by Peter Hammond

Last week, the detective inspector investigating the threats called me in to the local police station to explain the recent developments. Since Frontline Fellowship began receiving hostile and threatening phone calls and the Fatwa ‚   by fax, as a result of our new book: -"Slavery, Terrorism & Islam The Historical Roots and Contemporary Threat" http://www.frontline.org.za/books_videos/sti.htm, they had traced the fax, seized a laptop containing a death threat, and arrested and charged a Muslim man - who admitted to typing out the death threat, and faxing it to our Mission.

However, the man maintained that he had no regrets about it, because I deserved death for writing what I have about Islam.

The Inspector informed me that the man was well supported by Muslim organisations and had engaged the services of a lawyer who has since threatened both the police inspector and the prosecutor dealing with the case.

The Muslim lawyer claimed that Muslims worldwide will oppose this case and that their lives will be at stake, unless they drop the prosecution of their man. The audacity and arrogance of a lawyer threatening a police inspector and senior prosecutor and attempting to interfere with the process of justice is so outrageous that it needs to be exposed and opposed.

Evidently, these people do not respect either freedom of religion or freedom of speech. Neither do they seem to have any respect for the sanctity of life.

Nevertheless, despite these threats both the police and the prosecutor believe that this case is so serious that it must come to court. They wanted to know if I would be willing to take part in their Witness Protection Programme. As this would require curtailing my public ministry, I could not consider that. They expressed concern for my safety if we continued with this case. The prosecutor has been warned that there would be major demonstrations outside the Wynberg Court if the case proceeds.

They assured me that while they could arrange adequate protection during the trial, they expressed concern for what could happen to us after that. At this time the police are arranging regular patrols passed our home and mission.

All the details of the death threats from Muslim extremists are available on the www.frontline.org.za http://www.frontline.org.za website, including the death threat letter, our initial press statement http://www.frontline.org.za/mission reports_prayer/pr-death_threats_muslim_students.htm, and a summary of Islamic attacks on Christ and the Bible http://www.frontline.org.za/articles/islamic_attack_Bible.htm from the Islamic Propagation Centre International, based in Durban, South Africa.

However, I am convinced, as Martin Luther was, that we are immortal until our work on earth is done, and the safest place in the world is in the centre of God's will.

"God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." 2 Timothy 1:7