>> and welcome to this special edition of christian world news a murder in pakistan strikes a devastating blow to the christian community. hello everyone i am georgethomas. christians in pakistan robert are realing from their advocate, shahbaz bhatti. an out spoking critic of the

country's blasphemy laws. he died as he left his mother's home. at his funeral, gerard bhatti said his brother did not die in vain. >> i am proud that my brother give his life for a good cause. [applause]. >> we have a panel of experts to talk about what this means for pakistan's tiny community and the issue of religious freedom. joining us by skype is international correspondent gary lane and paul marshal of the hudson institute's center for religious freedom and sharad from proximate cause pakistan, an attorney. great to have you all on the broadcast. first we begin with jennifer wishon who tell general ulysses s. grant more about shahbaz

bhatti and his mission. >> reporter: shahbaz bhatti had just left his mother's home when radical islamists opened fire, riddling it with bullets. security team not with him. the 42 year old had been leading the abolishment of blasphemy laws. he received threats from al-qaeda and taliban but continued his work. >> i want to share i believe in jesus christ who has given his own life for us. i know what is the meaning of cross. and i am following of the cross. b and i am ready to die for a cause, living for my community and suffering people. i will die to defend their rights. so these people cannot change

my opinion and principles. >> members of the pakistan taliban said they killed bhatti. some pakistanis say the blasphemy law is a tool for extremist groups like the taliban. >> sending all the minorities. it is not going after the extremists, if the government doesn't go after them, they will get encouragement and victimize more. >> in january, they saw montasere was killed by one of his own guards. the law came under international scrutiny after aasia bibi, a christian woman sentenced to death for insulting the prophet, muhammad. it is the type of case bhatti was working to prevent. >> for the justice of my

community, rather to compromise against on this. >> jennifer wishon cbn news. >> thank you, jennifer. sharad gill is a lawyer, a pakistan. >> christians were already not safe in pakistan and persecuted most of the time. after this incident, you can imagine if a person who is a high official, and he is not safe with all the security, how can an ordinary man on the street can expect from the government and rule of law. >> in terms of protection? >> exactly. >> good point. let me go to gary lane from cairo, egypt, you have information about a particular note you gots today about the threats facing christians in the future. tell us about it.

>> yes, george, it was found alongside the body of bhatti. these are the people responsible for killing him. basically the note said he died. it will send all others like him one by one to hell. it is a quote. christians are concerned as they should be. george, i don't see this is going to go away any time season. i think the christians will continue. it is life and death for them. >> i go to paul marshal in washington, d.c., you have championed the cause of religious freedom around the world when you hear my colleague gary mention a note about future threats facing this small community, what is yours reaction? >> i agree with gary, that is threat against, firstly, the entire christian community.

shahbaz bhatti, there are arch bishops and other leaders, but shahbaz bhatti was the most high profile christian. his killing is a threat to all christians already under threat. the governor of the largest pakistan, he was killed by one of his guards. people of moderation, people that believe in freedom are getting assassinated increedingly in pakistan. that is a threat to everybody in that country. >> gentleman, we are getting some information perhaps we have a new person on that list who potentially could be targeted. her name is sherry rockman. in essence, this was a close age of the prime minister, benzil buto. she is the person who thought of the idea to bring an

amendment against this blasphemy law. are you surprised she is in the cross hairs of radical islamists? >> no george. she is the one, she is a parliamentarian who supported the amendment, the bill, she drafted the bill. she has actually presented a bill to the parliament, pakistan parliament to amend the blasphemy laws. two hire officials killed they just spoke. sthes one that presented the amendment to the law. it is not a surprise she would be the next target. >> to gary lane, to folks that don't understand blasphemy. can you give us a quick synopsis of those living in pakistan, to live under this dra coneian law of a blasphemy law, what does it mean in laymen terms possible. >> they are targets, discriminatory against them.

christians are sitting in prison today. it is 295 law introduced by president zia back in the 1980s. 2 sections, a, b, c, blasphemy against muhammad, the koran and islam. blasphemy against the muhammad, that is subsection c. let me say something about sherry raymen, she received on going threats, phone, e-mails. she knows she is under threat right now. her life is in danger. if you look at it, george, all 3 people speaking out for aasia bibi and her situation, 2 are dead, 3rd is sherry raymen, she needs protection.

>> that's right. in fact, gary, some of our supporters are saying get out of the country. this law is particularly dangerous. there is this bill provision in this law that would punish a false accuser, correct? >> the law itself is discriminatory, doesn't inquire an intent. the most important element of a criminal law. you don't have to have an intent to say anything in derogatory to islam. i can file criminal charges and the law provides mandatory death penalty. >> there are close to 600 cases since this law came into existence. white house is obviously, trying to get a graps of this,

secretary of state hilary clinton new mr. bhatti, very intimately. she had a profound statement to make on the issue of human rights and those protecting religious freedom around the world. her is what she said. >> there is no doubt christian and other minority groups are feeling pressure and leaving countries because they don't feel protected. we need to do much more to be stand up for the rights of religious minorities. i am concerned about what happened to the christians in iraq and egypt and minority muslim groups in pakistan and elsewhere. >> that is the comment by the u.s. secretary of state a day before mr. bhatti lost his life. to you, paul marshal, are you encouraged by the words of our secretary of state or the

united states needs to do more than talk? >> both. i am encouraged and the u.s. needs to do more than talk. i think the administration generally has been very quiet about the persecution of religious minorities, especially christians. reluctant even to mention the fact christians willing killed in iraq. i think secretary clinton's statement is a state forward acknowledging what is happening. now it remains to be seen what they do. if it stays at words, then tas huge disappointment. it is just wind. if they begin to act. if they raise the issues with the government pakistan, with the government iraq, if they look to specific protections from the christian communities in iraq, that is an important step. >> okay. paul marshal, stay in d.c. gary

in egypt and we have more to talk. when we come back our own gary lane is in cairo and tremendous changes, and talk about the implications for what this means for christians in the middle east. i hope you'll continue to watch us, we'll be back right after this.

>> that is egyptian cleric calling for the liberation in tahrir square. he is the spiritual father of a group called muslim brotherhood. they are based in egypt. his first speech in more than 30 years. paul marshal joining us from hudson institute, gary lane in

cairo, egypt and sharad, a pakistan lawyer. let me go to gary, you just arrived on the streets of cairo. you have had a chance to talk to christians in cairo. a month after this revolution. how are they feeling? twhas pulse? >> they are very happy. jub lent, had a celebration in tahrir square, their new prime minister was hoisted on the square. his name is sharat, former transportation minister. they are pleased he is the prime minister they are looking forward to him carrying out the promises. he is a man well loved. he may even run for president. some would like to see that. i would say there is christian

concern from the christians, they are happy mubarak isn't here and they are concerned about the muslim brotherhood. if they come to power or have any influence in a new government it maybe bad news for them. >> paul marshal, this new prime minister is a graduate of purdue university. muslim brotherhood and their influence in egypt you followed them, know about the plight, are you worried about a future election in egypt in>> i am concerned about the brotherhood. so far in egypt, things are hopeful. they have made the right steps in appointing the prime minister who had resigned from the government a couple of

years ago as a protest against corruption. he is an honorable and good man. he could be the person around whom people rally. it is very hopeful. opposition group organized is the muslim brotherhood. while in recent months, they have tried to shade the views, look more moderate. they want an islamic state. that would make the situation for the christians in egypt worse than it has been. >> and the point about the concern of becoming an islamic state. that what concerns you from a lawyer perfective, perhaps this entire process is hijacked by this group that has very good organizations skills in egypt. does that concern you? >> yes. george. it is a crucial concern every one of us, radical groups take control of a country. it is important to understand because in the past, that is what radical groups have done.

look at revolution in iran, at pakistan, a muslim government that was radical, a president that was radical, he started blasphemy laws, sharia laws. it is a great concern for us, the christians living in the egypt, a muslim government governed by muslim brotherhood. look at the bylaws. they say that their goal is to institute an islamic government, that is their goal. to universalize muslim, alaw allah's law. that is their goal. >> on that very serious concern to you, gary lane, just it is last few seconds we have remaining, you have covered the middle east, are you hopeful, concerned about what you see playing out? not just egypt, tunisia,

perhaps, saudi arabia, yemen, your final thoughts? >> there is concern about potential. i am hopeful for the young people. i know the young people in egypt, they are wonderful people. they would like to see freedom of speech, freedom of religion, more economic opportunity. i believe in them. if their voices are heard, they'll have victory in the end. >> okay. gary lane, our senior international correspondent calling us from skype in egypt. paul marshal in washington, d.c., great to have you, and the american center for law and justice, thank you. we have much more news from the global church including the extreme makeover that is changing the lives of a missionary pilot and his family. that story coming up.

>> welcome back to christian world news, a christian couple in britain canning not be foster parents because they believe homosexuality is a sin. eunice and own jones cared for foster children in 1990s and applies in 2007. a social worker said their vis on homosexuality raised concerns. a court ruled a law protecting gay rights overrides the couple's religious beliefs. the judges stated a christian beliefs on homosexuality maybe harmful to children. about a year ago, joe and cindy hurston returned from a missionary trip only to find their home flooded because of a broken pipe. unable to make repairs, they

lived in a small camper and stayed focussed on their ministry and serving others. then abc's extreme home makeover... >> one of televisions most popular shows put a missionary pilot in the spotlight this month, extreme home makeover chose the hurston family after water damaged forced them to live in a trailer. their personal problems overshadowed by the january 2010 haiti earthquake. they made a choice to for go their own needs. fixing their own house would have to wait. >> this is the most devastating disaster. we spoke the language. we know the route.

>> what carried us through is keeping our hearts set on hearing jesus, i was thirsty and you gave me drink. >> it has been their mission for the past 6 years. an ingenious device has helped joe meet the needs of 10s of thousands. >> water is heavy. one day i encounter a remarkable inventer and dear friend of mine that invented incredible technology that we built into a very powerful portable water purification system. >> unit can produce up to 25 gallons of purified water an hour. so far hurston has placed them in 38 countries. that is the reason extreme home makeover along with 3,000

volunteers decided to build the hurstons a brand new home working around the clock for 6 straight days. show updated navigational instruments on the plane, convinced bank of america to provide $100,000 grant for the missions and scholarships for their 3 children, 2 of which that have been adopted from hats hate. >> it is an incredible force of love which is empower us to get back out in the mission field sharing water and love of christ with others. >> they are opening many new opportunities and reminds them of a bible promise. >> i would like people to know the lord is watching them. he sees all the hard work. >> that's right.

>> he wants to remind us to not grow weary in doing good. he has a harvest. >> wendy griffith cbn news. for more great stories on the church around the world, check out our website at cwnews.org. we'll be back right after this.

>> cbn worldreach invited parts ners to participate in share the love event. the group went to an orphanage spending time with 70 children sharing them a lot of love of god. they provided them with basic necessities, food, milk and toilet troys. well folks, i hope you enjoyed our broadcast and hope you'll join us next week. from all of