Christian Killed For Drinking From Muslim Tea Cup

There is a popular face of Islam that counterbalances its militant face of conversion by the sword. It is the picture of Islamic hospitality to wayfarers. According to Islamic teachings, it is commanded to be kind and hospitable to the wayfarer, to feed him and send him safely on his way, whatever differences there may be later.

It seems that Mubarak Ali was home sick from madrassa the day they taught about Islamic hospitality. AINA (Assyrian International News Agency) reports as follows about the fundamentalist tea stall owner who beat a Christian to death who had sipped tea from a cup reserved for Muslim use only.

"International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that radical Muslims running a tea stall beat a Christian man to death for using a cup designated for Muslims on May 9. The young man, Ishtiaq Masih, had ordered tea at a roadside stall in Machharkay village, Punjab, Pakistan, after his bus stopped to allow passengers to relieve themselves.

When Ishtiaq went to pay for his tea, the owner noticed that he was wearing a necklace with a cross and grabbed him, calling for his employees to bring anything available to beat him for violating a sign posted on the stall warning non-Muslims to declare their religion before being served. Ishtiaq had not noticed the warning sign before ordering his tea, as he ordered with a group of his fellow passengers.

The owner and 14 of his employees beat Ishtiaq with stones, iron rods and clubs, and stabbed him multiple times with kitchen knives as Ishtiaq pleaded for mercy.

The other bus passengers and other passers-by finally intervened and took Ishtiaq to the Rural Health Center in the village. There Ishtiaq died as a result of spinal, head, and chest injuries. The doctor who took Ishtiaq's case told ICC that Ishtiaq had excessive internal and external bleeding, a fractured skull, and brain injuries."

According to the news story, Mubarak Ali is a pious Muslim who employs madrassa graduates who share his bloody knuckles approach to Islamic law.

Government spokesmen can point to laws that prohibit discrimination in public accomodations, but in Pakistan law is interpreted in the local police precinct, where local police enforce local mores and customs.

Amazingly enough, the Makah Tea Stall in which the crime occurred is still open for business. Neither Ali nor his bloodthirsty cohorts have been taken into custody nor even charged. Even the sign that Ishtiaq Masih failed to notice was still up. A reporter from ICC reported as follows.

ICC's correspondent visited the tea stall and observed that a large red warning sign with a death's head symbol was posted which read, "All non-Muslims should introduce their faith prior to ordering tea. This tea stall serves Muslims only." The warning also threatened anyone who violated the rule with "dire consequences."

When Ishtiaq Masih was murdered, it was the crime of Mubarak Ali and his evil employees. Now that the employees are free and the Makah Tea Stall remains open, it is a crime of the Pakistani government. Will they disown this horrible crime by punishing it? Or will they sign on as silent partners of the Makah Tea Stall? The city of Sodom was destroyed for their cruelty to wayfarers. What will become of Pakistan?