Pakistan’s Blasphemy Laws are a tool for the Sunni Muslim population to persecute Christians. The law of the land of Pakistan is actually used to persecute Christians for their beliefs. Most Pakistani Christians are highly aware of the danger they live in if they complain about Islam in earshot of any Muslim. Because of this most blasphemy accusations are fabricated as revenge or some other nefarious design by Muslims. BUT think of it – the Islamic faith’s religious texts specifically claim Jesus is not the Son of God; hence when a frustrated Christian was to embark on a moment of bravery and tell an insulting Muslim that Jesus Christ is the Saving Messiah Son of God who arose from the dead in bodily resurrection and thus Mohammed is not telling the truth – that Christian will be sentenced to death.
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We Want Justice
By Shamim Masih
Sent: 10/31/2014 10:33 PM
ISLAMABAD: Lahore High Court – LHC judges have saved their skin and confirmed the death sentence of Asiya Bibi. Unfortunately, in [the] high profile case of Asiya Bibi, the radical groups are also tracking her case and their presences in the court have shown that they were willing to keep Asiya’s death sentence confirmed. I am just hypothesizing but I am sure that Justice Anwar ul Haq while deciding Asiya’s case at the LHC must be thinking about Salman Taseer (late) and Shahbaz Bhatti (late) and their own security.
Asiya Bibi was first sentenced to death in 2010, and now LHC upheld her death sentence. The mother of 5 was accused of blaspheming against [the] Prophet Mohammad following an argument with two Muslim co-workers during an incident in 2009 in one of her parent’s village. There are dozens of these people waiting for their fate in different jails of Pakistan and many from the religious minorities were sentenced to death under 295-C PPC. The constitution of this country is:
295.
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Injuring or defiling place of worship, with Intent to insult the religion of any class:
Whoever destroys, damages or defiles any place of worship, or any object held sacred by any class of persons with the intention of thereby insulting the religion of any class of persons or with the knowledge that any class of persons is likely to consider such destruction damage or defilement as an insult to their religion. Shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both. |
295-A.
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Deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting Its religion or religious beliefs:
Whoever, with deliberate and malicious intention of outraging the 'religious feelings of any class of the citizens of Pakistan, by words, either spoken or written, or by visible representations insults the religion or the religious beliefs of that class, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, or with fine, or with both. |
295-B.
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Defiling, etc., of Holy Qur'an:
Whoever willfully defiles, damages or desecrates a copy of the Holy Qur'an or of an extract there from or uses it in any derogatory manner or for any unlawful purpose shall be punishable with imprisonment for life. |
295-C.
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Use of derogatory remarks, etc., in respect of the Holy Prophet:
Whoever by words, either spoken or written, or by visible representation or by any imputation, innuendo, or insinuation, directly or indirectly, defiles the sacred name of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) shall be punished with death, or imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable to fine. |
Pakistani courts; under any circumstances are very strict to announce a death sentence to the accused of blasphemy from the people of religious minorities. And none of the judges from the senior court dares to remove the decision of a lower court. Likewise, we have seen with Asiya Bibi’s case, the LHC upheld her death sentence. If so, what about the section 295 A, which says, Whoever, with deliberate and malicious intention of outraging the 'religious feelings of any class of the citizens of Pakistan, by words, either spoken or written, or by visible representations insults the religion or the religious beliefs of that class, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, or with fine, or with both. [Blog Editor: Bold emphasis is mine]
During the last few years, there are many incidents [that have] accrued of this kind; in Shinti Nagar, a hundred of the Holy Bibles were burnt by a mob. During the Gojra riots two churches and seven members of a family were burnt alive. Shanti Nagar, a Christian village with its churches was burnt, in Mardan, a hundred year old church with its old signs, pastor’s house and a school were turned to ashes. And in **Joseph Colony hundreds of the houses and two churches were burnt. Alas! No one is being punished by the court. Many Muslims involved in riots were arrested and were released one after another. It is clearly seen here that JUDGES’ decisions seem biased here. When the constitution says whoever, with deliberate and malicious intention of outraging the religious feelings of any class of the citizen of Pakistan … insults the religion or the religious beliefs of that class, shall be punished [Blog Editor: Italics added by me for emphasis]. Unfortunately the law is being imposed on minorities but the rest of majority is not punished.
**[Blog Editor: To make the anguish of Pakistani Christians clear, I have found a video of the aftermath of the Joseph Colony Muslim attack triggered by yet another revenge moment by a Muslim against a Christian – Sawan Masih:
Published by DLX Area 1
Published: Jul 5, 2013
Thousands of angry protesters on Saturday set ablaze more than 100 houses of Pakistani Christians over a blasphemy row in the eastern city of Lahore, officials said.
Over 3,000 Muslim protesters turned violent over derogatory remarks against Prophet Mohammed allegedly made by a young Christian, Sawan Masih, 28, three days earlier, police official Multan Khan said.
The exact number of houses in Joseph Colony, a Christian neighbourhood in Badami Bagh area, were not immediately known but police and rescue officials said they belonged to low to middle-class families from the minority community.
"Police arrested Masih, a sanitary worker, on Friday night while the incident actually happened on Wednesday evening," Khan told AFP.
He said that the arrest was made when Masih's barber friend Shahid Imran complained that he had made blasphemous remarks about Prophet Mohammed, adding that … READ THE REST after the video]
Over 3,000 Muslim protesters turned violent over derogatory remarks against Prophet Mohammed allegedly made by a young Christian, Sawan Masih, 28, three days earlier, police official Multan Khan said.
The exact number of houses in Joseph Colony, a Christian neighbourhood in Badami Bagh area, were not immediately known but police and rescue officials said they belonged to low to middle-class families from the minority community.
"Police arrested Masih, a sanitary worker, on Friday night while the incident actually happened on Wednesday evening," Khan told AFP.
He said that the arrest was made when Masih's barber friend Shahid Imran complained that he had made blasphemous remarks about Prophet Mohammed, adding that … READ THE REST after the video]
Was Pakistan being made for this day? Unfortunately; [the] religious [Islamic] mind-set segment is ruling in [our] country and [they] have forgotten that this country was not partitioned from India to become a Muslim state. Primarily the founder of our nation - Muhammad Ali Jinnah - had conceived [Pakistan] as a democratic state for Muslims and all other minorities [as well], [so] they could live together in peace and harmony and can worship freely. Non-Muslims of the region have struggled for this country so that they could be forever protected and treated as equal citizens.
I think there is chance apex [Highest] court can overturn the death sentence of the blasphemy cases, despite pressure on judges from radical groups that are determined to see Asiya executed. In many cases, especially blasphemy cases, court decisions are influenced, either by ideology or threats, by local radical groups. In this regard, at least President Barack Obama, the Pope and other Westerners can play a positive role to convince the Pakistani government to ensure justice in blasphemy cases facing a death sentence.
Be Blessed,
Shamim Masih
Diplomatic Correspondent, Foreign Policy, Diplomacy, UN, F & S, MOST and CADD
Human Rights Activist
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Edited by John R. Houk
All links and text enclosed by brackets are by the Editor.
© Shamim Masih
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