Company. He is series editor of Explore Bible-reading notes, the author of The Very Best Bible Stories series, and has contributed to many books published by The Good Book Company and others. Tim is married to Kathy, and they have three adult daughters.
