I am writing in response to Taj Khan's column ("Thoughts of an angel-faced doctor from America," Lodinews.com, Dec. 31).

Mr. Khan stated that Christians "preach and practice their religion freely" in Muslim countries.

I beg to differ.

Afghanistan's population is 98 percent Muslim. Before the fall of the Taliban, non-Muslims were denied freedom of assembly.

In 2001, the death penalty was imposed for anyone converting from Islam, or attempting to convert anyone from Islam.

Mr. Khan seems to have forgotten the people arrested, in particular two young American women, for distributing Christian literature.

Brunei is 65 percent Muslim. In 1991, Christian leaders were expelled, and the following year Christian literature was banned and the celebration of Christmas outlawed. Conversion to Christianity is restricted since it is illegal to evangelize Muslims.

Comoros is 98 percent Muslim. Public witness by Christians is forbidden, and believers are not permitted to meet openly.

Iran is 99 percent Muslim. Open witness to Muslims is banned and the government has sent spies to monitor Christian groups. Converts from Islam are severely dealt with.

Maldives is 99 percent Muslim. In 1998, all known Christian foreigners were expelled from the country, and all known Maldivian Christians were arrested.

Mauritania is 99 percent Muslim. Anyone who confesses Christ faces the death penalty under the law.

Pakistan is 96 percent Muslim. The Christian church is growing there but many Christians have been killed by mobs and militant Islamic forces have initiated much violence against Christians.

Saudi Arabia is 93 percent Muslim. Any person who does mission work or converts a Muslim faces jail, expulsion or execution.

I could go on and on but am limited to 350 words. My source for the above is The Voice of the Martyrs Web site.

Mr. Khan's idea of "preaching and practicing their religion freely" is certainly different than mine. As for the missionaries who go to Muslim countries, they know they face persecution and even death but they willingly go because Jesus Christ lives in their hearts.

May God bless America, the land of the truly free and the home of the brave.

Debbie Wait Lodi

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