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Blasphemy laws in Pakistan

Offenses relating to religion: Pakistan Penal code

295-B Defiling, etc, of copy of Holy Quran. Whoever will fully defiles, damages or desecrates a copy of the Holy Quran or of an extract therefrom or uses it in any derogatory manner or for any unlawful purpose shall be punishable for imprisonment for life.
295-C
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 Mohammed (PBUH) shall be punished with death, or imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable to fine.
 
The Blasphemy Laws

Several sections of Pakistan’s Criminal Code comprise its blasphemy laws.[4] § 295 forbids damaging or defiling a place of worship or a sacred object. § 295-A forbids outraging religious feelings. § 295-B forbids defiling the Quran. § 295-C forbids defaming Muhammad. Except for § 295-C, the provisions of § 295 require that an offence be a consequence of the accused's intent. Defiling the Quran merits imprisonment for life. Defaming Muhammad merits death with or without a fine. (See below Sharia.) If a charge is laid under § 295-C, the trial must take place in a Court of Session with a Muslim judge presiding.[5]

§ 298 states:

Whoever, with the deliberate intention of wounding the religious feelings of any person, utters any word or makes any sound in the hearing of that person or makes any gesture in the sight of that person or places any object in the sight of that person, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine, or with both.

§ 298-A prohibits the use of any derogatory remark or representation in respect of Muslim holy personages. § 298-B and § 298-C prohibit the Ahmadiyya from behaving as Muslims behave, calling themselves Muslims, proselytizing, or "in any manner whatsoever" outraging the religious feelings of Muslims. Violation of any part of § 298 makes the violator liable to imprisonment for up to three years and liable also to a fine.

No judicial execution of a person charged with blasphemy has occurred in Pakistan.[6][7] Article 45 of the Constitution says, "The President shall have power to grant pardon, reprieve and respite, and to remit, suspend or commute any sentence passed by any court, tribunal or other authority."

 
PAKISTAN: The Blasphemy Law in Pakistan and its Impact
Naeem Shakir

(Ed note: Naeem Shakir have been involved as a defence lawyer in high profile cases about blasphemy. Human Rights SOLIDARITY will carry his analysis of the blasphemy law in two issues. The first part of the article deals with the origin and consequence of the law from the legal point of view.)

Religious Fundamentalism Grown Beyond Proportions

The minorities in Pakistan are caught up in a grave situation, with gory incidents occurring. A wild wave of sectarianism has engulfed the society, which has resulted in unethical sentiments of religious prejudices. The armed religious extremists are playing havoc in the society. A situation of religious intolerance has spread suffocation in our lives. The doors of dialogue are being closed. Religious fundamentalism has grown beyond proportions. Muslim clerics are demanding complete imposition of Islamic Shariah in Pakistan, making it applicable also to the non-Muslim citizens.

The minorities in Pakistan have already suffered seriously on account of sectarian legislation which has thrown non-Muslim citizens out of the mainstream of national life. They are no more part of the mainstream activities of the state and are being discriminated against in all fields of life. The claim of the minorities as equal and respectable citizens is at stake. The life and property of people in minority community is no longer safe. A sense of insecurity is growing fast among the minorities.

The Christians are being roped in false cases under the blasphemy law. They are being murdered by zealots to win heavens for themselves. They take the law in their hands and do not even wait for the judicial verdict. The judgements of the superior courts have proved that this law on blasphemy is being ruthlessly abused for settling personal scores and, of course, for religious persecution. This law is proving to be a sword hanging on the heads of non-Muslims and the secular-minded people.

Bishop John Joseph, Roman Catholic Bishop of Faizalabad, who was an ardent spokesman for peace and inter-religious dialogue, had waged a struggle on war footing against fundamentalism, religious intolerance, and discriminatory laws, particularly against the amended provisions of the law about blasphemy. And in order to give an impetus to the struggle and focus world attention on this crucial issue, he sacrificed his life for the just cause on May 5, 1998. He shot himself right in front of the iron gate of the Sessions Court of Sahiwal, which convicted Ayub Masih a charge of blasphemy and sentenced him to death vide its judgement passed on April 27, 1998. This death sentence has once again raised fear and panic amongst the minority communities in Pakistan as the law of blasphemy casts the net wide open to rope in anyone - Christians and Ahmedias more easily, maybe due to personal malice or religious prejudice.

The death of Bishop John Joseph excited a wave of anger among the Christians. They spontaneously came on the roads to publicly mourn the death of their leader and demonstrate their will to continue the struggle against oppression and discriminatory laws, including the law on blasphemy. The peaceful processions were brutally suppressed by the police and the state apparatus.

In order to underplay the impact of the self-sacrifice of Bishop John Samuel, the Muslim clerics treacherously launched a move to field a counter version that the Bishop was murdered by a Catholic Father due to some rivalry. The print media was fully used by the clerics in a malicious way so as to diffuse the zealous spirit among the Christians. However, they have miserably failed in their nefarious designs.

Collaboration of Dictatorship and Fundamentalism

In order to get a clear picture about the law on blasphemy it would be better to discuss the issue in a broader perspective which will enable us to have a better understanding about the whole situation.

Pakistan came into being in 1947. It was earlier part of united India. The united struggle of people of India for independence was meant to overthrow the yoke of British colonial rule which prolonged for more than a century. On August 14, 1947 when people won independence, simultaneously the partition of India took place and thus a new state of Pakistan emerged. Though Islam was used as a catchword during the movement for Pakistan, the great leader and founder of this new nation, Mr. Mohammed Ali Jinnah, had categorically made it clear that the country will not be a theocratic state. In his presidential address to the first Constituent Assembly of Pakistan at Karachi, on September 11, 1947, he said, "We are starting with this fundamental principle that we all are citizens and equal citizens of one state. You may belong to any religion or caste or creed that has nothing to do with the business of the state." It is however, most unfortunate that since the death of the Father of the Nation in September 1948, politics based on religious sectarianism has been in vogue in Pakistan. Politicians tried to take mileage on the basis of religion. This approach in politics has not only negated the fundamental principle (referred to above) but has also generated the baneful sentiment of religious prejudice among the people at large. Therefore, soon after his demise this infant nation was thrown out of the cradle of democracy. The country went into the hands of opportunists, fundamentalists and colonial agents.

Here, I would like to mention a crucial point: later on, a complete departure from the earlier spelt-out state structure was made. The net result was that the religion (Islam) was introduced in the socio-political corpus through an Objectives Resolution, which has served as a preamble to all the three Constitutions of 1956, 1962 and 1973. This resolution, while speaking for Islam, however, in a sixth paragraph, provided that "an adequate provision shall be made for the minorities freely to profess and practise their religion and develop their culture". During the military rule of 1977-1987 the Objectives Resolution which was serving as a preamble to the 1973 Constitution was through a Presidential Order made substantive part of the Constitution by incorporation of Article 2-A:

While doing so the word "freely" was deliberately deleted from the text. Now it reads as "an adequate provision shall be made for the minorities to profess and practise their religion and develop their culture." It was a deliberate and dishonest act on the part of the military ruler to delete the word "freely". Earlier in the preamble of the Constitution of Pakistan, the word freely was present whereas in the new Article 2-A the word freely was missing. I think this is a singular example of reading history through prejudice. This deliberate deletion later had serious repercussions in our socio-political set-up. It introduced an element of religious extremism in our society. And from that point of time the treatment meted out to the non-Muslims citizens has been very harsh.

In order to remain in the seat of power General Ziaul-Herq, the military dictator collaborated with the religious fundamentalists. Those who were never voted for the Assemblies were brought to the corridors of power through administrative measures. The army general took upon himself the task of Islamising the society. In that process of Islamisation, sectarian legislation was promulgated.

First of all, he amended the Penal Code and introduced Islamic punishments in the form of Hudood laws. You may call it an Islamic version of criminal law. The Offences Against Property (Enforcement of Hudood) Ordinance 1979 related to theft cases. "Hadd" means "punishment ordained by the Holy Quran or Sunnah". The punishment for theft liable to Hadd for the person committing the offence first time is amputation of his right hand from the joint of the wrist. And if such a person commits the offence a second time, he shall be punished with amputation of his left foot up to the ankle. The proof of theft liable to Hadd shall be the evidence of "at least two Muslim adult male witnesses who are supposed to be truthful persons who abstain from major sins". Section 25 of this ordinance says that the Presiding Officer of the court by which a case is tried, or an appeal is heard, under this ordinance shall be a Muslim.

The second ordinance was called the "Offence of Zina" (Enforcement of Hudood) Ordinance of 1979. Zina was defined thus: "a man and a woman are said to commit Zina if they wilfully have sexual intercourse without being validly married to each other". The punishment provided includes stoning to death at a public place; or one hundred lashes with the whip at a public place.

The proof of Zina shall require the evidence of at least four Muslim adult male witnesses about whom the court is satisfied that they are truthful and abstain from major sins. The Presiding Officer of the court is required to be a Muslim.

Both these Ordinances are applicable to non-Muslims as well. The next law was Prohibition (Enforcement of Hadd) Order 1979. It prohibited the use of liquor and other intoxicants. The Christians may use liquor for religious ceremonies provided they are issued liquor permits by the government. The punishment provided for offences under this Order includes life imprisonment or imprisonment of not less than two years along with thirty lashes with the whip. For purposes of enforcing Hadd punishment the evidence of at least two Muslim adult male witnesses is required. As in other Hudood laws the Presiding Officer is to be a Muslim. The other Hudood laws relating to Qazaf (perjury) and "Execution of the Punishment of Whipping" were promulgated in 1979.

The Evidence Act was also Islamised thereby the credibility of a non-Muslim witness was brought down to a secondary position. The witness is supposed to be truthful who abstains from major sins as defined in holy Quran and Sunnah.

Thereafter the Islamic Shariah was made the supreme law of the land through Enforcement of Shariah Act 1991. The Shariah under this act has been defined as the "injunctions of Islam as laid in the Holy Quran and Sunnah". Section 4 of this Act says, "While interpreting the statute-law, if more than one interpretation is possible, the one consistent with the Islamic principles and jurisprudence shall be adopted by the court". According to this Act, the education system, the judicial system, the economic system and the media shall be Islamized. The Act, however, lays down in a provision to section 1(4)". "Nothing contained in this Act shall effect the personal laws, religious freedom, traditions, custom and way of life of the non-Muslims".

When every field of life is Islamised, how on earth can the non-Muslims lead their own way of life? There has been a serious invasion against the personal laws of non-Muslims. And the institution of marriage has been rendered as a fragile thing because the laws are interpreted according to the injunctions of Islam. I may inform you that ours is a feudal society. Abduction of non-Muslim women (who belong to the marginalised section of the society) is a common feature. The Muslim abductor forcibly takes away a married Christian woman. In order to avoid the rigours of penal law, he converts the abductee to Islam and undergoes the procedure of Islamic marriage with her. The whole exercise is undertaken in such a mechanical manner that the law is made a sheer mockery. It is practically a preparation of the required papers in this whole exercise. Since Islamic Shariah has become the supreme law, and the statute law is to be interpreted according to the injunctions of Islam, her earlier marriage under the Christian Marriage Act stands dissolved ipso facto. Why, because she has now embraced Islam and thus her personal law shall prevail. Islam does not allow a Muslim woman to get married with a non-Muslim man. Her fist husband being Christian shall cease to hold that marital status with her. This situation has many times created serious problems regarding custody and guardianship of minor children born out Christian wedlock.

Judicial System Shaken

The judicial system was completely disturbed. The Constitution was amended and Federal Shariat Court was constituted to adjudicate appeal of cases under Shariah law. Under Article 230- D of the Constitution, the Federal Shariat Court has been empowered to strike down any statute law which may be deemed repugnant to the injunctions of Islam. The establishment of Shariat Court has introduced a parallel judicial system and has dealt a serious blow to the supremacy of Parliament. It would not be out of place to mention here that although Shariah laws are applicable to non-Muslims but a non-Muslim lawyer is not entitled to appear as a legal practitioner before this Federal Shariat Court.

Non-Muslim Rights Abused

A stunning blow causing serious damage to the socio-political status of non-Muslim citizen was administered through amendments to the electoral law in 1979. This amendment introduced an apartheid mode of separate electorates in the country vide President's Order 14 of 1985. The electoral laws were changed and framed in a manner which divided citizens on the basis of religion. The electoral lists have been separated as Muslim voters and non-Muslim voters. Both cannot vote for each other. At the time of general elections it appears as if two nations are living in this country. The delimitation of constituencies of non-Muslims is rather ridiculous. It's the whole country for National Assembly seats reserved for non-Muslims and likewise the whole of province for the reserved seats in Provincial Assemblies. The non-Muslim citizens stand marginalised under this apartheid mode of separate electorates as they have been thrown out of the mainstream of national life. They are no more part of the business of the state as their right of franchise has been subjected to religious classification. This renders them as second class citizens of the state.

The legislative measures introduced to Islamise the society leave no room for non-Muslims to freely profess and practise their religion. The sectarian legislation based on supremacy of one particular religion, i.e. Islam has promoted a culture of religious intolerance. Religion has played a vital role in human development but wherever and whenever it was used for purposes opposed to its inherent spirit of peace, brotherhood and social justice, it not only lost its relevance in the process of social development but its image was also tarnished in the minds of those who were subjected to oppressive measures adopted in the name of religion.

The law on blasphemy also belongs to this era when the country was under military rule. The subject law is part of the Penal Code of Pakistan. Its Chapter XV deals with offences relating to religion, which contains Sections 295 to 298. The British during their colonial rule framed the Indian Penal Code in 1860. The authors of the Penal Code deemed it proper to provide a preface to Chapter XV dealing with offences relating to religion. And the same is reproduced as under, " The principle on which this chapter has been framed is a principle on which it would be desirable that all Governments should act, but from which the British Government in India cannot depart without risking the dissolution of society : it is this, that every man should be suffered to profess his own religion, and that no man should be suffered to insult the religion of another."

The British authors were conscious of the religious feelings of the people of the multi- ethnic and multi-religious Indian culture. And it was perhaps for this reason that the authors provided the afore-mentioned preface.

Section 295 provided: "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 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."

It may be mentioned here that these provisions still exist on the statute book as framed in 1860. During the independence movement in early twentieth century in India, religious decrees were also used to accelerate the pace of struggle. In those days different religious groups fanned religious sentiments of the people. However, the process of polemics continued in the society in an atmosphere of religious tolerance.

The British, however, were obliged to add a new section as 295-A because a Hindu writer (Raj Pal) published a book on Prophet Mohammed about which the Indian Muslims took serious exception as some objectionable material amounting to insult to the Prophet was observed. Agitation by the Muslims continued for some time. The writer was later murdered by a Muslim zealot (Illam Din). Resultantly the following section was introduced in 1927: " Whoever with deliberate and malicious intention of outraging the religious feelings of any class of His Majesty's subjects, by words, either spoken or written, or by visible representation, insults or attempts to insult the religion or the religious beliefs of that class, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine or with both."

As adapted in the Pakistan Penal Code the words "His Majesty's subjects", were deleted and "the citizens of Pakistan" were incorporated. At the same time a punishment of "ten years" was substituted in place of "two years" in the original. The change was effected through the Criminal Law (Third Amendment) Ordinance XXI of 1991.

A new Section 295-B was introduced vide Ordinance 1 of 1982 to deal with defiling of the Holy Quran. This section reads as follows: "Whoever wilfully defiles, damages or desecrates a copy of the Holy Quran or of an extract therefrom or uses it in any derogatory manner or for any unlawful purpose shall be punishable with imprisonment for life".

As days passed, religious extremism grew. Religion was used in politics to steal a march over rivals. Gen. Zia formed a Parliament on the Islamic pattern, called Majlis-e-Shoora. Through this Assembly of chosen 'representatives' Section 295-C was added. It is reproduced as below: "295-C: Whoever by word, 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".

Gen. Zia, through a constitutional amendment, constituted the Federal Shariat Court which under the new Article 203-D had the following powers and jurisdiction.

"203-D (1). The Court may (either of its own motion or on the petition of a citizen of Pakistan or the Federal Government or a Provincial Government) examine and decide the question whether or not any law or provisions of law is repugnant to the injunctions of Islam, as laid down in the Holy Quran and Sunnah of the Holy Prophet hereinafter referred to as the injunctions of Islam".

The story does not end here. A petition was moved before the Federal Shariat Court for declaring the punishment provided in Section 295-C, null and void, as the same was repugnant to Quran and Sunnah. The plea was made that the injunctions of Islam provide punishment in the form of Hadd only, and not otherwise, and that too in mandatory form - meaning thereby that the punishment of life imprisonment was void and thus be deleted and mandatory punishment of death be retained. The Shariat Court accepted the petition. The relevant part of the judgement of October 30, 1990, is reproduced below:

"In view of the above discussion we are of the view that the alternate punishment of life imprisonment as provided in Section 295-C PPC is repugnant to the Injunctions of Islam as given in Holy Quran and Sunnah and therefore, the said words be deleted therefrom".

"A copy of this Order shall be sent to the President of Pakistan under Article 203-D (3) of the Constitution to take steps to amend the law so as to bring the same in conformity with the injunctions of Islam. In case, this is not done by April 30 1991 the words" or imprisonment for life" in Section 295-C, PPC shall cease to have effect on that date. Therefore, now there is only one punishment provided in section 295-C and that is the death penalty.

The rest of the amendment in this chapter particularly relates to Ahmadies in the form of 298-A, 298-B and 298-C. I will not discuss them now due to time constraints.

It would not be out of place to mention here that till the pronouncement of this judgement, by the Federal Shariat Court, which provide mandatory death penalty, no case of blasphemy was reported to have been registered under Section 295-B or 295-C PPC. The amended sections are so wide in their connotation, including 'innuendo' or 'insinuation', that to allege blasphemy against any one has been made so easy. The import of these provisions is quite vague in nature. These provisions are discriminatory as supposedly these are meant to Islamise the criminal law whereas these are applicable to non-Muslims as well. A non-Muslim is supposed to adhere to his own belief. And if a non-Muslim professes his belief publicly that would amount to blasphemy according to the amended provisions. Thus, these amendments in the Pakistan Penal Code relating religion have cast the net wide open to rope in anyone on mere allegation of blasphemy. And once someone is charged with this offence, he is doomed as the offence is non-bailable, the death penalty is mandatory in law, justice is being subjected to sectarian affiliation and because religious frenzy is being promoted in the society by the vested interests and the religious fundamentalists.

The Blasphemy Law in Pakistan and its Impact

(Ed. note: In July's issue of Human Rights SOLIDARITY Naeem Shakir has given an in-depth analysis of the origin and the impact of the law. The second part of the article consists of vivid accounts of how Christians are being victimised under such tyrannical law.)

Since I have been involved as a defence lawyer in high profile cases about blasphemy, I have painfully experienced the tyrannical nature of this law. Apart from the accused, the lawyers, and even judges are not safe in this highly vulnerable situation. Before winding up I would like to give a few examples of blasphemy cases against Christians.

" Conversion from Islam to Christianity is in itself a cognisable offence"

Tahir Iqbal was a Christian convert from Islam. He had suffered from paralysis. The lower part of his body had been paralysed rendering him invalid. He could not walk. He could not stand even. He used a wheel chair. He was an engine mechanic in the Pakistan Air Force. His conversion to Christianity had annoyed Muslims. He lived in the southern part of Lahore close to a mosque. The Muslim cleric in charge of that mosque finally decided to teach him a lesson. He got a case of blasphemy registered against him on December 7, 1990, alleging that "when he recites 'Azaan' (call for prayer) early in the morning in the mosque, Tahir Iqbal feels infuriated and starts abusing Prophet Mohammed at the top of his voice, imparts anti-Islamic education to children who come to him for tuition, has defiled Holy Quran by underlining with green marker, and thus has seriously injured our religious feelings."

He was arrested by the police on blasphemy charges and that's all. He was doomed. Despite his physical inability, he was not bailed out. As earlier stated, justice has been subjected to sectarian affiliations. A very crude example may be cited of Tahir Iqbal. The Sessions Judge who dismissed his bail application on July 7, 1991, passed the following order:

"Learned counsel for the petitioner has conceded before me that the petitioner has converted as Christian. With this admission on the part of petitioner's counsel there is no need to probe further into the allegations as contained in the FIR because learned DDA has disclosed that charge has already been framed and the accused is facing trial. Since conversion from Islam to Christianity is in itself a cognisable offence involving serious implication, I do not consider the petitioner entitled to the concession of bail at this stage".

Though it is needless to comment, it may be mentioned that no law in Pakistan has yet been framed which makes conversion from Islam to Christianity a cognisable offence. The case was fixed for recording of prosecution evidence on July 21, 1992, before the Sessions Court. When I as the defense lawyer, appeared in the court I was informed by the State Counsel that the accused had died in the jail the previous night. Tahir Iqbal was poisoned to death in jail under a conspiracy about which he had informed all authorities concerned beforehand. He was killed because he had embraced Christianity.

Innocent People Seek Asylum

Chand Barkat, 28, a bangle stall holder in Mangle Bazar, Karachi was charged with blasphemy by a co-bangle vendor because of professional jealousy. Arif Hussain used to sit beside him for selling bangles in the bazaar. He did not tolerate women going to Chand Barkat, a Christian, for buying bangles. One day Arif warned him to quit that place as otherwise he would teach him a lesson. Chand Barkat did not leave the place. Arif involved Chand Barkat in a case of blasphemy on October 8, 1991, alleging that he used derogatory language against Prophet Muhammad and his mother. He was charged under Section 295-C. Chand Barkat was acquitted by the Sessions Court for want of evidence.

Gull Masih of Faisalabad was charged under section 295-C for using sacrilegious language about the Prophet and his wives on December 10, 1991. The complainant Sajjad Hussain, had a quarrel with him over repair of a street water tap. Out of this quarrel had emanated the blasphemy case. Gull Masih was tried under the blasphemy law and sentenced to death by the Sessions Court, Sargodha, on November 2, 1992. This death sentence created a commotion. Human rights organisations and the Church agitated against the death sentence. We filed a criminal appeal in the High Court against the judgement of the Sessions Judge. Gull Masih was bailed out neither by the Sessions Court nor by the High Court. I moved an application for early hearing in the High Court but it took two years for the final hearing. The appeal was heard by the Division Bench of the Lahore High Court, which held that it was a case of no evidence and thus set aside the death sentence and acquitted Gull Masih. It became difficult for Gull Masih to come out of jail as religious fundamentalists had warned of dire consequences. He had to be kept under tight security. Later, in order to save his life, arrangements were made for his exit quietly. He is now in Germany on asylum.

Winning Heaven by Killing Blasphemer

Naimat Ahmar 43, a Christian teacher and a poet and writer of Faisalabad, was butchered by Farooq Ahmad, a young member of a militant religious group (ASSP) on the premises of office of the District Education Officer, Faisalabad, at 10 a.m. while on duty. The religious zealot killed him because the deceased had reportedly used highly insulting remarks against Islam and Prophet Mohammed. No case of blasphemy was registered against the deceased. He was not tried by any court. The young religious extremist, as briefed by his organisation, took the law in his own hands and killed the poet, writer and teacher, leaving behind a widow and four children. The killer was charged with murder. He made a confession. He was garlanded in jail by religious clerics. The statement of the killer was published in the press that by killing a blasphemer he had won heaven.

The trial court sentenced him to fourteen years� imprisonment. His appeal to set aside the sentence is pending in the High Court, and I am representing the complainant who is the younger brother of the deceased.

A minor, Salamat Masih, 12 years old, along with Manzoor Masih, 37, and Rehamat Masih, 42, of Gujranwala, were charged with writing derogatory remarks against Prophet Mohammed on the wall of the mosque of the village where they lived. All the three were in fact illiterate and did not know to write. The case of the minor became a high-profile case in the world media.

We got the case transferred to Lahore through the High Court because each time we went to the Sessions Court in Gujranwala, religious extremists would gather in front of the courtroom with banners urging immediate execution of the alleged blasphemers. They used to pose threats to the lawyers coming from Lahore and none of the local lawyers dared to defend the accused. The case was later heard by the Sessions Judge of Lahore. The court, on our request, provided police guards to escort the accused and their lawyer from his office to court and back to his office. On June 5, 1994 the three accused were brought back by the police guards to my office, and after staying for about half an hour they left for their place of hibernation. They had hardly crossed about 500 yards away from my office when they were attacked by armed religious militants with guns. Manzoor Masih died on the spot while the other two accused and their escort, John Joseph, sustained grievous injures. The murder of Manzoor Masih increased the sense of insecurity among Christians. There was countrywide agitation by the Christians demanding repeal of the blasphemy law and security to their lives in the country.

The Sessions Court of Lahore, convicted the remaining two accused and passed death sentence against them. The death sentence against the minor attracted the attention of human rights activists the world over. The High Court, however, while adjudicating their appeal against conviction, acquitted them declaring that it was a case of no evidence. They had to flee the country to save their lives. They are also living in Germany on asylum. One of the senior judges of the Division Bench, which acquitted the two Christians, was murdered by a religious extremist on that very account.

Bantu Masih, 80, and Mukhtar Masih, 50, were arrested on the allegation of committing blasphemy. Both died under police custody. Bantu Masih was stabbed by a fundamentalist in the presence of policemen. He later succumbed to his injuries whereas Mukhtar Masih was tortured to death at the police station. There are many other cases of like nature against Christians, Muslims and Ahmadis. The plight of Ahmadis is much worse. The record sh
 

Pakistan: Italy to press UN for religious minority protection


Rome, 13 Sept. (AKI) - Italy will present a resolution to the United Nations that protects the rights of Pakistan's religious minorities, Italian foreign minister Franco Frattini said in Rome on Monday. He made the announcement following a meeting with Shahbaz Bhatti, Pakistan's minister of minority rights, who is a Catholic.

"The subject of religious minorities is extremely important," he said. "We can't forget that in Pakistan over the last few months there have been murders of Christians that have shocked Europeans, including in Italians."

Two people, including a policeman, were injured late Sunday during a bomb blast at a Christian church near Mardan in the northwest province of Khyber Pakhtunkh, Dawn News reported.

Sectarian assaults have especially targeted Pakistan's minority Shia Muslims. Earlier this month more than 70 people were killed during a suicide bombing in the western city of Quetta at a Shia rally.

Of the 95 percent of Pakistanis that are Muslim, 75 percent are Sunni and 20 percent Shia.

Frattini also said he will travel to the Pakistani capital of Islamabad next month to discuss millions of euros in aid Italy has pledged to give the south Asian country following deadly flooding.

Frattini on 9 Sept. announced that Italy will grant flood- devestated Pakistan 80 million euros in relief.

Of the aid, 20 million euros of funds will come in the form debt relief, 10 million euros as direct emergency relief and 50 million euros in credits.

Pakistan is struggling to juggle the need to manage emergency rescue efforts and fight a deadly Taliban and Al-Qaeda insurgency.

Around 1,800 people in Pakistan have died in recent flooding which has reportedly affected 21 million people.

The country's government has been the target of criticism for alleged corruption that has hampered relief efforts. 

 
Dawn
Blasphemy laws used to justify 'murder': EU parliament

Thursday, 20 May, 2010
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The EU parliament expressed “deep concern” at the laws and called on Pakistan to guarantee minority rights. — File Photo
STRASBOURG: The EU parliament on Thursday called on Pakistan to guarantee minority rights, claiming that its blasphemy laws could be used to murder members of political, racial and religious minorities.

In a resolution adopted in Strasbourg, the assembled Euro MPs expressed “deep concern” at the Pakistani blasphemy laws, calling for a “thoroughgoing review” of the legislation which is “open to misuse.”

The laws can carry the death sentence and are “often used to justify censorship, criminalisation, persecution and, in certain cases, the murder of members of political, racial and religious minorities,” the parliament said in a strongly-worded statement.

The texts in question “are misused by extremist groups and those wishing to settle personal scores,” the EU deputies said.

They had also “led to an increase of violence against members of religious minorities, particularly Ahmadis, but also Christians, Hindus, Sikhs, Shiites, Buddhists, Parsis, Bahais and critical citizens who dare to raise their voice against injustice,” they added.

The parliament did recognise recent “measures taken in the interest of religious minorities,” by the Pakistan government, such as establishing a quota of five per cent for minorities in the federal jobs sector, recognising non-Muslim public holidays and declaring a National Minorities Day.

The chamber also welcomed the commitment made by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to grant property rights to minority slum dwellers in Islamabad and the government's undertaking to provide minority seats in the Senate.

However such initiatives cannot mask the reports and surveys by independent agencies which “reveal that minorities in Pakistan are deprived of basic civil liberties and equal opportunities in jobs, education and political representation,” the parliament underlined.

The resolution also criticised the practice of including religious details on citizens' passports, a practice which the MEPs argued could lead to “discriminatory practices.
Present in Strasbourg was Pakistan's minorities minister Shahbaz Bhatti.

He told AFP that his country was “trying to improve the situation and many steps have been taken.” He said the Pakistani authorities had made a “commitment to amend these laws.”

“These laws will be changed in such a way which could not be harmful. I'm working on that, this will be done by the end of this year,” he said.

Pakistan on Thursday condemned caricatures of the Prophet Mohammad that appeared on Facebook, blocking the social networking site and YouTube in a growing backlash over Internet “sacrilege.”—AFP

ows that such cases were framed maliciously for settling personal scores or for religious persecution. The Christians are demanding repeal of the amended provisions of the law on blasphemy, but the Muslim fundamentalists are threatening that in case the law is repealed or changed they would overthrow the government. They are also using threatening language for the non-Muslim citizens among whom sense of insecurity is growing fast.

I hope that the examples of these cases would help better understanding of the situation we are faced with. We are in difficult times. We need support from around the world from all those who respect human rights, as their strong voice does have an impact on the forces who are responsible for this situation. We, however, know that basically it is through the political struggle launched by secular and progressive forces that we can make our society tolerant and civilised.

Thank you very much for providing me an opportunity for sharing the pains of my people.
 
 

Family Security Matter

October 9, 2009

Exclusive: Pakistan's Blasphemy Laws: A Timeline

Pakistan's Blasphemy Laws derive from a colonial British Penal Code written originally in 1860. Originally, this code contained only a few clauses protecting the sensibilities of religious people. The blasphemy laws as they are now known were brought in incrementally via amendments. The first registered blasphemy case took place in 1927. From 1927 to 1984 there were only nine registered cases of blasphemy in the region known now as Pakistan.
 
In 1982 and 1986, amendments were introduced to the blasphemy laws that imposed strong punishments. Pakistan at that time was under a repressive Islamist regime led by General Zia ul-Haq. The revised blasphemy laws became a vehicle for fundamentalists to persecute those who did not share their outlook. The laws were also convenient ways to settle personal scores. The rate of reported blasphemy cases increased exponentially. From 1984 to 2004, about 5,000 cases of blasphemy were registered.
 
Data from the NCJP (National Commission for Justice and Peace) reveals that from 1986 until August 2009, a total of 964 people had been charged under blasphemy statutes. These comprised 479 Muslims, 340 Ahmadis, 119 Christians, 14 Hindus and 10 others. Thirty-two people charged with blasphemy have been extra-judicially killed.
 
So far, even though numerous individuals have received death sentences for blasphemy, no one has been hanged. Higher court appeals judges generally throw out cases where this sentence has been imposed by lower courts. From the moment of accusation until final acquittal, the person must remain in jail. A person given the death penalty usually spends around seven years before being freed through appeal. In prison the convict is shunned and often threatened, or attacked.
 
The timeline below is by no means a complete account, but it does present a selection of important events related to Pakistan's blasphemy legislation. I suggest that readers also consult the timelines here and here.
 
The timeline is a supplement to the article presented on Family Security Matters this week on the oppression of religious minorities in Pakistan (Parts One, Part Two and Part Three).
 
1860
The original Penal Code is written, intended by the British Raj to govern West Pakistan.
 
1927
Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, XXV of 1927. This adds two new articles to Section 295 of the Penal Code. Section 295-A prohibits "Deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs." Section 295-B is introduced, to deal with "Defiling, etc., of Holy Qur'an."
 
August 11, 1947
Pakistan becomes independent from Britain. The 1860 penal code is carried over into the legislation of Pakistan.
 
1982
P.P.C. (Amendment) Ordinance, I, further amends Section 295-B extends penalty options to include life imprisonment. This ordinance also introduces another article: Section 295-C, which outlaws "Use of derogatory remarks, etc., in respect of the Holy Prophet."
 
1986
Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, III of 1986, Schedule 2, makes further additions, adding the option of "death penalty" to Section 295-C, and made a minor amendment to Section 296 (Disturbing religious assembly).
 
July 21, 1992
Tahir Iqbal, a convert to Christianity from Islam, was said to have insulted Mohammed. In July 1991, a judge said that being a convert to Christianity (and an apostate from Islam) was an offense. While in custody, Tahir Iqbal would be poisoned on July 21, 1992.
 
1992 - exact date unverified:
Nawaz Sharif's government, under pressure from Islamic organizations, removes from Section 295-C ("derogatory terms against Prophet Mohammed") the option of imposing a life sentence. As a result, convicted "blasphemers" are given a mandatory death sentence.
 
January 6, 1992
Blasphemy accused individual Niamat Ahmer, described as a teacher, poet and writer was killed in custody. Niamat Amer was murdered in Faisalabad, but no charges had been officially made against him. His killer, Farooq Ahmad, said that Amer had verbally insulted Mohammed and Islam.
 
January 6, 1992
Accused of blasphemy, 80-year-old Bantu Masih. Bantu was stabbed in front of police officers.
 
July 1995
Catherine Shaheen, a teacher from Lahore in Punjab province was denied her salary because of accusations of blasphemy. She went into hiding, following threats of death from fundamentalists.
 
October 14, 1996
Ayub Masih is arrested. He is accused of blaspheming Mohammed by suggesting that someone should read Salman Rushdie's Satanic Verses. The charges are false, but it takes six years for the case to be thrown out.
 
April 27, 1998
Ayub Masih, a Christian, is sentenced to death for blaspheming against Mohammed (Section 295-C). On November 6, 1997, he had been shot at in Sahiwal court house.
 
 
May 6, 1998
Bishop John Joseph commits suicide. He shoots himself with a pistol at the Sahiwal court house. He has planned his death as a protest against the blasphemy laws, which were widely used to oppress the Christian community. He dies at the spot where Ayub Masih had been shot at earlier.
 
May 10, 1998
Bishop John Joseph, human rights activist, is buried in Faisalabad, seat of his diocese.
 
May 13, 1998:
Roman Catholic Church makes urgent calls for lawyers to represent the appeal of Christian bricklayer Ayub Mashih against his death sentence for blasphemy.
 
April 20, 2000
General Musharraf, prior to calling a general election, promises to ensure that a senior civil servant examines cases of blasphemy before charges are made.
 
May 17, 2000
General Musharraf, following pressure from Islamic groups, announces that he has abandoned his proposed change to blasphemy case procedure, and the law is to remain unchanged.
 
August 18, 2001:
Younus Shaikh, rights activist and lecturer on homeopathic medicine, given death sentence under Section 295-C at Islamabad additional sessions court.
 
March 24, 2003
Two men, Mohammed Shahzad and Mohammed Yousaf are arrested after allegedly burning two copies of the Koran on a stove. These were recovered by police. (see Jan. 31, 2004)
 
August 8, 2003
A man said by his relatives to be mentally unstable was given a death sentence at Bahawalnagar Additional Sessions Court. The man, Bashir Ahmed, apparently claimed he was sent by God to be a reformer, and allegedly claimed to be a prophet. It was said he paid people to come to his sermons.
 
November 12, 2003
Niaz Ahmed, a 55-year-old Muslim, receives death sentence for allegedly insulting Mohammed (Section 295-C). Ahmed's relatives claim that the case against him was fabricated, and stemmed from the enmity of a man named Muhammad Baqir.
 
November 21, 2003:
Younus Shaikh is acquitted and freed from jail (see above), after appeal and retrial. The news is initially suppressed to ensure his physical safety.
 
November 28, 2003
Anwar Masih, a Christian laborer is arrested for blasphemy after a religious discussion with an acquaintance who had converted to Islam three months earlier. The convert gathered two others to pelt Masih's house with stones. Police take note of the "blasphemy" accusation, but ignore the violence carried out by the accuser and his accomplices.
 
January 31, 2004
Muhammad Yousaf and Muhammad Shahzad (see Mar 24, 2003) are given life sentences.
 
April 10, 2004
Younus Shaikh (see above) addresses the annual conference of the UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva and states: "I feel I have been a victim of Islamic Mullah terrorism through the abuse of the state apparatus and the civil law. My first trial was a show trial almost reminiscent of the trials and tortures of the infamous Spanish inquisition, and the trials and burning of European women as witches.... The blasphemy law has brought shame on Pakistan. The law itself is unjust and inequitable, the offence it treats is poorly defined and open to abuse, and its operation has been widely misused and abused."
 
May 26, 2004
27-year-old Samuel Masih is charged under blasphemy laws, Section 295 (Injuring or defiling place of worship, with Intent to insult the religion of any class). This older section of the religious laws can only gain a two-year jail sentence at maximum. He had been accused of leaving litter on the wall of a mosque on August 23, 2003. The charges are brought against Samuel as he lies in a critical condition. A policeman, Constable Faryad Ali, hit him on the head with a brick-cutter on May 22, allegedly saying: "I wanted to earn a place in heaven by killing him."
 
May 28, 2004
Samuel Masih (previous entry) dies from his injuries.
 
July 28, 2004
Interior Minister Makhdoom Faisal Saleh Hayat comes back from UK to tell reporters that misuse of the blasphemy laws would not be tolerated and his "government would amend any law which discriminates against Pakistani citizens because the Constitution guarantees equality to everyone irrespective to the sect, or religion they belong to."
 
July 30, 2004
Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Ijaz ul-Haq (son of General Zia ul-Haq) tells reporters that blasphemy cases would need to be investigated by a police superintendent before charges can be laid. This is a variant of a 2002 pledge by General Musharraf (abandoned a month later) which would have involved a civil servant (rather than a police superintendent) to investigate blasphemy-related cases before charges are filed.
 
October 18, 2004
A Christian family forced to flee their home in Wah Cantt in Punjab province after their 11-year-old daughter accidentally put a copy of the Koran in garbage, two months earlier. A neighbor saw the Koran in the garbage and the family were threatened with violence. The family left with the help of the authorities after warnings that their home would be burned. No charges were brought.
 
November 2, 2004
NCJP announced that the government had ignored recommendations made in 1996 by the UN Special Rapporteur that the blasphemy laws be made compatible with human rights.
 
November 12, 2004
A journalist is acquitted and freed after four years in jail. On January 29, 2001, Munawar Mohsin Ali was arrested for allowing a "blasphemous" letter to be printed in the Frontier Post newspaper. On July 8, 2003, he had been sentenced to life imprisonment, even though a doctor ruled he was mentally unwell. At the appeal, the bench said that the prosecution "failed to prove that the appellant had intentionally published the letter.”
 
November 30, 2004
Iqbal Ahmad is sentenced to life imprisonment under the blasphemy laws. He was also fined 10,000 rupees.
 
February 23, 2005
A 30-year-old Christian, described as a magician/exorcist, is given a 7-year jail term under Section 295-B, for allegedly desecrating the Koran. Bashir Masih allegedly confessed to tearing up a Koran, claiming it was part of his magic.
 
June 28, 2005
A 60-year-old illiterate Christian street sweeper, Yousaf Masih in Naushera, Punjab province, is spotted by a child burning pages of the Koran. The boy reported Yousaf and on the same night a Hindu temple was burned. Masih claimed to only follow orders from his employer to dispose of garbage. Yousaf was charged under Section 295-B (desecration of the Koran) and Section 295-A (Deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs).
 
August 12, 2005
Younis Sheikh (no relation to Younus Shaikh) is given a life sentence for publishing a book in which he described early imams who guided the first Islamic community as "Jews." He also claimed that the penalty for adultery of stoning to death was "not mentioned in the Koran" – a statement considered blasphemous.
 
September 19, 2005
An alliance of 22 Sunni religious organizations gathered together to demand that Younis Masih, a Christian from Amer Sidhu, be hanged immediately. Masih had been charged on September 10, 2005, under Section 295-C after he made insulting remarks about Mohammed at a wedding party. Masih was beaten up by Christians and Muslims and Christians had to flee the area. Punjab's minority affairs minister, Joyce Rufin, had no sympathy. She said: "Any person who intentionally disrupts the atmosphere of peace and harmony between Muslims and Christians, needs to be punished by the law." A mob of 200 Muslims had attacked the neighborhood where Younis Masih lived, causing 50 Christian families to flee.
 
November 12, 2005
Yousaf Masih was accused of desecrating a Koran by burning its pages and is place in jail too await trial under Section 295-B. A mob of Muslims, spurred on by calls from a local mosque's loudspeakers, attack Christian community in Sangla Hill, Punjab province. Churches, a school and other buildings are destroyed.
 
November 25, 2005
An Islamic cleric registers blasphemy charges against two named individuals and several others (unnamed) in Baghbanpura, Punjab province. The accused are said to have published literature denigrating the Deobandi sect (which shares the same ideology as the Taliban). Charges registered under Sections 295-A and 298-A of the penal code.
 
December 8, 2005
Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, writes in the Times about Sangla Hill and maintains that he "sees signs of hope." The hope that he claims to see lies in interfaith dialogue, failing to appreciate that when one group is small and oppressed, there is no true "dialogue," only the monologue of the group with power.
 
January 5, 2006
An Ahmadiyya (Ahmadi) imam and four other people were charged under Section 298-C of the PPC. Because the Ahmadis had referred to Allah, they had called Prophet Mohammed their "beloved master" they had – by law – suggested they were Muslims and therefore had broken the terms of Section 298-C which deliberately discriminates against Ahmadis who declare themselves to be Muslims.
 
January 25, 2006
Zebunissa, a woman who was accused in 1996 of desecrating verses from the Koran (Section 295-B) is transferred from Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore to a mental hospital, where she is declared to be mentally retarded. At no stage since her arrest and imprisonment has she been before a court. As of writing (October 8th) she is still not free.
 
February 13, 2006
An alliance of traders of all political parties (APOSTCI) announces a strike to be held on March 13th to complain about Danish cartoon images, considered "blasphemous."
 
February 18, 2006
64 men who were charged in connection with attacks against the Christian community in Sangla Hill on November 12, 2005, were ordered by a court in Lahore to be released on bail bonds. Later, all charges are dropped.
 
February 23, 2006
Yousaf Masih, who was falsely accused of desecrating a Koran, was acquitted by Lahore Anti Terrorist Court. The accusation against Masih had led to a Muslim riot against Christians at Sangla Hill on November 12, 2005.
 
March 6, 2006
An imam in Ganj Mandi, Rawalpindi was charged under Section 295-B for desecrating a Koran. Maulvi Arif confessed that he had only tried to burn an extinct copy of the Koran "in accordance with Shariat."
 
December 12, 2006
Man arrested in Gojra for using offensive language against Allah in a conversation with others. Ghulam Mustafa attacked a cigarette shop owner who had asked him to stop.
 
May 9, 2007
A brother's attempt to have Abdul Hameed released from jail is rejected by Lahore High Court. The brother maintains that Hameed, who is accused under Section 295-C, is faring badly in jail and that five doctors had judged Abdul Hameed to be mentally ill.
 
May 9, 2007
79-year-old Walter Fazal Khan was taking a bath. A man called Riaz, who lived in the house, knocked on the door and said something was burning in the house. A burnt Koran was found in one of the rooms, and Riaz brought Islamic clerics to the house, who tried to beat Walter. The 79-year-old was then charged under Section 295-B (desecrating a Koran).
 
May 19, 2007
100 Muslims petition Samanabad Police Station demanding a proper investigation into the truth behind the suspicious circumstances of the arrest and charge of Walter Fazal Khan under Section 295-B
 
May 29, 2007
79-year-old Walter Fazal Khan is granted bail by an additional sessions judge at Lahore.
 
June 1, 2007
On this date, a FIR report is lodged against Christian nurses at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS). They and their supervisor Stella Nazir were suspended. Accusations were made that – on May 17, 2007 – these had desecrated the Koran. The actions were brought by students connected to the Jamia Hafsa madrassa, part of the Red Mosque complex. The "Koran" referred to was a water cooler that bore some verses of the Koran. These had been defaced.
 
June 1, 2007
The Director of PIMS, Dr. Amjad, registers a complaint under Section 295B. Stella Nazir, the Staff Nursing College Principal and four others are suspended. Students from the Jamia Hafsa and the Red Mosque, wielding batons, tried to forcibly gain control of the nurses' hostel, but were prevented from entering.
 
 
June 6, 2007
84-year-old Gladys Walter, the wife of Walter Fazal Khan, died in hospital. On May 9, 2007, her 79-year-old husband had been accused of blasphemy, and on the same day Gladys had converted to Islam. Her husband said his wife was in a coma when she had allegedly converted and could not speak.
 
June 9, 2007
Quote: "Shahdra Town police station registered a case against a mentally-challenged man, Nadir Ali, under blasphemy laws on the complaint of Shahid Maqbool, a relative of the accused who lived in the upper portion of Nadir's house on rent. Later the police confessed that it lodged the FIR against Nadir due to pressure exerted by people of the community. They also confirmed that Shahid wanted to grab Nadir's property."
 
June 19, 2007
Ijaz ul-Haq officially withdrew his statement made on June 18, 2007 that if Britain failed to withdraw the knighthood given to Salman Rushdie, suicide bombers against Britain would be "justified."
 
January 27, 2007
Jamaat-i-Islami party warns that it will challenge any amendment or abolition of blasphemy statutes by staging nationwide protests.
 
May 31, 2007
First use of video evidence in a blasphemy trial. For reasons of security, Younis Masih gives evidence from jail. He is sentenced to death for breaching Section 295-C.
 
December 11, 2007
Lahore High Court acquitted a man previously convicted under blasphemy legislation. On June 23, Muhammad Sharif had been given life imprisonment and a 50,000 rupee fine. The High Court said that police should firstly check the truth of blasphemy claims before bringing charges.
 
April 8, 2008
A 25-year-old Hindu, Jagdish Kumar, was tortured and beaten to death after he allegedly blasphemed against Prophet Mohammed. Kumar worked in a factory, and was murdered by his co-workers who tried to burn his body. He was killed for comments he had made in a discussion about religion.
 
June 18, 2008
In Sialkot, Punjab province, Shafeeq Lateef gets death sentence for blasphemy. He was charged under Section 295-C for making derogatory remarks about Mohammed, and additionally he was fined 500,000 rupees for desecrating a Koran, breaching Section 295-B. Lateef had originally been charged on March 17, 2006.
 
July 26, 2008
In a suburb of Karachi, Munawar Babar was severely beaten by a lynch mob but was rescued by police and charged. Some police were also injured by the mob. Babar claimed to be a faith healer and had allegedly performed "blasphemous acts" which provoked the crowd to want to kill him.
 
January 28, 2009
Four Ahmadi boys from Layyah, Punjab province, aged 14 to 16, were arrested in Layah disrict, accused of writing blasphemous graffiti in a mosque. The boys were invited earlier to visit the mosque, weeks before the accusations were made. The Human Richts Commission of Pakistan claimed that the only reason the boys were accused is that they were not "Muslims" and had been to the mosque – there was no evidence. A fifth individual, a man is his 40s, was subsequently arrested. The youths were charged under Section 295-C.
 
February 4, 2009
A newspaper report claims that after the arrest of four Amadi boys, the Ahmadi community suffers ostracism.Ten students have been expelled from a private tuition center because of their religion, and shopkeepers refuse to serve Ahmadis.
 
April 21, 2009
Supreme Court rejects an appeal against a Federal Sharia Court ruling that had declared that death is the only punishment for blasphemy allowed by Islamic law.
 
June 30, 2009
110 Christian families are forced to flee from their homes in Bahmniwala, Kasur district in Punjab province, accusing them of blasphemy. The unrest stems from an argument between a Christian and a Muslim which ended with the Christian charged under blasphemy legislation.
 
July 30, 2009
About 40 Christian's houses in the village of Korian, near Gojra, are burned down after accusations that Christians had desecrated the Koran at a local Christian wedding. Charges under Section 295-B were made.
 
August 1, 2009
Seven Christians, including two children, are burned alive in Gojra. Pope Benedict XVI subsequently condemns the attack. Sipah-i-Sahaba activists are later blamed for the attack.
 
August 4, 2009
A factory owner is killed by a mob, and two others killed, after the proprietor removed an old Islamic calendar from the wall and put it on a table. The calendar bore words from the Koran, so he was accused of desecrating a Koran.
 
August 11, 2009
Interior Minister Rehman Malik tells National Assembly that provincial authorities had been asked to be vigilant towards activities of banned Islamist group Sipah-i-Sahaba
 
September 1, 2009
The National Assembly's Standing Committee on Human Rights urges government to re-examine blasphemy laws and procedures of enforcement. Faisalabad Regional Police Officer (RPO) Ahmed Raza blamed Punjab constabulary for disobeying orders during the Gojra attack.
 
September 15, 2009
A 19-year-old Christian from a village near Sialkot was found dead in jail. "Robert" Fanish Masih had been in jail since September 11th, accused under Section 295-B. Though police claimed he strangled himself, his death is regarded by many as a result of violence. He had head wounds.
 
September 17, 2009
Shahbaz Bhatti, Pakistan's minister for minority affairs, is in Washington D.C. A Christian, he promises the U.S .Commission on International Religious Freedom that "the Pakistani government is to review, revisit and amend blasphemy laws so it will not remain a tool in the hands of extremists."
 
September 19, 2009
Chaudry Shujaat Hussain, president of the PML-Q party (the party Musharraf belongs to) pledged his party to protesting any change to the existing blasphemy laws. He claimed that it was the duty of every Muslim to defend the blasphemy laws.
 
October 6, 2009
Former information minister Sherry Rehman and Jamila Gilani (a member of the National Assembly) called in the National Assembly for the blasphemy laws to be repealed. Sahibzada Fazal Karim, Central President of the JUP, responded: "We will not allow it." The JUP is the Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan (Assembly of Pakistani Clergy), an Islamist party.
 
FamilySecurityMatters.org Contributing Editor Adrian Morgan is a British based writer and artist. He has previously contributed to various publications, including the Guardian and New Scientist and is a former Fellow of the Royal Anthropological Society. He is currently compiling a book on the demise of democracy and the growth of extremism in Britain.

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