Pakistani police have arrested over 100 members of the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan, including the radical Islamist party's chief who had given a protest call for Sunday against the acquittal of Christian woman Aasia Bibi.

Last month, Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) disrupted daily life across Pakistan by staging widespread protests following Bibi's acquittal in a blasphemy case by the apex court.

"We have taken into custody more than 100 TLP leaders and activists including its chief Khadim Hussain Rizvi from Lahore and other parts of the Punjab province," a senior police officer told PTI on Saturday. 
 
He said a team comprising government officials and clerics tried to persuade Rizvi in Lahore late on Friday night to defer its November 25 protest, but he refused to budge.

"On this police arrested him and other leaders," the officer said.

"Khadim Hussain Rizvi has been taken into protective custody by police from Lahore. The action was prompted by TLP's refusal to withdraw its call for protest on November 25. It is to safeguard public life, property and order," Federal Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry tweeted.

The minister, however, clarified that the "arrest has nothing to do with Asia Bibi case".

"The TLP has become a continuous threat to the life and properties of the citizens and is doing politics under the guise of religion... The situation is fully under control, people should remain peaceful and fully cooperate with authorities," Chaudhry said.

He said the government did its best to convince the party against staging the protest, but they refused every offer and started to incite violence.

There were reports of TLP workers clashing with police in Lahore following Rizvi's arrest. Three policemen and seven workers are reported to have been injured.

The apex court, in a three-member bench led by chief justice Saqib Nisar, issued the landmark verdict last month.&nbsp;

Following the verdict, the TLP had termed the chief justice and other judges in the bench "liable to be killed" and had called Army chief General Qmar Javed Bajwa a non-Muslim and urged Muslim generals to revolt against him.

Bibi was convicted in 2010 after being accused of insulting Islam in a row with her neighbours. She always maintained her innocence, but spent most of the past eight years in solitary confinement.

She has been released from the jail and the government says is in a 'safe' house. The government says she cannot leave the country till decision on the review petition against her acquittal. Chief Justice Nisar has ordered full protection to Bibi.&nbsp;

TLP is an Islamist political party with Islamic ideology. It is known for widespread street power and massive protests in opposition to any change to Pakistan's blasphemy law.&nbsp;

Pakistani police have arrested over 100 members of the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan, including the radical Islamist party's chief who had given a protest call for Sunday against the acquittal of Christian woman Aasia Bibi.

Pakistani police have arrested over 100 members of the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan, including the radical Islamist party's chief who had given a protest call for Sunday against the acquittal of Christian woman Aasia Bibi. Last month, Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) disrupted daily life across Pakistan by staging widespread protests following Bibi's acquittal in a blasphemy case by the apex court. "We have taken into custody more than 100 TLP leaders and activists including its chief Khadim Hussain Rizvi from Lahore and other parts of the Punjab province," a senior police officer told PTI on Saturday. He said a team comprising government officials and clerics tried to persuade Rizvi in Lahore late on Friday night to defer its November 25 protest, but he refused to budge. "On this police arrested him and other leaders," the officer said. "Khadim Hussain Rizvi has been taken into protective custody by police from Lahore. The action was prompted by TLP's refusal to withdraw its call for protest on November 25. It is to safeguard public life, property and order," Federal Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry tweeted. The minister, however, clarified that the "arrest has nothing to do with Asia Bibi case". "The TLP has become a continuous threat to the life and properties of the citizens and is doing politics under the guise of religion... The situation is fully under control, people should remain peaceful and fully cooperate with authorities," Chaudhry said. He said the government did its best to convince the party against staging the protest, but they refused every offer and started to incite violence. There were reports of TLP workers clashing with police in Lahore following Rizvi's arrest. Three policemen and seven workers are reported to have been injured. The apex court, in a three-member bench led by chief justice Saqib Nisar, issued the landmark verdict last month. Following the verdict, the TLP had termed the chief justice and other judges in the bench "liable to be killed" and had called Army chief General Qmar Javed Bajwa a non-Muslim and urged Muslim generals to revolt against him. Bibi was convicted in 2010 after being accused of insulting Islam in a row with her neighbours. She always maintained her innocence, but spent most of the past eight years in solitary confinement. She has been released from the jail and the government says is in a 'safe' house. The government says she cannot leave the country till decision on the review petition against her acquittal. Chief Justice Nisar has ordered full protection to Bibi. TLP is an Islamist political party with Islamic ideology. It is known for widespread street power and massive protests in opposition to any change to Pakistan's blasphemy law.

Pakistan arrests over 100 Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan members

President of the European Parliament Antonio Tajani made a phone call to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday thanking him for ensuring safety and security for Asia Bibi and her family.

Tajani also informed the Pakistan&nbsp;prime minister&nbsp;that the debate on Asia Bibi in the EU parliament has been postponed and also assured EU Parliament's cooperation with the government.

PM Imran Khan reaffirmed the government’s resolve to respect the judgment of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, adding that as citizens of Pakistan, Asia Bibi and her family were&nbsp;entitled to all rights as guaranteed by the constitution of Pakistan.&nbsp;

Imran Khan also conveyed serious concerns of the government&nbsp;on the issue of blasphemous cartoons and caricatures of the holy prophet, underscoring the need to redouble efforts in European countries to avoid such provocative incidents and emphasised the need to raise greater awareness about religious sensitivities of Muslims, particularly the respect of prophet Muhammad and promote inter-faith harmony.&nbsp;

Khan stressed the need for respecting each other’s religious sentiments while calling for enhanced dialogue as well as cooperation for promoting inter-cultural and inter-faith harmony.&nbsp;

Khan welcomed the European Court's recent decision&nbsp;on human right’s&nbsp;which decided&nbsp;not to allow acts of blasphemy under the cloak of right to freedom of expression.

The Pakistan prime minister also expressed the hope that European countries would follow the decision of the European Court and take steps to enhance respect for each other’s religions and inter-faith harmony.&nbsp;

President of the European Parliament Antonio Tajani made a phone call to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday thanking him for ensuring safety and security for Asia Bibi and her family.

President of the European Parliament Antonio Tajani made a phone call to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday thanking him for ensuring safety and security for Asia Bibi and her family. Tajani also informed the Pakistan prime minister that the debate on Asia Bibi in the EU parliament has been postponed and also assured EU Parliament's cooperation with the government. PM Imran Khan reaffirmed the government’s resolve to respect the judgment of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, adding that as citizens of Pakistan, Asia Bibi and her family were entitled to all rights as guaranteed by the constitution of Pakistan. Imran Khan also conveyed serious concerns of the government on the issue of blasphemous cartoons and caricatures of the holy prophet, underscoring the need to redouble efforts in European countries to avoid such provocative incidents and emphasised the need to raise greater awareness about religious sensitivities of Muslims, particularly the respect of prophet Muhammad and promote inter-faith harmony. Khan stressed the need for respecting each other’s religious sentiments while calling for enhanced dialogue as well as cooperation for promoting inter-cultural and inter-faith harmony. Khan welcomed the European Court's recent decision on human right’s which decided not to allow acts of blasphemy under the cloak of right to freedom of expression. The Pakistan prime minister also expressed the hope that European countries would follow the decision of the European Court and take steps to enhance respect for each other’s religions and inter-faith harmony.

Debate on Asia Bibi postponed in EU parliament: Antonio Tajani informs PM Imran Khan

By Steve Pinkerton

The citizens of Ireland voted recently, in a nationwide referendum, to remove a clause from their constitution that had made blasphemy a criminal offence.

Ireland’s now-defunct Defamation Act of 2009 prohibited the “publication or utterance of blasphemous matter.” Just last year, in fact, Irish police opened a brief investigation into whether comedian Stephen Fry had broken the law when he described God as “capricious, mean-minded, stupid” and “an utter maniac” during a televised interview. The case was closed, however, as the police said they had been “unable to find a substantial number of outraged people.”

The overturning of Ireland’s blasphemy law stands in stark contrast to recent news out of Pakistan – where the release from prison of Asia Bibi, a Christian woman, accused of blasphemy, has led to widespread protests. In Indonesia, too, many people have been jailed for speaking irreverently against Islam.

Despite its recent defeat, Ireland’s 2009 blasphemy law is an important reminder that laws against blasphemy have hardly been unique to the Muslim world – even in the 21st century.

Understanding the Muslim world

As of 2014, according to the Pew Research Center, nearly one-fifth of European countries and a third of countries in the Americas, notably Canada, have laws against blasphemy.

In my research for a literary study of blasphemy, I found that these laws may differ in many respects from their more well-known counterparts in Muslim nations, but they also share some common features with them.

In particular, they’re all united in regarding blasphemy as a form of “injury” – even as they disagree about what, exactly, blasphemy injures.

In the Muslim world, such injured parties are often a lot easier to find. Cultural anthropologist Saba Mahmood said that many devout Muslims perceive blasphemy as an almost physical injury: an intolerable offence that hurts both God himself and the whole community of the faithful.

For Mahmood that perception was brought powerfully home in 2005, when a Danish newspaper published cartoons depicting the prophet Muhammad. Interviewing a number of Muslims at the time, Mahmood was “struck,” she wrote, “by the sense of personal loss” they conveyed. People she interviewed were very clear on this point:

“The idea that we should just get over this hurt makes me so mad.”

“I would have felt less wounded if the object of ridicule were my own parents.”

The intensity of this “hurt,” “wounding” and “ridicule” helps to explain how blasphemy can remain a capital offence in a theocratic state like Pakistan. The punishment is tailored to the enormity of the perceived crime.

Blasphemy and Christians

That may sound like a foreign concept to secular ears. The reality, though, is that most Western blasphemy laws are rooted in a similar logic of religious offence.

As historians like Leonard Levy and David Nash have documented, these laws – dating, mostly, from the 1200s to the early 1800s – were designed to protect Christian beliefs and practices from the sort of “hurt” and “ridicule” that animates Islamic blasphemy laws today. But as the West became increasingly secular, religious injury gradually lost much of its power to provoke. By the mid-20th century, most Western blasphemy laws had become virtually dead letters.

That’s certainly true of the US, where such laws remain “on the books” in six states but haven’t been invoked since at least the early 1970s. They’re now widely held to be nullified by the First Amendment.

Yet looking beyond the American context, one will find that blasphemy laws are hardly obsolete throughout the West. Instead, they’re acquiring new uses for the 21st century.

Religious offence in a secular world

Consider the case of a Danish man who was charged with blasphemy, in February 2017, for burning a Quran and for posting a video of the act online.

In the past, Denmark’s blasphemy law had only ever been enforced to punish anti-Christian expression. (It was last used in 1946.) Today it serves to highlight an ongoing trend: In an increasingly pluralist, multicultural West, blasphemy laws find fresh purpose in policing intolerance between religious communities.

In other words, the real question for the 21st century has not been whether blasphemy counts as a crime. Instead, it’s been about who, or what – God or the state, religion or pluralism – is the injured party. Instead of preventing injury to God, these laws now seek to prevent injury to the social fabric of avowedly secular states.

That’s true not only of the West’s centuries-old blasphemy laws but also of more recent ones. Ireland’s Defamation Act, for instance, targeted any person who “utters matter that is grossly abusive or insulting in relation to matters held sacred by any religion, thereby causing outrage among a substantial number of the adherents of that religion.”

With its emphasis on the “outrage” blasphemy may cause among “any religion,” the measure was clearly aimed less at protecting the sacred than at preventing intolerance among diverse religious groups.

The law itself caused outrage of a different sort, however. Advocacy organisations, such as Atheist Ireland, mounted fierce opposition to the law and to the example it set internationally. In late 2009, for instance, Pakistan borrowed the exact language of the Irish law in its own proposed statement on blasphemy to the United Nations’ Human Rights Council.

Thus, Atheist Ireland warned on its website that “The Islamic States can now point to a modern pluralist Western State passing a new blasphemy law in the 21st century.”

Blasphemy in modernity

That warning resonates with the common Western view of blasphemy as an antiquated concept, a medieval throwback with no relevance to “modern,” “developed” societies. Atheist Ireland’s chairperson, Michael Nugent, drew on this tradition when he touted the significance of the recent referendum victory:

“It means that we’ve got rid of a medieval crime from our constitution that should never have been there.”

As Columbia University professor Gauri Viswanathan puts it, blasphemy is often used “to separate cultures of modernity from those of premodernity.” Starting from the assumption that blasphemy can exist only in a backward society, critics point to blasphemy as evidence of the backwardness of entire religious cultures.

I would argue, however, that this Eurocentric view is growing increasingly difficult to sustain. If anything, blasphemy has in recent years enjoyed a resurgence in many corners of the supposedly secular West – including prosecutions in Austria, Finland, Germany, Greece, Switzerland and Turkey. Perhaps the fate of Ireland’s Defamation Act forecasts a broader reversal of that trend.

(Steve Pinkerton is Lecturer in English, Case Western Reserve University)

(This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/blasphemy-law-is-repealed-in-ireland-enforced-in-pakistan-and-a-problem-in-many-christian-and-muslim-countries-106487">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

 
&nbsp;

By Steve Pinkerton The citizens of Ireland voted recently, in a nationwide referendum, to remove a clause from their constitution that had made blasphemy a criminal offence.

By Steve Pinkerton The citizens of Ireland voted recently, in a nationwide referendum, to remove a clause from their constitution that had made blasphemy a criminal offence. Ireland’s now-defunct Defamation Act of 2009 prohibited the “publication or utterance of blasphemous matter.” Just last year, in fact, Irish police opened a brief investigation into whether comedian Stephen Fry had broken the law when he described God as “capricious, mean-minded, stupid” and “an utter maniac” during a televised interview. The case was closed, however, as the police said they had been “unable to find a substantial number of outraged people.” The overturning of Ireland’s blasphemy law stands in stark contrast to recent news out of Pakistan – where the release from prison of Asia Bibi, a Christian woman, accused of blasphemy, has led to widespread protests. In Indonesia, too, many people have been jailed for speaking irreverently against Islam. Despite its recent defeat, Ireland’s 2009 blasphemy law is an important reminder that laws against blasphemy have hardly been unique to the Muslim world – even in the 21st century. Understanding the Muslim world As of 2014, according to the Pew Research Center, nearly one-fifth of European countries and a third of countries in the Americas, notably Canada, have laws against blasphemy. In my research for a literary study of blasphemy, I found that these laws may differ in many respects from their more well-known counterparts in Muslim nations, but they also share some common features with them. In particular, they’re all united in regarding blasphemy as a form of “injury” – even as they disagree about what, exactly, blasphemy injures. In the Muslim world, such injured parties are often a lot easier to find. Cultural anthropologist Saba Mahmood said that many devout Muslims perceive blasphemy as an almost physical injury: an intolerable offence that hurts both God himself and the whole community of the faithful. For Mahmood that perception was brought powerfully home in 2005, when a Danish newspaper published cartoons depicting the prophet Muhammad. Interviewing a number of Muslims at the time, Mahmood was “struck,” she wrote, “by the sense of personal loss” they conveyed. People she interviewed were very clear on this point: “The idea that we should just get over this hurt makes me so mad.” “I would have felt less wounded if the object of ridicule were my own parents.” The intensity of this “hurt,” “wounding” and “ridicule” helps to explain how blasphemy can remain a capital offence in a theocratic state like Pakistan. The punishment is tailored to the enormity of the perceived crime. Blasphemy and Christians That may sound like a foreign concept to secular ears. The reality, though, is that most Western blasphemy laws are rooted in a similar logic of religious offence. As historians like Leonard Levy and David Nash have documented, these laws – dating, mostly, from the 1200s to the early 1800s – were designed to protect Christian beliefs and practices from the sort of “hurt” and “ridicule” that animates Islamic blasphemy laws today. But as the West became increasingly secular, religious injury gradually lost much of its power to provoke. By the mid-20th century, most Western blasphemy laws had become virtually dead letters. That’s certainly true of the US, where such laws remain “on the books” in six states but haven’t been invoked since at least the early 1970s. They’re now widely held to be nullified by the First Amendment. Yet looking beyond the American context, one will find that blasphemy laws are hardly obsolete throughout the West. Instead, they’re acquiring new uses for the 21st century. Religious offence in a secular world Consider the case of a Danish man who was charged with blasphemy, in February 2017, for burning a Quran and for posting a video of the act online. In the past, Denmark’s blasphemy law had only ever been enforced to punish anti-Christian expression. (It was last used in 1946.) Today it serves to highlight an ongoing trend: In an increasingly pluralist, multicultural West, blasphemy laws find fresh purpose in policing intolerance between religious communities. In other words, the real question for the 21st century has not been whether blasphemy counts as a crime. Instead, it’s been about who, or what – God or the state, religion or pluralism – is the injured party. Instead of preventing injury to God, these laws now seek to prevent injury to the social fabric of avowedly secular states. That’s true not only of the West’s centuries-old blasphemy laws but also of more recent ones. Ireland’s Defamation Act, for instance, targeted any person who “utters matter that is grossly abusive or insulting in relation to matters held sacred by any religion, thereby causing outrage among a substantial number of the adherents of that religion.” With its emphasis on the “outrage” blasphemy may cause among “any religion,” the measure was clearly aimed less at protecting the sacred than at preventing intolerance among diverse religious groups. The law itself caused outrage of a different sort, however. Advocacy organisations, such as Atheist Ireland, mounted fierce opposition to the law and to the example it set internationally. In late 2009, for instance, Pakistan borrowed the exact language of the Irish law in its own proposed statement on blasphemy to the United Nations’ Human Rights Council. Thus, Atheist Ireland warned on its website that “The Islamic States can now point to a modern pluralist Western State passing a new blasphemy law in the 21st century.” Blasphemy in modernity That warning resonates with the common Western view of blasphemy as an antiquated concept, a medieval throwback with no relevance to “modern,” “developed” societies. Atheist Ireland’s chairperson, Michael Nugent, drew on this tradition when he touted the significance of the recent referendum victory: “It means that we’ve got rid of a medieval crime from our constitution that should never have been there.” As Columbia University professor Gauri Viswanathan puts it, blasphemy is often used “to separate cultures of modernity from those of premodernity.” Starting from the assumption that blasphemy can exist only in a backward society, critics point to blasphemy as evidence of the backwardness of entire religious cultures. I would argue, however, that this Eurocentric view is growing increasingly difficult to sustain. If anything, blasphemy has in recent years enjoyed a resurgence in many corners of the supposedly secular West – including prosecutions in Austria, Finland, Germany, Greece, Switzerland and Turkey. Perhaps the fate of Ireland’s Defamation Act forecasts a broader reversal of that trend. (Steve Pinkerton is Lecturer in English, Case Western Reserve University) (This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Blasphemy law is repealed in Ireland, enforced in Pakistan - and a problem in many other countries

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday asked the Punjab government to prepare a compensation package for the people whose properties were damaged in the recent violent protests by religious extremists against the acquittal of Christian woman Asia Bibi.&nbsp;

Khan was briefed by Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry about violent protests and the sufferings it caused for common people.&nbsp;

The prime minister ordered that those suffered losses should be compensated, his office said.

He also "directed the Punjab government to prepare a package for this purpose."

It was not known how much ordinary people lost during violence but the government said that net financial losses of the state were between Rs 15,000 crore to Rs 17,000 crore.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday asked the Punjab government to prepare a compensation package for the people whose properties were damaged in the recent violent protests by religious extremists against the acquittal of Christian woman Asia Bibi.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday asked the Punjab government to prepare a compensation package for the people whose properties were damaged in the recent violent protests by religious extremists against the acquittal of Christian woman Asia Bibi. Khan was briefed by Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry about violent protests and the sufferings it caused for common people. The prime minister ordered that those suffered losses should be compensated, his office said. He also "directed the Punjab government to prepare a package for this purpose." It was not known how much ordinary people lost during violence but the government said that net financial losses of the state were between Rs 15,000 crore to Rs 17,000 crore.

Pakistan: Imran Khan asks Punjab government to prepare compensation package for victims of recent protests

One week after the country's highest court ordered her release, Asia Bibi, a Pakistani Christian who has spent eight years on death row for blasphemy was still in prison Wednesday, with no immediate prospect of freedom.

Thousands of Islamists poured onto the streets in protest after Supreme Court judges overturned Asia Bibi's conviction, in a case that has laid bare the divisions between traditionalists and modernisers in the devoutly Muslim nation.

Ultra-conservative Islamists blockaded major cities to demand her immediate execution, in a three-day stand-off that ended when Prime Minister Imran Khan's administration agreed to allow a review of the Supreme Court's ruling.

Critics blasted the climbdown -- which came just days after Khan vowed to confront the protesters -- as another capitulation to religious conservatives.

The deal has left Bibi in legal limbo -- and languishing in jail for a crime of which she has been acquitted.

"Asia Bibi is in Multan jail and has not been released yet. We have not received orders to release her so far," Zawar Hussain Warraich, minister for prisons in Punjab province, told AFP.

"Normally we receive orders in two days after court judgement and if relatives and lawyers of a prisoner are very active, they can bring it even within a day, but as far as Asia Bibi is concerned, it has not happened yet," Warraich added.

"Supreme Court should issue a directive to send us her release orders. We will release her as soon as we get it."

He denied reports that extra security had been laid on for Bibi, saying "she is already well protected by the jail staff".

An appeal has been filed with the court against Bibi's release and the party that headed the protests demanding her execution, Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan, has warned its hardliners were prepared to take to the streets again.

Blasphemy is an incendiary charge in Muslim-majority Pakistan, where even unsubstantiated allegations of insulting Islam can result in death at the hands of mobs.

The case stems from an incident in 2009 when Bibi was asked to fetch water while out working in the fields. Muslim women labourers objected, saying that as a non-Muslim, she should not touch the water bowl, and reportedly a fight erupted.

A local imam then claimed Bibi insulted the Prophet Mohammed -- a charge she has consistently denied.

Bibi's husband Ashiq Masih has appealed for Britain or the United States to grant the family asylum, while her lawyer has fled to the Netherlands.

Masih said the delay in releasing his wife, a mother of five, was adding to the family's agony.

"The daughters are weeping. They still haven't seen their mother. The family is totally shattered," he said.

One week after the country's highest court ordered her release, Asia Bibi, a Pakistani Christian who has spent eight years on death row for blasphemy was still in prison Wednesday, with no immediate prospect of freedom.

One week after the country's highest court ordered her release, Asia Bibi, a Pakistani Christian who has spent eight years on death row for blasphemy was still in prison Wednesday, with no immediate prospect of freedom. Thousands of Islamists poured onto the streets in protest after Supreme Court judges overturned Asia Bibi's conviction, in a case that has laid bare the divisions between traditionalists and modernisers in the devoutly Muslim nation. Ultra-conservative Islamists blockaded major cities to demand her immediate execution, in a three-day stand-off that ended when Prime Minister Imran Khan's administration agreed to allow a review of the Supreme Court's ruling. Critics blasted the climbdown -- which came just days after Khan vowed to confront the protesters -- as another capitulation to religious conservatives. The deal has left Bibi in legal limbo -- and languishing in jail for a crime of which she has been acquitted. "Asia Bibi is in Multan jail and has not been released yet. We have not received orders to release her so far," Zawar Hussain Warraich, minister for prisons in Punjab province, told AFP. "Normally we receive orders in two days after court judgement and if relatives and lawyers of a prisoner are very active, they can bring it even within a day, but as far as Asia Bibi is concerned, it has not happened yet," Warraich added. "Supreme Court should issue a directive to send us her release orders. We will release her as soon as we get it." He denied reports that extra security had been laid on for Bibi, saying "she is already well protected by the jail staff". An appeal has been filed with the court against Bibi's release and the party that headed the protests demanding her execution, Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan, has warned its hardliners were prepared to take to the streets again. Blasphemy is an incendiary charge in Muslim-majority Pakistan, where even unsubstantiated allegations of insulting Islam can result in death at the hands of mobs. The case stems from an incident in 2009 when Bibi was asked to fetch water while out working in the fields. Muslim women labourers objected, saying that as a non-Muslim, she should not touch the water bowl, and reportedly a fight erupted. A local imam then claimed Bibi insulted the Prophet Mohammed -- a charge she has consistently denied. Bibi's husband Ashiq Masih has appealed for Britain or the United States to grant the family asylum, while her lawyer has fled to the Netherlands. Masih said the delay in releasing his wife, a mother of five, was adding to the family's agony. "The daughters are weeping. They still haven't seen their mother. The family is totally shattered," he said.

Asia Bibi still in prison a week after Pakistan Supreme Court orders her acquittal

The husband of a Pakistani Christian woman at the centre of a divisive blasphemy case on Saturday criticised a government deal with Islamists that left her in legal limbo, and called on authorities to protect her.

Asia Bibi, on death row since 2010 on blasphemy charges, was acquitted by the Supreme Court Wednesday and ordered set free, triggering protests by ultra-conservative Islamists who paralysed Pakistan for three days.

The government reached a deal Friday to end the protests by agreeing to a travel ban preventing Bibi from leaving the country, and saying it would not object to hardline movements appealing the verdict.&nbsp;An appeal has been filed with the court.

"It is wrong to set a precedent in which you pile pressure onto the judiciary," Bibi's husband Ashiq Masih told German Deutsche Welle radio.

He said the government should never have yielded to pressure from protesters.

Blasphemy is a hugely inflammatory charge in Muslim-majority Pakistan, where even unproven allegations of insulting Islam and its Prophet Mohammed can spark attacks and killings at the hands of vigilante mobs.

Masih said the court had been "very courageous" to acquit his wife, an illiterate mother in her 50s whose case started in 2009 while she was working in the fields.

Citing religious reasons, two Muslim women at the time refused to share a glass of water with her and a fight erupted.&nbsp;

Several days later, the pair reported the incident to a local imam, who said Bibi insulted the prophet, a charge she denies.

"The current situation is very dangerous for us. We have no security and are hiding here and there, frequently changing our location," Masih said.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/asia-bibis-lawyer-leaves-pakistan-citing-threats-to-his-life-175254">Bibi's lawyer fled Pakistan on Saturday</a>, fearing for his life.

Masih demanded the government reinforce Bibi's protection in prison, worrying that she may be attacked. He cited the case of two Christian men who were shot dead after a court acquitted them in another blasphemy case.

"The situation is dangerous for Asia. I feel that her life is not secure," he said. "So I appeal to government to enhance Asia's security in jail".

The husband of a Pakistani Christian woman at the centre of a divisive blasphemy case on Saturday criticised a government deal with Islamists that left her in legal limbo, and called on authorities to protect her.

The husband of a Pakistani Christian woman at the centre of a divisive blasphemy case on Saturday criticised a government deal with Islamists that left her in legal limbo, and called on authorities to protect her. Asia Bibi, on death row since 2010 on blasphemy charges, was acquitted by the Supreme Court Wednesday and ordered set free, triggering protests by ultra-conservative Islamists who paralysed Pakistan for three days. The government reached a deal Friday to end the protests by agreeing to a travel ban preventing Bibi from leaving the country, and saying it would not object to hardline movements appealing the verdict. An appeal has been filed with the court. "It is wrong to set a precedent in which you pile pressure onto the judiciary," Bibi's husband Ashiq Masih told German Deutsche Welle radio. He said the government should never have yielded to pressure from protesters. Blasphemy is a hugely inflammatory charge in Muslim-majority Pakistan, where even unproven allegations of insulting Islam and its Prophet Mohammed can spark attacks and killings at the hands of vigilante mobs. Masih said the court had been "very courageous" to acquit his wife, an illiterate mother in her 50s whose case started in 2009 while she was working in the fields. Citing religious reasons, two Muslim women at the time refused to share a glass of water with her and a fight erupted. Several days later, the pair reported the incident to a local imam, who said Bibi insulted the prophet, a charge she denies. "The current situation is very dangerous for us. We have no security and are hiding here and there, frequently changing our location," Masih said. Bibi's lawyer fled Pakistan on Saturday, fearing for his life. Masih demanded the government reinforce Bibi's protection in prison, worrying that she may be attacked. He cited the case of two Christian men who were shot dead after a court acquitted them in another blasphemy case. "The situation is dangerous for Asia. I feel that her life is not secure," he said. "So I appeal to government to enhance Asia's security in jail".

Asia Bibi's husband calls for her protection, hails court's order as 'very courageous'

Pakistan is unravelling. Protests have erupted like a rash. Hardliners are baying for blood. Their target is a Christian woman. Asia Bibi spent nine years in jail, on death row over a cup of water. She was charged under the draconian blasphemy law. The Supreme Court has commuted the death sentence. But the darbar-e-awaam won't let her live. They want her hanged.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
And they're gunning for everyone in the way.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
The Tehreek e Labaik is openly asking soldiers to revolt, calling into question the suitability of an Ahmadi like Gen Bajwa to head the Pakistani armed forces. They've threatened the Supreme Court judges, forcing them to justify their order. They're mighty upset with Prime Minister Imran Khan who warned them against protesting and promptly flew to Beijing.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
None of this is very surprising, given that it's happening in Pakistan. What's surprising is the certificate of merit being handed out to those in the line of fire. The judiciary has been commended as "bold". The Prime Minister is being congratulated for "displaying political courage." It's the same judiciary that has been dragging its feet on every terror case including 26/11. This is the same Imran Khan who orchestrated crippling protests against Nawaz Sharif. The same man who repeatedly and publicly endorsed the blasphemy law to pander to a section of the electorate. Today he's become the shining beacon of political uprightness. As for the army, the chickens have come home to roost. The fundamentalists they gave teeth to, are now biting them. &nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
The public challenge being issued by the protestors is limiting the maneuverability of those being challenged. They have no choice but to respond with tough words. Tough action may follow, if they have any spine left. But these won't be guided by goodness. The army, the courts and the government in Pakistan are making a virtue out of necessity. 
&nbsp; 
Asia Bibi doesn't deserve this persecution. Just as those being projected as her "protectors" don't deserve any praise. By doing away with her death sentence, they're buying a new lease of life for themselves. &nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Pakistan is unravelling. Protests have erupted like a rash. Hardliners are baying for blood. Their target is a Christian woman. Asia Bibi spent nine years in jail, on death row over a cup of water.

Pakistan is unravelling. Protests have erupted like a rash. Hardliners are baying for blood. Their target is a Christian woman. Asia Bibi spent nine years in jail, on death row over a cup of water. She was charged under the draconian blasphemy law. The Supreme Court has commuted the death sentence. But the darbar-e-awaam won't let her live. They want her hanged. And they're gunning for everyone in the way. The Tehreek e Labaik is openly asking soldiers to revolt, calling into question the suitability of an Ahmadi like Gen Bajwa to head the Pakistani armed forces. They've threatened the Supreme Court judges, forcing them to justify their order. They're mighty upset with Prime Minister Imran Khan who warned them against protesting and promptly flew to Beijing. None of this is very surprising, given that it's happening in Pakistan. What's surprising is the certificate of merit being handed out to those in the line of fire. The judiciary has been commended as "bold". The Prime Minister is being congratulated for "displaying political courage." It's the same judiciary that has been dragging its feet on every terror case including 26/11. This is the same Imran Khan who orchestrated crippling protests against Nawaz Sharif. The same man who repeatedly and publicly endorsed the blasphemy law to pander to a section of the electorate. Today he's become the shining beacon of political uprightness. As for the army, the chickens have come home to roost. The fundamentalists they gave teeth to, are now biting them. The public challenge being issued by the protestors is limiting the maneuverability of those being challenged. They have no choice but to respond with tough words. Tough action may follow, if they have any spine left. But these won't be guided by goodness. The army, the courts and the government in Pakistan are making a virtue out of necessity. Asia Bibi doesn't deserve this persecution. Just as those being projected as her "protectors" don't deserve any praise. By doing away with her death sentence, they're buying a new lease of life for themselves. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Why Asia Bibi's 'protectors' deserve no praise

After the landmark supreme court verdict in Pakistan, acquitting Asia Bibi in the blasphemy case, her lawyer on Thursday has spoken out for the first time.&nbsp;

Saif-ul-Mulook, Asia Bibi's defence lawyer has said that he regrets nothing and will continue his fight against intolerance.&nbsp;

"I don't regret at least, I think it better to die as a brave and strong man than to die as a mouse and fearful person. The religious groups have announced that if judges release her, we will hold our own private court and we will sentence her to death. I mean, thereafter this is immaterial to comment that if she lives here, she will be safe or not," said Saif-ul-Mulook.

"I think I have absolutely now no safety, no security and I am the easiest target, soft target for anybody because I move freely, I go to my office, I go to my courts and anybody can kill me," he added.

Asiya Bibi, a Christian woman, was convicted in a blasphemy case for her alleged comments against Mohammed Prophet during an argument with three Muslim women.

Bibi had categorically denied all the allegations against her.

On Wednesday, Soon after the Supreme Court of Pakistan acquitted Asiya Bibi in the blasphemy case against her, scores of people took to streets and launched massive protests opposing the verdict.

According to Samaa TV, protestors, including workers of political parties, gathered outside the Punjab Assembly after pronouncement of the verdict.

The protests also witnessed violent outbursts as agitators burned tyres in areas of Karachi.

Saif-ul-Mulook's fight against extremism spans the other legal work which he has undertaken. In 2011, he was the lead prosecutor in the case of the assassination of the former Punjab governor Salman Taseer, who was a prominent critic of Pakistan's blasphemy law.

After the landmark supreme court verdict in Pakistan, acquitting Asia Bibi in the blasphemy case, her lawyer on Thursday has spoken out for the first time. Saif-ul-Mulook, Asia Bibi's defence lawyer has said that he regrets nothing and will continue his fight against intolerance.

After the landmark supreme court verdict in Pakistan, acquitting Asia Bibi in the blasphemy case, her lawyer on Thursday has spoken out for the first time. Saif-ul-Mulook, Asia Bibi's defence lawyer has said that he regrets nothing and will continue his fight against intolerance. "I don't regret at least, I think it better to die as a brave and strong man than to die as a mouse and fearful person. The religious groups have announced that if judges release her, we will hold our own private court and we will sentence her to death. I mean, thereafter this is immaterial to comment that if she lives here, she will be safe or not," said Saif-ul-Mulook. "I think I have absolutely now no safety, no security and I am the easiest target, soft target for anybody because I move freely, I go to my office, I go to my courts and anybody can kill me," he added. Asiya Bibi, a Christian woman, was convicted in a blasphemy case for her alleged comments against Mohammed Prophet during an argument with three Muslim women. Bibi had categorically denied all the allegations against her. On Wednesday, Soon after the Supreme Court of Pakistan acquitted Asiya Bibi in the blasphemy case against her, scores of people took to streets and launched massive protests opposing the verdict. According to Samaa TV, protestors, including workers of political parties, gathered outside the Punjab Assembly after pronouncement of the verdict. The protests also witnessed violent outbursts as agitators burned tyres in areas of Karachi. Saif-ul-Mulook's fight against extremism spans the other legal work which he has undertaken. In 2011, he was the lead prosecutor in the case of the assassination of the former Punjab governor Salman Taseer, who was a prominent critic of Pakistan's blasphemy law.

I fear for my life, anybody can kill me, says Asia Bibi's lawyer Saif-ul-Mulook

Asia Bibi, a Christian woman charged under Blasphemy law in Pakistan was acquitted by the Pak Supreme Court today.

Asia was the first woman to be sentenced to death under Pakistan's draconian blasphemy laws. Her case had drawn much global attention and condemnation.

She was charged for Blasphemy over an incident that took place in 2009.

While working in a field in her village Asia entered into a conflict with a neighbour over drinking water from a common glass.

According to reports, the neighbour who had been at loggerheads with Asia due to some property damage, fought with her after she drank the water in a common glass which was kept near the well.

The popular belief of the region restricts christians from drinking water from the same utensil as "they are&nbsp;considered unclean".

The conflict between Asia and the neighbour escalated after other villagers joined the fight.

Asia recalls that she responded to the people who were making derogatory comments on her religion.

She said, "I believe in my religion and in Jesus Christ, who died on the cross for the sins of mankind. What did your Prophet Mohammed ever do to save mankind?"

Asia was also beaten by a mob which attacked her in her house. She was later rescued by the police and was arrested after an investigation.&nbsp;

The police arrested her under Section 295 C of the Pakistan Penal Code after they launched an investigation over her remarks.

While Asia kept denying the charges claiming that she was accused by the neighbour to "settle old score", the workers complained to the cleric that Asia insulted Muhammed.&nbsp;

Asia Bibi was the only christian in the village. Even before the incident, she was repeatedly asked by fellow workers to convert to Islam, she said.

Asia remained in the prison for one year before being formally charged under the law.

She was sentenced to death by hanging in 2010 by a judge at the Sheikhupura court in Punjab. A fine of the equivalent of $1,100 was also imposed on her.

Asiya Bibi was put in solitary confinement in an 8-by-10 foot cell without windows at the Lahore prison.

To save Asia from any potential attack in the jail, the prison superintendent had kept her away from other inmates. She was given raw material to cook her own food out of the fear of being poisoned.&nbsp;

In December 2010, a month after her conviction, a Muslim cleric had announced a 500,000 Pakistani rupee award to anyone who would kill her.

Meanwhile her family had also received consistent threats from the locals, due to which they were forced to go into hiding. The mullas had also threatened that they would kill her if she was released from the jail.

The governor of Punjab Salmaan Taseer and Minority Affairs Minister Shahbaz Bhatti who had extended support to Asia were killed. 
While Taseer was assassinated on January 4, 2011 because of his defence to Asia and opposition to the blasphemy law, Bhatti was shot dead by gunmen &nbsp;on March 2, 2011.

November 2010: Asia was sentenced to death under the blasphemy law

October 16, 2014: Lahore High Court dismissed Asia's appeal and upheld her death sentence.

October 20, 2014: &nbsp;Husband appealed to Pakistan's President for clemency.

October 24, 2014: Lawyer appealed to the Supreme Court.

July 22, 2015: Supreme Court of Pakistan suspended Bibi's death sentence for the duration of the appeals process.

November 2015: Bibi's lead attorney, Naeem Shakir, announced that, after two postponements in 2015, the Lahore High Court would hear an appeal in Bibi's case on 26 March 2016.

October 13, 2016: On the day of the hearing, when it was the turn of the case "Asia Bibi against the state", one of the three members of the bench of judges of that section&nbsp;refused to be part of the bench. His refusal had led to the postponement of the case for an undetermined date.&nbsp;The Judge later resigned in a handwritten letter addressed to the President of Pakistan.

26 April 2017: Chief Justice of Pakistan declined a request for the early hearing of the case of Asia Bibi in the first week of June made by her lawyer.

October 8, 2018: Three judge bench reserved its judgement on the final legal appeal.

October 31 2018: Supreme Court acquitted Asia Bibi of blasphemy charges after accepting her 2015 appeal against her sentence. 
&nbsp;

Asia Bibi, a Christian woman charged under Blasphemy law in Pakistan was acquitted by the Pak Supreme Court today. Asia was the first woman to be sentenced to death under Pakistan's draconian blasphemy laws.

Asia Bibi, a Christian woman charged under Blasphemy law in Pakistan was acquitted by the Pak Supreme Court today. Asia was the first woman to be sentenced to death under Pakistan's draconian blasphemy laws. Her case had drawn much global attention and condemnation. She was charged for Blasphemy over an incident that took place in 2009. While working in a field in her village Asia entered into a conflict with a neighbour over drinking water from a common glass. According to reports, the neighbour who had been at loggerheads with Asia due to some property damage, fought with her after she drank the water in a common glass which was kept near the well. The popular belief of the region restricts christians from drinking water from the same utensil as "they are considered unclean". The conflict between Asia and the neighbour escalated after other villagers joined the fight. Asia recalls that she responded to the people who were making derogatory comments on her religion. She said, "I believe in my religion and in Jesus Christ, who died on the cross for the sins of mankind. What did your Prophet Mohammed ever do to save mankind?" Asia was also beaten by a mob which attacked her in her house. She was later rescued by the police and was arrested after an investigation. The police arrested her under Section 295 C of the Pakistan Penal Code after they launched an investigation over her remarks. While Asia kept denying the charges claiming that she was accused by the neighbour to "settle old score", the workers complained to the cleric that Asia insulted Muhammed. Asia Bibi was the only christian in the village. Even before the incident, she was repeatedly asked by fellow workers to convert to Islam, she said. Asia remained in the prison for one year before being formally charged under the law. She was sentenced to death by hanging in 2010 by a judge at the Sheikhupura court in Punjab. A fine of the equivalent of $1,100 was also imposed on her. Asiya Bibi was put in solitary confinement in an 8-by-10 foot cell without windows at the Lahore prison. To save Asia from any potential attack in the jail, the prison superintendent had kept her away from other inmates. She was given raw material to cook her own food out of the fear of being poisoned. In December 2010, a month after her conviction, a Muslim cleric had announced a 500,000 Pakistani rupee award to anyone who would kill her. Meanwhile her family had also received consistent threats from the locals, due to which they were forced to go into hiding. The mullas had also threatened that they would kill her if she was released from the jail. The governor of Punjab Salmaan Taseer and Minority Affairs Minister Shahbaz Bhatti who had extended support to Asia were killed. While Taseer was assassinated on January 4, 2011 because of his defence to Asia and opposition to the blasphemy law, Bhatti was shot dead by gunmen on March 2, 2011. November 2010: Asia was sentenced to death under the blasphemy law October 16, 2014: Lahore High Court dismissed Asia's appeal and upheld her death sentence. October 20, 2014: Husband appealed to Pakistan's President for clemency. October 24, 2014: Lawyer appealed to the Supreme Court. July 22, 2015: Supreme Court of Pakistan suspended Bibi's death sentence for the duration of the appeals process. November 2015: Bibi's lead attorney, Naeem Shakir, announced that, after two postponements in 2015, the Lahore High Court would hear an appeal in Bibi's case on 26 March 2016. October 13, 2016: On the day of the hearing, when it was the turn of the case "Asia Bibi against the state", one of the three members of the bench of judges of that section refused to be part of the bench. His refusal had led to the postponement of the case for an undetermined date. The Judge later resigned in a handwritten letter addressed to the President of Pakistan. 26 April 2017: Chief Justice of Pakistan declined a request for the early hearing of the case of Asia Bibi in the first week of June made by her lawyer. October 8, 2018: Three judge bench reserved its judgement on the final legal appeal. October 31 2018: Supreme Court acquitted Asia Bibi of blasphemy charges after accepting her 2015 appeal against her sentence.

Timeline: How was Asia Bibi convicted in Blasphemy case

A hard-line Islamist party in Pakistan on Wednesday called for the death of the chief justice of the Supreme Court and two other judges who overturned the death sentence of a Christian woman convicted of blasphemy.

The leader of the Tehreek-e-Labaik (TLP) party also called for the ouster of Prime Minister Imran Khan's government over the case of Asia Bibi, who was ordered freed by a Supreme Court panel earlier in the day.

"The patron in chief of TLP, Muhammad Afzal Qadri, has issued the edict that says the chief justice and all those who ordered the release of Asia deserve death," said party spokesman Ejaz Ashrafi.

The party has launched street protests blocking roads in major cities to condemn the ruling, which was welcomed by human rights advocates.

A hard-line Islamist party in Pakistan on Wednesday called for the death of the chief justice of the Supreme Court and two other judges who overturned the death sentence of a Christian woman convicted of blasphemy.

A hard-line Islamist party in Pakistan on Wednesday called for the death of the chief justice of the Supreme Court and two other judges who overturned the death sentence of a Christian woman convicted of blasphemy. The leader of the Tehreek-e-Labaik (TLP) party also called for the ouster of Prime Minister Imran Khan's government over the case of Asia Bibi, who was ordered freed by a Supreme Court panel earlier in the day. "The patron in chief of TLP, Muhammad Afzal Qadri, has issued the edict that says the chief justice and all those who ordered the release of Asia deserve death," said party spokesman Ejaz Ashrafi. The party has launched street protests blocking roads in major cities to condemn the ruling, which was welcomed by human rights advocates.

Pakistani Islamist party calls for death of judges who freed Christian woman sentenced for blasphemy

A hardline Pakistani Islamist group has warned of "terrible consequences" if a Christian woman sentenced to death for blasphemy is granted leniency in her appeal due to begin on Monday, a case that has drawn global headlines and indignation.

The Supreme Court is set to hear an appeal by Asia Bibi, a mother of four, who in 2010 became the first woman to be sentenced to death under Pakistan's draconian blasphemy laws. This is due to be her final appeal, media reported.

Her case has outraged Christians worldwide and been a source of division within Pakistan, where two politicians who sought to help Bibi were assassinated, including Punjab governor Salman Taseer, who was shot by his own bodyguard.

The ultra-religious Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) party, which makes punishing blasphemy its main campaign rallying cry and lionizes the bodyguard who killed Taseer, warned the court against any "concession or softness" for Bibi.

"If there is any attempt to hand her over to a foreign country, there will be terrible consequences," TLP said in a statement.

Insulting Islam's prophet is punishable by death under Pakistani law, and blasphemy accusations stir such emotions that they are almost impossible to defend against. Dozens have been killed following blasphemy claims, sometimes by mobs of men.

TLP won over 2 million votes in the July 25 elections, though it has no parliamentarians in the National Assembly and only holds two provincial seats. But it wields outsized influence due to street power of its die-hard supporters.

In November, TLP staged a crippling blockade of the capital after a tweak to a religious oath, which it claims was tantamount to blasphemy. Seven people were killed and more than 200 wounded in clashes with the police and TLP's supporters only dispersed after striking a deal with the military.

In May, an extremist linked to TLP shot and wounded Pakistan's then-Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal.

Bibi was sentenced to death for allegedly making derogatory remarks about Islam after neighbours objected to her drinking water from their glass because she was not Muslim.

Bibi has always denied blaspheming and her representatives have claimed she was involved in a dispute with her neighbours and that her accusers had contradicted themselves.

Rights groups say the blasphemy law is increasingly exploited by religious extremists as well as ordinary Pakistanis to settle personal scores. The law does not define blasphemy and evidence might not be reproduced in court for fear of committing a fresh offence.

"Aasia Bibi has become a symbol of all that happens to religious minorities where class and prejudice intersect and a dysfunctional justice system is unable to protect Pakistan’s non-Muslim citizens," the English-language Daily Times said in an editorial on Monday.

A hardline Pakistani Islamist group has warned of "terrible consequences" if a Christian woman sentenced to death for blasphemy is granted leniency in her appeal due to begin on Monday, a case that has drawn global headlines and indignation.

A hardline Pakistani Islamist group has warned of "terrible consequences" if a Christian woman sentenced to death for blasphemy is granted leniency in her appeal due to begin on Monday, a case that has drawn global headlines and indignation. The Supreme Court is set to hear an appeal by Asia Bibi, a mother of four, who in 2010 became the first woman to be sentenced to death under Pakistan's draconian blasphemy laws. This is due to be her final appeal, media reported. Her case has outraged Christians worldwide and been a source of division within Pakistan, where two politicians who sought to help Bibi were assassinated, including Punjab governor Salman Taseer, who was shot by his own bodyguard. The ultra-religious Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) party, which makes punishing blasphemy its main campaign rallying cry and lionizes the bodyguard who killed Taseer, warned the court against any "concession or softness" for Bibi. "If there is any attempt to hand her over to a foreign country, there will be terrible consequences," TLP said in a statement. Insulting Islam's prophet is punishable by death under Pakistani law, and blasphemy accusations stir such emotions that they are almost impossible to defend against. Dozens have been killed following blasphemy claims, sometimes by mobs of men. TLP won over 2 million votes in the July 25 elections, though it has no parliamentarians in the National Assembly and only holds two provincial seats. But it wields outsized influence due to street power of its die-hard supporters. In November, TLP staged a crippling blockade of the capital after a tweak to a religious oath, which it claims was tantamount to blasphemy. Seven people were killed and more than 200 wounded in clashes with the police and TLP's supporters only dispersed after striking a deal with the military. In May, an extremist linked to TLP shot and wounded Pakistan's then-Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal. Bibi was sentenced to death for allegedly making derogatory remarks about Islam after neighbours objected to her drinking water from their glass because she was not Muslim. Bibi has always denied blaspheming and her representatives have claimed she was involved in a dispute with her neighbours and that her accusers had contradicted themselves. Rights groups say the blasphemy law is increasingly exploited by religious extremists as well as ordinary Pakistanis to settle personal scores. The law does not define blasphemy and evidence might not be reproduced in court for fear of committing a fresh offence. "Aasia Bibi has become a symbol of all that happens to religious minorities where class and prejudice intersect and a dysfunctional justice system is unable to protect Pakistan’s non-Muslim citizens," the English-language Daily Times said in an editorial on Monday.

Pakistani Islamists warn of 'terrible consequences' over blasphemy appeal

The gunman accused of shooting and wounding <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pak-interior-minister-ahsan-iqbal-was-an-easy-target-says-primary-suspect-after-assassination-attempt-135300">Pakistan's interior minister</a> is a youth leader of a hardline religious group that sees its mission as enforcing death for blasphemers and ridding government of secular influence, police said in a report.

Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal was shot on Sunday as he was leaving a constituency meeting surrounded by supporters in Punjab province.

He is in hospital and out of danger but the attack has shaken the political establishment ahead of a general election expected in July.

The suspected gunman, arrested at the scene, is Abid Hussain, 21, a youth leader of the Islamist Tehreek-e-Labaik party, police said in an interrogation report seen by Reuters on Tuesday.

The party, known as Labaik, has made the emotive issue of blasphemy its rallying cry in a country where for years hardline Islamists have vied for power with civilian politicians and a coup-prone military.

Hussain told police he was inspired by the teachings of founders of the Labaik and joined a party blockade of the capital, Islamabad, in November aimed at forcing out a government minister they accused of blasphemy over a change to an oath-taking law.

According to police, Hussain said he had dreamt Ali Hajveri, an 11th century Muslim preacher revered in South Asia, "ordered me to kill Ahsan Iqbal".

Labaik denied that Hussain was a member of the party.

"We have nothing to do with him," spokesman Ejaz Ashrafi told Reuters.

But a founding member of Labaik, Pir Afzal Qadri, said Iqbal and his Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party had invited trouble by committing blasphemy when they changed an election law in a way some said weakened an oath declaring Mohammad the last true prophet.

"They have done so much wrong," Qadri said in a video message. "It is their fault, they themselves are responsible for this. These people are inviting attacks."

'Send them to Hell'

Iqbal's shooting has stoked fears of a repeat of the pre-election Islamist violence that has blighted polls before, including the 2007 assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.

It has also compounded unease about blasphemy.

Even accusations of blasphemy can lead to mob killings and those convicted of blasphemy face the death penalty, though no death sentences for it have been carried out.

Many clerics say even to suggest change to the blasphemy law is blasphemy.

In November, Labaik blocked a main road into the capital for several days over the small change to the election law. The government explained the change as a clerical error and reversed it. The minister responsible resigned.

Hussain joined the protests determined to "send any blasphemer to hell", police said in their report.

Seven people were killed and 200 wounded when police tried to clear the blockade.

Qadri said Iqbal, as interior minister, was responsible for the attack on him as he had ordered the police action.

"It is regrettable that the whole world is making hue and cry just because he got one bullet, and not a single arrest has so far been made in the martyrdom of the seven people," Qadri said.

Police said Hussain had cited the example of Mumtaz Qadri, a bodyguard of the governor of Punjab who gunned down the man he was meant to protect in 2011 over the governor's call for reform of the blasphemy law.

Qadri, who was convicted of murder, sentenced to death and executed in 2016, has become a martyr for hardliners, and Labaik emerged out of a movement that lionised him.

Hussain bought a pistol several months ago and later got hold of bullets, police said in the report.

Two days before the shooting, he got a WhatsApp message from a resident of the town where Iqbal was shot, telling him the minister was due.

Hours before the meeting, Hussain washed, put on smart clothes and went early to wait, police said.

"When Ahsan Iqbal came down from the stage and was encircled with party workers, Abid stood up and fired."

&nbsp;

The gunman accused of shooting and wounding Pakistan's interior minister is a youth leader of a hardline religious group that sees it mission as enforcing death for blasphemers and ridding government of secular influence, police said in a report

The gunman accused of shooting and wounding Pakistan's interior minister is a youth leader of a hardline religious group that sees its mission as enforcing death for blasphemers and ridding government of secular influence, police said in a report. Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal was shot on Sunday as he was leaving a constituency meeting surrounded by supporters in Punjab province. He is in hospital and out of danger but the attack has shaken the political establishment ahead of a general election expected in July. The suspected gunman, arrested at the scene, is Abid Hussain, 21, a youth leader of the Islamist Tehreek-e-Labaik party, police said in an interrogation report seen by Reuters on Tuesday. The party, known as Labaik, has made the emotive issue of blasphemy its rallying cry in a country where for years hardline Islamists have vied for power with civilian politicians and a coup-prone military. Hussain told police he was inspired by the teachings of founders of the Labaik and joined a party blockade of the capital, Islamabad, in November aimed at forcing out a government minister they accused of blasphemy over a change to an oath-taking law. According to police, Hussain said he had dreamt Ali Hajveri, an 11th century Muslim preacher revered in South Asia, "ordered me to kill Ahsan Iqbal". Labaik denied that Hussain was a member of the party. "We have nothing to do with him," spokesman Ejaz Ashrafi told Reuters. But a founding member of Labaik, Pir Afzal Qadri, said Iqbal and his Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party had invited trouble by committing blasphemy when they changed an election law in a way some said weakened an oath declaring Mohammad the last true prophet. "They have done so much wrong," Qadri said in a video message. "It is their fault, they themselves are responsible for this. These people are inviting attacks." 'Send them to Hell' Iqbal's shooting has stoked fears of a repeat of the pre-election Islamist violence that has blighted polls before, including the 2007 assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto. It has also compounded unease about blasphemy. Even accusations of blasphemy can lead to mob killings and those convicted of blasphemy face the death penalty, though no death sentences for it have been carried out. Many clerics say even to suggest change to the blasphemy law is blasphemy. In November, Labaik blocked a main road into the capital for several days over the small change to the election law. The government explained the change as a clerical error and reversed it. The minister responsible resigned. Hussain joined the protests determined to "send any blasphemer to hell", police said in their report. Seven people were killed and 200 wounded when police tried to clear the blockade. Qadri said Iqbal, as interior minister, was responsible for the attack on him as he had ordered the police action. "It is regrettable that the whole world is making hue and cry just because he got one bullet, and not a single arrest has so far been made in the martyrdom of the seven people," Qadri said. Police said Hussain had cited the example of Mumtaz Qadri, a bodyguard of the governor of Punjab who gunned down the man he was meant to protect in 2011 over the governor's call for reform of the blasphemy law. Qadri, who was convicted of murder, sentenced to death and executed in 2016, has become a martyr for hardliners, and Labaik emerged out of a movement that lionised him. Hussain bought a pistol several months ago and later got hold of bullets, police said in the report. Two days before the shooting, he got a WhatsApp message from a resident of the town where Iqbal was shot, telling him the minister was due. Hours before the meeting, Hussain washed, put on smart clothes and went early to wait, police said. "When Ahsan Iqbal came down from the stage and was encircled with party workers, Abid stood up and fired."

Islamist group youth leader accused of shooting Pakistani minister: Police

Two headlines this month beg the question US officials have been grappling with for more than a decade: Will the real Pakistan stand up, please?

Pakistan's The News reported that the government had designated Islamabad as a pilot project to regulate Friday prayer sermons in the city's 1,003 mosques, of which only 86 are state-controlled, in a bid to curb hate speech, extremism and demonisation of religions and communities.

The project is modelled on procedures in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt that are primarily intended to exert political control. The Islamabad project is in part designed to counter mounting criticism by the Trump administration, which has suspended funding to Pakistan, as well as growing unease in China over what Pakistani militancy could mean for its massive investment in the country.

It is also intended to support Pakistani efforts to evade blacklisting by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), a 37-member inter-governmental agency that polices adherence to anti-money laundering and funding of political violence measures.

The government has drawn up a list of 44 subjects on which prayer leaders should focus in their sermons. They include women rights, Muslim unity, Islamic principles of trade, cleanliness and health, concepts of an Islamic state, the importance of hard work, tolerance, and honesty, and the notion of the finality of the Prophet Mohammed.

The belief that Mohammed was the last prophet or Khatm-e-Nabuwwat is core to Muslim faith. Yet, it has allowed Sunni Muslim ultra-conservatives and others to whip up popular emotion in pursuit of political objectives, nowhere more so than in Pakistan where a draconian anti-blasphemy law has aided and abetted them.

The military late last year mediated an end to a weeks-long blockade of a main artery leading into Islamabad that disrupted traffic in multiple cities to protest a perceived softening of the government's adherence to Islam in a proposed piece of legislation. The protesters successfully called for the resignation of the justice minister for failing to refer to Prophet Mohammad in a constitutional bill.

The second headline reported that Islamabad High Court judge Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui demanded in a ruling that Parliament "take measures which can completely terminate those who scar (the belief in Khatm-e-Nabuwwat)."

Justice Siddiqui sits on the bench of a courthouse that last year had graffiti in a corridor demanding that blasphemers be beheaded. Siddiqui, who has defined blasphemers as terrorists, was ruling in a case brought before him by some of the protesters who had blockaded traffic that would effectively bar from public service Ahmadis, a sect considered heretic by orthodox Muslims because it views its 19th century founder, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, as a prophet.

Pressured by Saudi Arabia, Pakistan in 1974 excommunicated Ahmadis in a constitutional amendment that enshrined the principle of Khatm-e-Nabuwwat as integral to the Islamic faith. Pakistani President Zia ul-Haq criminalised Ahmadi practices a decade later by barring Ahmadis from "posing as Muslims" or using Islamic titles, greetings, scriptures or calls to prayer.

Siddiqui's ruling appeared to contradict the government's effort to get a grip on expressions of Sunni Muslim supremacism that amount to hate speech and discrimination of the other in a country in which extremism has been fuelled by intolerant, anti-pluralistic views.

The ruling, despite paying lip service to constitutional guarantees of "complete religious freedom, including all the basic rights of the minorities (non-Muslims)" and the state's obligation to "protect their life, wealth, property, dignity and protect their assets as citizens of Pakistan," spotlights contradictions in the constitution.

On one hand, the constitution recognises the principle of Khatm-e-Nabuwwat. On the other, Article 20 enshrines the notion of freedom of religion while Article 27 bans discrimination in recruitment for public office.

Without explicitly identifying Ahmadis, Siddiqui said it was "alarming" that "one of the minorities" was "often mistaken for being Muslims" due to their names and general attire. He warned that this "can lead them to gain access to dignified and sensitive posts, along with benefits."

Human rights activists and lawyers have called for the ruling to be challenged in the Supreme Court. "This is clear hate speech. What is the judge asking them to be terminated from? Their jobs? Doesn’t that take away their basic right to life and dignity?" said lawyer and human rights activist Jibran Nasir.

The plaintiffs in Siddiqui's case were supporters of Tehreek Labbaik Pakistan (TPL), a political front for Tehreek Labbaik Ya Rasool Allah (TLR), which glorifies Mumtaz Qadri, who was executed in 2016 for killing Punjab governor Salman Taseer because of his opposition to Pakistan's blasphemy law.

Tens of thousands attended Qadri's funeral and his supporters have built a well-frequented shrine to honour him in his home town. Lawyers associated with TPL have instigated multiple blasphemy cases in Pakistani courts.

The Lahore-based Centre for Social Justice estimated that at least 1,472 people have been charged with blasphemy 1987 and 2016. Of the 730 Muslims charged, 501 were Ahmadis.

Activists and scholars argue that a rollback of the country's blasphemy law which applies the death sentence to those convicted is a requirement if Pakistan is serious about combating extremism. A study by political scientist Nilay Saiya of 51 Muslim majority countries concluded that those that enforced ant-blasphemy laws were more susceptible to political violence.

"Both the concept of blasphemy and the prescription of any sort of punishment for its occurrence stand contrary to the Qu'ran... The modern invocation of religious defamation laws stems from political leaders in Muslim-majority states... who have exploited such laws as a crafty way to use religion for political purposes including inflaming religious sensibilities, silencing criticism of the regime, generating patriotism, fostering national cohesion, co-opting Islamic supporters, and undercutting detractors," Saiya said.

Saiya argued that blasphemy laws encourage militants to attack with impunity individuals, homes, places of worship, and businesses of those believed to be blasphemers in the knowledge that the state will turn a blind eye to their actions.

"Violent non-state actors thus feel empowered to commit acts of terrorism with little or no fear of governmental reprisal because blasphemy laws, in effect, lend the authority of the state to religious figures and reinforce extreme views. Rather than control the forces of extremism, blasphemy laws appease and encourage them. The result, expectedly, is that states that attempt to curry favour with radicals embolden them to take matters into their own hands eventually such countries fall prey to violence carried out by those same radicals," Saiya said.

"The vagueness of the (Pakistani) language concerning blasphemy allowed radicals to interpret the code in very loose ways and open-endedly persecute those believed to be guilty of defiling, in any way, 'the sacred name of the Holy Prophet Muhammad'... Pakistan's blasphemy law thus opened the floodgate for extremism and terrorism which the government was unable to subsequently control," Saiya added.

Given Saiya's analysis, both headlines represent Pakistan. The problem, however, is that the Pakistan that wants to reign in supremacism, hate speech and extremism has little chance of succeeding with out far-reaching political and legal change that would uproot the vested interests of the Pakistan that sees religious and political militancy as a useful tool.

That may be a step too far for those interests even if they recognise a need to be seen to be advocating change with band-aid solutions like trying to control Friday prayer sermons.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the authors and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

The Pakistan that wants to reign in supremacism, hate speech and extremism has little chance of succeeding with out far-reaching political and legal change.

Two headlines this month beg the question US officials have been grappling with for more than a decade: Will the real Pakistan stand up, please? Pakistan's The News reported that the government had designated Islamabad as a pilot project to regulate Friday prayer sermons in the city's 1,003 mosques, of which only 86 are state-controlled, in a bid to curb hate speech, extremism and demonisation of religions and communities. The project is modelled on procedures in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt that are primarily intended to exert political control. The Islamabad project is in part designed to counter mounting criticism by the Trump administration, which has suspended funding to Pakistan, as well as growing unease in China over what Pakistani militancy could mean for its massive investment in the country. It is also intended to support Pakistani efforts to evade blacklisting by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), a 37-member inter-governmental agency that polices adherence to anti-money laundering and funding of political violence measures. The government has drawn up a list of 44 subjects on which prayer leaders should focus in their sermons. They include women rights, Muslim unity, Islamic principles of trade, cleanliness and health, concepts of an Islamic state, the importance of hard work, tolerance, and honesty, and the notion of the finality of the Prophet Mohammed. The belief that Mohammed was the last prophet or Khatm-e-Nabuwwat is core to Muslim faith. Yet, it has allowed Sunni Muslim ultra-conservatives and others to whip up popular emotion in pursuit of political objectives, nowhere more so than in Pakistan where a draconian anti-blasphemy law has aided and abetted them. The military late last year mediated an end to a weeks-long blockade of a main artery leading into Islamabad that disrupted traffic in multiple cities to protest a perceived softening of the government's adherence to Islam in a proposed piece of legislation. The protesters successfully called for the resignation of the justice minister for failing to refer to Prophet Mohammad in a constitutional bill. The second headline reported that Islamabad High Court judge Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui demanded in a ruling that Parliament "take measures which can completely terminate those who scar (the belief in Khatm-e-Nabuwwat)." Justice Siddiqui sits on the bench of a courthouse that last year had graffiti in a corridor demanding that blasphemers be beheaded. Siddiqui, who has defined blasphemers as terrorists, was ruling in a case brought before him by some of the protesters who had blockaded traffic that would effectively bar from public service Ahmadis, a sect considered heretic by orthodox Muslims because it views its 19th century founder, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, as a prophet. Pressured by Saudi Arabia, Pakistan in 1974 excommunicated Ahmadis in a constitutional amendment that enshrined the principle of Khatm-e-Nabuwwat as integral to the Islamic faith. Pakistani President Zia ul-Haq criminalised Ahmadi practices a decade later by barring Ahmadis from "posing as Muslims" or using Islamic titles, greetings, scriptures or calls to prayer. Siddiqui's ruling appeared to contradict the government's effort to get a grip on expressions of Sunni Muslim supremacism that amount to hate speech and discrimination of the other in a country in which extremism has been fuelled by intolerant, anti-pluralistic views. The ruling, despite paying lip service to constitutional guarantees of "complete religious freedom, including all the basic rights of the minorities (non-Muslims)" and the state's obligation to "protect their life, wealth, property, dignity and protect their assets as citizens of Pakistan," spotlights contradictions in the constitution. On one hand, the constitution recognises the principle of Khatm-e-Nabuwwat. On the other, Article 20 enshrines the notion of freedom of religion while Article 27 bans discrimination in recruitment for public office. Without explicitly identifying Ahmadis, Siddiqui said it was "alarming" that "one of the minorities" was "often mistaken for being Muslims" due to their names and general attire. He warned that this "can lead them to gain access to dignified and sensitive posts, along with benefits." Human rights activists and lawyers have called for the ruling to be challenged in the Supreme Court. "This is clear hate speech. What is the judge asking them to be terminated from? Their jobs? Doesn’t that take away their basic right to life and dignity?" said lawyer and human rights activist Jibran Nasir. The plaintiffs in Siddiqui's case were supporters of Tehreek Labbaik Pakistan (TPL), a political front for Tehreek Labbaik Ya Rasool Allah (TLR), which glorifies Mumtaz Qadri, who was executed in 2016 for killing Punjab governor Salman Taseer because of his opposition to Pakistan's blasphemy law. Tens of thousands attended Qadri's funeral and his supporters have built a well-frequented shrine to honour him in his home town. Lawyers associated with TPL have instigated multiple blasphemy cases in Pakistani courts. The Lahore-based Centre for Social Justice estimated that at least 1,472 people have been charged with blasphemy 1987 and 2016. Of the 730 Muslims charged, 501 were Ahmadis. Activists and scholars argue that a rollback of the country's blasphemy law which applies the death sentence to those convicted is a requirement if Pakistan is serious about combating extremism. A study by political scientist Nilay Saiya of 51 Muslim majority countries concluded that those that enforced ant-blasphemy laws were more susceptible to political violence. "Both the concept of blasphemy and the prescription of any sort of punishment for its occurrence stand contrary to the Qu'ran... The modern invocation of religious defamation laws stems from political leaders in Muslim-majority states... who have exploited such laws as a crafty way to use religion for political purposes including inflaming religious sensibilities, silencing criticism of the regime, generating patriotism, fostering national cohesion, co-opting Islamic supporters, and undercutting detractors," Saiya said. Saiya argued that blasphemy laws encourage militants to attack with impunity individuals, homes, places of worship, and businesses of those believed to be blasphemers in the knowledge that the state will turn a blind eye to their actions. "Violent non-state actors thus feel empowered to commit acts of terrorism with little or no fear of governmental reprisal because blasphemy laws, in effect, lend the authority of the state to religious figures and reinforce extreme views. Rather than control the forces of extremism, blasphemy laws appease and encourage them. The result, expectedly, is that states that attempt to curry favour with radicals embolden them to take matters into their own hands eventually such countries fall prey to violence carried out by those same radicals," Saiya said. "The vagueness of the (Pakistani) language concerning blasphemy allowed radicals to interpret the code in very loose ways and open-endedly persecute those believed to be guilty of defiling, in any way, 'the sacred name of the Holy Prophet Muhammad'... Pakistan's blasphemy law thus opened the floodgate for extremism and terrorism which the government was unable to subsequently control," Saiya added. Given Saiya's analysis, both headlines represent Pakistan. The problem, however, is that the Pakistan that wants to reign in supremacism, hate speech and extremism has little chance of succeeding with out far-reaching political and legal change that would uproot the vested interests of the Pakistan that sees religious and political militancy as a useful tool. That may be a step too far for those interests even if they recognise a need to be seen to be advocating change with band-aid solutions like trying to control Friday prayer sermons. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the authors and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Will the real Pakistan stand up, please?

Nearly 74 per cent of blasphemy-related cases have been reported in the Punjab Province in Pakistan, according to a report by the country&#39;s Center for Social Justice (CSJ) on Monday.

The report revealed that there has been an &quot;extraordinary increase&quot; in the number of blasphemy cases in the Punjab Province for the last three decades, especially in Lahore district.

It also stated that over 11 per cent of all blasphemy cases in Pakistan originated from Lahore district. Around 173 cases have been verified in the district, The Express Tribune reported.

Out of the 75 people killed in relation to alleged blasphemy until January this year, 14 murders took place in Lahore, including the murder of retired Pakistani judge Arif Iqbal Bhatti. In relation to blasphemy cases, at least four murders took place during police custody or in prison, the report added.

&quot;The stories of men and women of different faiths present shocking accounts of brutality and enormous suffering of helpless victims. Hundreds of people have been tortured, jailed, and imprisoned. Property worth billions of rupees were destroyed by an angry mob on the Lahore Mall Road in 2006 and at Joseph Colony in 2013. But the economic loss is only the tip of the iceberg compared to the social, political and cultural consequences in Lahore&quot;, the CSJ said in a statement.

&quot;Recent studies by Amnesty International have documented that the blasphemy law is widely abused to perpetrate hate crimes based on religion, regulate personal vendettas and perpetuate economic injustice,&quot; it added.

The report also highlighted that Lahore district was home to many groups promoting religious intolerance and it was due to this that the district has become an &quot;epicentre&quot; of the abuse of blasphemy laws.

The report also stated that over 11 per cent of all blasphemy cases in Pakistan originated from Lahore district

Nearly 74 per cent of blasphemy-related cases have been reported in the Punjab Province in Pakistan, according to a report by the country's Center for Social Justice (CSJ) on Monday. The report revealed that there has been an "extraordinary increase" in the number of blasphemy cases in the Punjab Province for the last three decades, especially in Lahore district. It also stated that over 11 per cent of all blasphemy cases in Pakistan originated from Lahore district. Around 173 cases have been verified in the district, The Express Tribune reported. Out of the 75 people killed in relation to alleged blasphemy until January this year, 14 murders took place in Lahore, including the murder of retired Pakistani judge Arif Iqbal Bhatti. In relation to blasphemy cases, at least four murders took place during police custody or in prison, the report added. "The stories of men and women of different faiths present shocking accounts of brutality and enormous suffering of helpless victims. Hundreds of people have been tortured, jailed, and imprisoned. Property worth billions of rupees were destroyed by an angry mob on the Lahore Mall Road in 2006 and at Joseph Colony in 2013. But the economic loss is only the tip of the iceberg compared to the social, political and cultural consequences in Lahore", the CSJ said in a statement. "Recent studies by Amnesty International have documented that the blasphemy law is widely abused to perpetrate hate crimes based on religion, regulate personal vendettas and perpetuate economic injustice," it added. The report also highlighted that Lahore district was home to many groups promoting religious intolerance and it was due to this that the district has become an "epicentre" of the abuse of blasphemy laws.

74 per cent blasphemy cases reported from Punjab Province in Pak: report

Rome&#39;s ancient Colosseum was lit in red on Saturday in solidarity with persecuted Christians, particularly Asia Bibi, a woman condemned to death under Pakistan&#39;s blasphemy laws.

Hundreds gathered on a rainy night outside the Roman amphitheatre that is a symbol of the martyrdom of early Christians to hear the husband and daughter of Asia Bibi.

The Catholic woman has been living on death row in Pakistan since 2010 when she was condemned for allegedly making derogatory remarks about Islam after neighbours objected to her drinking water from their glass because she was not Muslim.

Human rights groups such as Amnesty International say the blasphemy law is increasingly exploited by religious extremists as well as ordinary Pakistanis to settle personal scores.

&quot;The aim of the blasphemy laws is crush people who believe differently,&quot; Archbishop Nunzio Galantino, secretary-general of the Italian bishops conference, told the gathering.

The law does not define blasphemy and evidence might not be reproduced in court for fear of committing a fresh offence. There are no penalties for false accusations.

Asia Bibi&#39;s case drew international attention after the murder of two politicians who tried to intervene on her behalf.

At the Rome gathering, her husband Ashiq Masih said his wife was innocent of blasphemy. &quot;This is just hate against Christians, who are considered impure,&quot; he said.

The husband and daughter, who broke down in tears as she addressed the group, were earlier received by Pope Francis, who told her: &quot;I think often of your mother and I pray for her&quot;.

European Parliament President Antonio Tajani, who has been tipped as a possible Italian prime minister after next week&#39;s election, said that persecution of Christians was &quot;a genocide&quot;.

&quot;A message must be sent from this place. It is the duty of Europe to defend these values (of religious liberty) wherever on earth they are trampled on,&quot; Tajani said.

Rebecca Bitrus, a Nigerian Christian woman who was held for two years after she was abducted by Boko Haram Islamist militants, told of how she was repeatedly beaten and raped.

During the event, organised by the Catholic group &quot;Aid to the Church in Need,&quot; there were live link-ups with Aleppo, Syria, and Mosul, Iraq, both of whose minority Christian populations have been hit hard by wars.

Hundreds gathered on a rainy night outside the Roman amphitheater that is a symbol of the martyrdom of early Christians to hear the husband and daughter of Asia Bibi

Rome's ancient Colosseum was lit in red on Saturday in solidarity with persecuted Christians, particularly Asia Bibi, a woman condemned to death under Pakistan's blasphemy laws. Hundreds gathered on a rainy night outside the Roman amphitheatre that is a symbol of the martyrdom of early Christians to hear the husband and daughter of Asia Bibi. The Catholic woman has been living on death row in Pakistan since 2010 when she was condemned for allegedly making derogatory remarks about Islam after neighbours objected to her drinking water from their glass because she was not Muslim. Human rights groups such as Amnesty International say the blasphemy law is increasingly exploited by religious extremists as well as ordinary Pakistanis to settle personal scores. "The aim of the blasphemy laws is crush people who believe differently," Archbishop Nunzio Galantino, secretary-general of the Italian bishops conference, told the gathering. The law does not define blasphemy and evidence might not be reproduced in court for fear of committing a fresh offence. There are no penalties for false accusations. Asia Bibi's case drew international attention after the murder of two politicians who tried to intervene on her behalf. At the Rome gathering, her husband Ashiq Masih said his wife was innocent of blasphemy. "This is just hate against Christians, who are considered impure," he said. The husband and daughter, who broke down in tears as she addressed the group, were earlier received by Pope Francis, who told her: "I think often of your mother and I pray for her". European Parliament President Antonio Tajani, who has been tipped as a possible Italian prime minister after next week's election, said that persecution of Christians was "a genocide". "A message must be sent from this place. It is the duty of Europe to defend these values (of religious liberty) wherever on earth they are trampled on," Tajani said. Rebecca Bitrus, a Nigerian Christian woman who was held for two years after she was abducted by Boko Haram Islamist militants, told of how she was repeatedly beaten and raped. During the event, organised by the Catholic group "Aid to the Church in Need," there were live link-ups with Aleppo, Syria, and Mosul, Iraq, both of whose minority Christian populations have been hit hard by wars.

Rome's Colosseum turned red to protest Pakistan blasphemy law

A Christian man accused of blasphemy in Pakistan reportedly jumped off the fourth floor of the building of an investigation agency here, according to officials.

Sajjad Masih, 28, who has been in critical condition at Mayo Hospital, said the FIA had called him to their headquarters at Regal Chowk to record statement. He said the officials allegedly tortured him and snatched his mobile phone.

They asked me to abuse myself, but I refused to do so. Later, they asked me to sexually assault my cousin, but I remained silent and jumped from the building,&nbsp;he said.

An FIA spokesman, however, rejected the allegation, saying the suspect was called for inquiry because he was a member of the Facebook group allegedly involved in sharing blasphemous material.

&quot;The suspect was asked to unlock his mobile phone. He got panicky and jumped from the building. No one even had touched him (suspect),&quot; the spokesperson added.

According to doctors, Masih had life changing injuries. &quot;He has multiple fractures on his legs, ribs and jaw. However, his condition is out of danger,&quot; the doctors said.

Police had arrested Masih a few days ago after the activists of Tehreek-e-Labaik Ya Rasool Allah (TLYRA) and other religious parties gathered in Shahdara area and surrounded the Christian families living over there demanding to produce him before them.

Police stopped them from entering the Christian colony and arrested Masih and shifted him at an undisclosed location.

Later police handed Masih over to FIA. Maish is accused of posting blasphemous content about Muslim&#39;s holy places on his Facebook account.

A senior FIA official told PTI that the agency had suspended two officials for their negligence in the matter.

&quot;A inquiry has been initiated against four officials. If found guilty punitive action will be taken against them,&quot; he said.&nbsp;

A Christian man accused of blasphemy in Pakistan reportedly jumped off the fourth floor of the building of an investigation agency here, according to officials. Sajjad Masih, 28, who has been in critical condition at Mayo Hospital, said the FIA had called him to their headquarters at Regal Chowk to record statement. He said the officials allegedly tortured him and snatched his mobile phone. They asked me to abuse myself, but I refused to do so. Later, they asked me to sexually assault my cousin, but I remained silent and jumped from the building, he said. An FIA spokesman, however, rejected the allegation, saying the suspect was called for inquiry because he was a member of the Facebook group allegedly involved in sharing blasphemous material. "The suspect was asked to unlock his mobile phone. He got panicky and jumped from the building. No one even had touched him (suspect)," the spokesperson added. According to doctors, Masih had life changing injuries. "He has multiple fractures on his legs, ribs and jaw. However, his condition is out of danger," the doctors said. Police had arrested Masih a few days ago after the activists of Tehreek-e-Labaik Ya Rasool Allah (TLYRA) and other religious parties gathered in Shahdara area and surrounded the Christian families living over there demanding to produce him before them. Police stopped them from entering the Christian colony and arrested Masih and shifted him at an undisclosed location. Later police handed Masih over to FIA. Maish is accused of posting blasphemous content about Muslim's holy places on his Facebook account. A senior FIA official told PTI that the agency had suspended two officials for their negligence in the matter. "A inquiry has been initiated against four officials. If found guilty punitive action will be taken against them," he said.

Christian man jumps off FIA building in Pakistan

A class XIIth student on Monday gunned down his school principal over alleged blasphemy in Pakistan&#39;s restive Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, police said.

The incident occurred within the premises of privately-run Islamia College in Charsadda district.

Sareer Khan was killed by Fahim Ashraf who was later arrested with a gun, district police chief Zahoor Afridi said.

&quot;The student was raising slogans at the time of his arrest that he killed a blasphemer but so far no evidence of blasphemy has been found against the victim,&quot; Afridi said.

Sources in the college contradicted blasphemy claims, saying that the principal had Masters of Arts (MA) degree in Islamic Studies and was also a Hafiz-e-Quran, meaning he had memorised the entire Holy Quran.

Ashraf was angry at the principal who marked him absent when he missed classes for three consecutive days in November last year to attend a protest by religious groups, they said.

He also had an argument with the principal over the issue some days back.

Afridi said that an investigation was being carried out and facts would be made public.

Meanwhile, college students and relatives of the accused blocked a road and disrupted traffic but the district administration pacified them.

Blasphemy is a highly sensitive issue in Pakistan and people have been killed in the past on mere suspicion.

Mashal Khan, a university student, was lynched last year by a mob of fellow students in Charsadda over alleged blasphemy, which was never proved by the police.

Blasphemy is a highly sensitive issue in Pakistan and people have been killed in the past on mere suspicion

A class XIIth student on Monday gunned down his school principal over alleged blasphemy in Pakistan's restive Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, police said. The incident occurred within the premises of privately-run Islamia College in Charsadda district. Sareer Khan was killed by Fahim Ashraf who was later arrested with a gun, district police chief Zahoor Afridi said. "The student was raising slogans at the time of his arrest that he killed a blasphemer but so far no evidence of blasphemy has been found against the victim," Afridi said. Sources in the college contradicted blasphemy claims, saying that the principal had Masters of Arts (MA) degree in Islamic Studies and was also a Hafiz-e-Quran, meaning he had memorised the entire Holy Quran. Ashraf was angry at the principal who marked him absent when he missed classes for three consecutive days in November last year to attend a protest by religious groups, they said. He also had an argument with the principal over the issue some days back. Afridi said that an investigation was being carried out and facts would be made public. Meanwhile, college students and relatives of the accused blocked a road and disrupted traffic but the district administration pacified them. Blasphemy is a highly sensitive issue in Pakistan and people have been killed in the past on mere suspicion. Mashal Khan, a university student, was lynched last year by a mob of fellow students in Charsadda over alleged blasphemy, which was never proved by the police.

12th grader kills principal in Pakistan over alleged blasphemy

A Pakistani court sentenced one person to death and five others to life imprisonment on Wednesday for lynching a student accused of blasphemy, a crime which sent shockwaves through the conservative Muslim country.

Mashal Khan, 23, was stripped, beaten and shot by a gang made up mostly of students last April before being thrown from the second floor of his dormitory at Abdul Wali Khan University in the northwestern city of Mardan.

&quot;One of the accused has been awarded a death sentence, (five) were given life imprisonment while 26 have been acquitted,&quot; Saad Abbasi, a defence lawyer, said at the prison where the verdict was announced.

An additional 25 were given three-year sentences, he added, saying he planned to file an appeal against the decision.

The court sentenced Imran Sultan Mohammad to death over his role in shooting Khan during the lynching, a crime he confessed to earlier.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Ahead of the verdict, heavy security was enforced at the jail in the city of Haripur where the accused were detained, with the area cordoned off by police and elite commandos.&nbsp;

The proceedings were held in an anti-terrorism court inside the jail for security reasons.&nbsp;

Around 100 relatives of the accused students waited outside the prison walls as news of the verdict trickled out.

&quot;A day will come that the judge will answer the God. The verdict he has announced is unjust,&quot; said Waheedullah, whose son was given a three-year sentence.

The brutality of the attack, which was recorded on mobile phone cameras and posted online, stunned the public and led to widespread condemnation -- including from prominent Islamic clerics. Protests erupted in several cities.

Students who took part were rounded up after being identified through CCTV footage from the university and video clips.

An official report released months later concluded Khan was falsely accused, saying the murder was instigated by members of a secular student group who felt threatened by Khan&#39;s growing prominence as a critic of rising fees and of alleged corruption at the university.

Blasphemy is an enormously sensitive charge in Pakistan and a criminal offence that can carry the death penalty.

While the state has never executed anyone under blasphemy laws, mere allegations have prompted mob lynchings and lesser violence.&nbsp;

Since 1990 vigilantes have been accused of murdering 65 people tied to blasphemy, according to research compiled by the Center for Research and Security Studies.

A Pakistani court sentenced one person to death and five others to life imprisonment on Wednesday for lynching a student accused of blasphemy, a crime which sent shockwaves through the conservative Muslim country

A Pakistani court sentenced one person to death and five others to life imprisonment on Wednesday for lynching a student accused of blasphemy, a crime which sent shockwaves through the conservative Muslim country. Mashal Khan, 23, was stripped, beaten and shot by a gang made up mostly of students last April before being thrown from the second floor of his dormitory at Abdul Wali Khan University in the northwestern city of Mardan. "One of the accused has been awarded a death sentence, (five) were given life imprisonment while 26 have been acquitted," Saad Abbasi, a defence lawyer, said at the prison where the verdict was announced. An additional 25 were given three-year sentences, he added, saying he planned to file an appeal against the decision. The court sentenced Imran Sultan Mohammad to death over his role in shooting Khan during the lynching, a crime he confessed to earlier. Ahead of the verdict, heavy security was enforced at the jail in the city of Haripur where the accused were detained, with the area cordoned off by police and elite commandos. The proceedings were held in an anti-terrorism court inside the jail for security reasons. Around 100 relatives of the accused students waited outside the prison walls as news of the verdict trickled out. "A day will come that the judge will answer the God. The verdict he has announced is unjust," said Waheedullah, whose son was given a three-year sentence. The brutality of the attack, which was recorded on mobile phone cameras and posted online, stunned the public and led to widespread condemnation -- including from prominent Islamic clerics. Protests erupted in several cities. Students who took part were rounded up after being identified through CCTV footage from the university and video clips. An official report released months later concluded Khan was falsely accused, saying the murder was instigated by members of a secular student group who felt threatened by Khan's growing prominence as a critic of rising fees and of alleged corruption at the university. Blasphemy is an enormously sensitive charge in Pakistan and a criminal offence that can carry the death penalty. While the state has never executed anyone under blasphemy laws, mere allegations have prompted mob lynchings and lesser violence. Since 1990 vigilantes have been accused of murdering 65 people tied to blasphemy, according to research compiled by the Center for Research and Security Studies.

Pakistan court hands out death sentence over blasphemy lynching

&ldquo;The year 2017 will be one of peace and love,&rdquo; Naheed Naz told me. &ldquo;There is nothing in the scriptures about it, but Jesus puts feelings in your heart about what is going to happen. It is a matter of faith and we believe in it.&rdquo;

I met Naz, in her 40s, and a nursing teacher with a Masters degree in Public Health, at the All Saints Church in the heart of Peshawar&rsquo;s old city. She sounded optimistic despite the last days of 2016 bringing more turmoil in Pakistan for Christians.

Christmas messages were received with death threats and a Christian man was arrested on December 30 for allegedly desecrating the Koran. He currently faces the death penalty.

I could feel this tense atmosphere as I approached the All Saints Church on Christmas Day. The 19th-century building of Islamic Saracenic style reflecting in the brilliantly sunny day outside.

As I entered the the church&rsquo;s hall, the faithful were taking seats in anticipation of the Christmas mass. I had to come in through heavy security. The street where the church stands was blocked at both ends by sand barriers and guarded by security personal. On 22 September 2013, a twin suicide bomb attack during a Sunday mass at the church killed 127 people.

I asked Naz how the Christmas of her childhood differed from now. She recounted memories of her childhood and her sister&rsquo;s: the letter to Santa, her mother and father who used to make their life loving and rich, and the moral values of love and peace Christmas used to bring. Naz lost her mother in the 2013 bombing.

A little later, as I sat in the church, I met Shafi Maseeh, 75, who also lost his son in the same terror attack. He had little to say. Shafi is the real prototype of a Christian in Pakistan. A janitor by trade, he had no good memories to share of anything.

Most Christians I talked to felt a loss of identity, isolation and a deep sense of alienation. There was no nostalgia for the past, nor any enthusiasm for the present.

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Pakistan is roughly 1.6% Christian. (Others)
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In the All Saints Church, I was not alone at the Christmas ceremony. The local media had come too. Father Patrick Naeem was happy to see them and thanked the government, the media and the chief of the Pakistani army, while also asking journalists to respect the parishioners as they took photos of the ceremony.

One reporter asked me what I was doing there. When I told her I was going to do a story on Christmas and would like to interview her too she angrily replied, &ldquo;I am not a Christian, do I look like one?&rdquo; I was shocked for a moment. &ldquo;There is nothing wrong with being a Christian,&rdquo; I said.

Another reporter warned me as I was leaving the place: &ldquo;Be careful, liberals are on the hitlist.&rdquo; I just kept quiet.

Pakistan&rsquo;s Christian minority

There is no definitive figure, but Christians make up roughly 1.6% of the population of Pakistan, as many as Hindus, according to the latest official statistics.

Christians mostly converted from Hinduism to escape the caste-dominated Indian society before the partition of India and Pakistan in 1947. But changing religion didn&rsquo;t help: the roots of discrimination based on caste run deep in both Indian and Pakistani society.

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The Christmas ceremony is an event on its own as media gathered to film. (Others)
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The plight of Christians has persisted for decades, but there has also been a rise of hatred against Christians since the late 1980s, when the dictator Zia ul Haq introduced Pakistan&rsquo;s blasphemy law, particularly used to persecute Christians.

A double oppression

Pakistani society is still marred by racism and questions of caste, even among Muslims, despite the Qur&rsquo;an setting out radical equality for all.

Across South Asia, Muslims remain divided up by various hierarchical systems. This long trail of caste-related injustice goes back to the beginnings of subcontinental societies and seems impervious to the intrusion of other sources of identity such as the nation-state or religion.

So the Christian community reels under a double oppression of racism, based on the low castes many Christians come from, and religious intolerance towards their belief system.

But even among minorities, Christians are particularly singled out, for a number of reasons. They are visible: they live mostly in urban areas and are often employed in low-wage jobs. They are also the poorest of the community.

In December 2015, the Capital Development Authority of Islamabad submitted a report suggesting that the Christian &ldquo;ugly slums&rdquo; of the capital be destroyed to keep the city clean. The CDA, in this unprecedentedly stupid move (&ldquo;their Trump Moment&rdquo; as the English daily Dawn put it), argued that the campaign of destruction would preserve Islamabad&rsquo;s aesthetics and maintain its Muslim-majority demographic balance.

The proposal was rightly contested by political parties, activists, and NGOs and thwarted by the Supreme Court, but it was a worrying sign of just how poorly Christians are thought of by the Pakistani elite.

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The street outside All Saints Church. Poor Christians live in this quarter of the city. (Others)
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Adding insult to injury, Christians in Pakistan are also seen as representatives of the US and other Western powers who are often held to be responsible for the plight of Muslims around the globe.

Christianity in politics

The plight of Christians is linked to the political foundation of Pakistan and the much criticised Two Nation Theory which became the basis of Partition in 1947. Partition aimed to create a state for Hindus (India) and one for Muslims (Pakistan).

Christians are historically considered to have positively contributed to Pakistani statehood, thus helping the development of the Pakistani society, but today they, along with other non-Muslims, are forbidden from holding high office.

The Christian vote in Pakistan is around 1.3 million, second to the Hindu vote, which is around 1.5 million. While the Hindu vote is mostly concentrated in the Sindh and Punjab regions, Christian voters are more scattered. Since the minority vote is restricted to a few electorates, political parties are not generally interested in serving them, though there is a lot of lip service to minority issues.

Minority representatives protest the problem of segregation from mainstream politics. There is no doubt that the electoral system adds to the problems of already frustrated minority communities in Pakistan. Minorities don&rsquo;t have the right to place their own candidates in elections. They can vote for any Muslim candidate in their constituency from within the general seats, and they also have the right to vote for a minority candidate, but they don&rsquo;t have the right to choose these. They are instead given minority seats for which tickets are allotted by mainstream political parties.

Fractured communities

While talking to various Christians, I observed very little sense of community. All identity revolves around the personal and in Pakistan, that is steeped in the psychology of status.

Christians in Pakistan are faced with both victim-blaming from without and the self-loathing it generates within the individual.

Continuous repression as a community within social and political life in Pakistan has led some to blame themselves for their problems. Self-incrimination, a shallow sense of belonging to the mainstream and the loss of the social self-were often apparent in my conversations for this article.

&ldquo;Our people are not serious about their studies; they don&rsquo;t save money,&rdquo; a priest who works as a waiter at my university&rsquo;s student accommodation told me. &ldquo;I do save, though I am usually in debt, while keeping my needs to the minimum.&rdquo; When I asked if it is because of the loss of hope that some Christians struggle in school and work, he replied, &ldquo;No, I have made it from a janitor to a waiter. My boys are going to school. Isn&rsquo;t it an environment conducive to success?&rdquo;

Living with contradiction

Christians are often the recipient of local charities. &ldquo;Yes, we like them, because they grew up with us,&rdquo; a high-level political activist in Peshawar told me. &ldquo;They clean our homes and we give them our used clothes, and also food. They are good people. We also offer them gifts for Christmas. We just did this year, too.&rdquo; The activist was also a trader in the market in front of the All Saints Church.

Christians often feel the same way. &ldquo;The political parties don&rsquo;t care for us,&rdquo; the priest at Peshawar University said. &ldquo;Some politicians do, though. They offer us gifts for Christmas. I also got my package. They change the carpets of our church every now and then. This is good.&rdquo;

In the present environment of hopelessness and fear, the only option left for Christians is to learn to live with Pakistan&rsquo;s deep contradictions &ndash; discrimination from the state, but charity from politicians.

Centuries of continuous repression have left many without any sense of identity within their home country. Many Christians here just want to breathe &ndash; being able to truly live is a distant dream.

This article was originally published on&nbsp;<a href="https://theconversation.com/au" rel="nofollow" target="blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/breathing-without-living-the-plight-of-christians-in-pakistan-70892" rel="nofollow" target="blank">original article</a>.

Images credit: Altaf Khan (Author)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL).

Christians' plight in Pakistan reflects the confused identity and ideologies of the country they live in

“The year 2017 will be one of peace and love,” Naheed Naz told me. “There is nothing in the scriptures about it, but Jesus puts feelings in your heart about what is going to happen. It is a matter of faith and we believe in it.” I met Naz, in her 40s, and a nursing teacher with a Masters degree in Public Health, at the All Saints Church in the heart of Peshawar’s old city. She sounded optimistic despite the last days of 2016 bringing more turmoil in Pakistan for Christians. Christmas messages were received with death threats and a Christian man was arrested on December 30 for allegedly desecrating the Koran. He currently faces the death penalty. I could feel this tense atmosphere as I approached the All Saints Church on Christmas Day. The 19th-century building of Islamic Saracenic style reflecting in the brilliantly sunny day outside. As I entered the the church’s hall, the faithful were taking seats in anticipation of the Christmas mass. I had to come in through heavy security. The street where the church stands was blocked at both ends by sand barriers and guarded by security personal. On 22 September 2013, a twin suicide bomb attack during a Sunday mass at the church killed 127 people. I asked Naz how the Christmas of her childhood differed from now. She recounted memories of her childhood and her sister’s: the letter to Santa, her mother and father who used to make their life loving and rich, and the moral values of love and peace Christmas used to bring. Naz lost her mother in the 2013 bombing. A little later, as I sat in the church, I met Shafi Maseeh, 75, who also lost his son in the same terror attack. He had little to say. Shafi is the real prototype of a Christian in Pakistan. A janitor by trade, he had no good memories to share of anything. Most Christians I talked to felt a loss of identity, isolation and a deep sense of alienation. There was no nostalgia for the past, nor any enthusiasm for the present. Pakistan is roughly 1.6% Christian. (Others) × In the All Saints Church, I was not alone at the Christmas ceremony. The local media had come too. Father Patrick Naeem was happy to see them and thanked the government, the media and the chief of the Pakistani army, while also asking journalists to respect the parishioners as they took photos of the ceremony. One reporter asked me what I was doing there. When I told her I was going to do a story on Christmas and would like to interview her too she angrily replied, “I am not a Christian, do I look like one?” I was shocked for a moment. “There is nothing wrong with being a Christian,” I said. Another reporter warned me as I was leaving the place: “Be careful, liberals are on the hitlist.” I just kept quiet. Pakistan’s Christian minority There is no definitive figure, but Christians make up roughly 1.6% of the population of Pakistan, as many as Hindus, according to the latest official statistics. Christians mostly converted from Hinduism to escape the caste-dominated Indian society before the partition of India and Pakistan in 1947. But changing religion didn’t help: the roots of discrimination based on caste run deep in both Indian and Pakistani society. The Christmas ceremony is an event on its own as media gathered to film. (Others) × The plight of Christians has persisted for decades, but there has also been a rise of hatred against Christians since the late 1980s, when the dictator Zia ul Haq introduced Pakistan’s blasphemy law, particularly used to persecute Christians. A double oppression Pakistani society is still marred by racism and questions of caste, even among Muslims, despite the Qur’an setting out radical equality for all. Across South Asia, Muslims remain divided up by various hierarchical systems. This long trail of caste-related injustice goes back to the beginnings of subcontinental societies and seems impervious to the intrusion of other sources of identity such as the nation-state or religion. So the Christian community reels under a double oppression of racism, based on the low castes many Christians come from, and religious intolerance towards their belief system. But even among minorities, Christians are particularly singled out, for a number of reasons. They are visible: they live mostly in urban areas and are often employed in low-wage jobs. They are also the poorest of the community. In December 2015, the Capital Development Authority of Islamabad submitted a report suggesting that the Christian “ugly slums” of the capital be destroyed to keep the city clean. The CDA, in this unprecedentedly stupid move (“their Trump Moment” as the English daily Dawn put it), argued that the campaign of destruction would preserve Islamabad’s aesthetics and maintain its Muslim-majority demographic balance. The proposal was rightly contested by political parties, activists, and NGOs and thwarted by the Supreme Court, but it was a worrying sign of just how poorly Christians are thought of by the Pakistani elite. The street outside All Saints Church. Poor Christians live in this quarter of the city. (Others) × Adding insult to injury, Christians in Pakistan are also seen as representatives of the US and other Western powers who are often held to be responsible for the plight of Muslims around the globe. Christianity in politics The plight of Christians is linked to the political foundation of Pakistan and the much criticised Two Nation Theory which became the basis of Partition in 1947. Partition aimed to create a state for Hindus (India) and one for Muslims (Pakistan). Christians are historically considered to have positively contributed to Pakistani statehood, thus helping the development of the Pakistani society, but today they, along with other non-Muslims, are forbidden from holding high office. The Christian vote in Pakistan is around 1.3 million, second to the Hindu vote, which is around 1.5 million. While the Hindu vote is mostly concentrated in the Sindh and Punjab regions, Christian voters are more scattered. Since the minority vote is restricted to a few electorates, political parties are not generally interested in serving them, though there is a lot of lip service to minority issues. Minority representatives protest the problem of segregation from mainstream politics. There is no doubt that the electoral system adds to the problems of already frustrated minority communities in Pakistan. Minorities don’t have the right to place their own candidates in elections. They can vote for any Muslim candidate in their constituency from within the general seats, and they also have the right to vote for a minority candidate, but they don’t have the right to choose these. They are instead given minority seats for which tickets are allotted by mainstream political parties. Fractured communities While talking to various Christians, I observed very little sense of community. All identity revolves around the personal and in Pakistan, that is steeped in the psychology of status. Christians in Pakistan are faced with both victim-blaming from without and the self-loathing it generates within the individual. Continuous repression as a community within social and political life in Pakistan has led some to blame themselves for their problems. Self-incrimination, a shallow sense of belonging to the mainstream and the loss of the social self-were often apparent in my conversations for this article. “Our people are not serious about their studies; they don’t save money,” a priest who works as a waiter at my university’s student accommodation told me. “I do save, though I am usually in debt, while keeping my needs to the minimum.” When I asked if it is because of the loss of hope that some Christians struggle in school and work, he replied, “No, I have made it from a janitor to a waiter. My boys are going to school. Isn’t it an environment conducive to success?” Living with contradiction Christians are often the recipient of local charities. “Yes, we like them, because they grew up with us,” a high-level political activist in Peshawar told me. “They clean our homes and we give them our used clothes, and also food. They are good people. We also offer them gifts for Christmas. We just did this year, too.” The activist was also a trader in the market in front of the All Saints Church. Christians often feel the same way. “The political parties don’t care for us,” the priest at Peshawar University said. “Some politicians do, though. They offer us gifts for Christmas. I also got my package. They change the carpets of our church every now and then. This is good.” In the present environment of hopelessness and fear, the only option left for Christians is to learn to live with Pakistan’s deep contradictions – discrimination from the state, but charity from politicians. Centuries of continuous repression have left many without any sense of identity within their home country. Many Christians here just want to breathe – being able to truly live is a distant dream. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. Images credit: Altaf Khan (Author) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL).

Opinion: Christmas and the plight of Christians in Pakistan

An obscure Islamist group in Pakistan has brought down a federal minister and dealt the government a stinging blow with the help of a blasphemy law that authorities have long used as a tool of repression against minorities and dissidents.

Law minister Zahid Hamid resigned on Monday, caving to a key demand from Islamist protesters who virtually paralysed the capital for weeks over a hastily abandoned amendment to the oath sworn by-election candidates.

Hamid&#39;s surrender marked a disturbing new precedent in the country&#39;s political landscape after the fringe Tehreek-i-Labaik Ya Rasool Allah Pakistan (TLY) tied the amendment fiasco to blasphemy charges.

Blasphemy is a profoundly sensitive issue in the Islamic republic and can rouse even moderates whose religion emphasises devotion to the Prophet.

At its most extreme, even unproven allegations have sparked mob lynchings and vigilante murders.

But it is also enshrined in the country&#39;s legal code, where it carries the death penalty, with analysts warning the charge is unanswerable.&nbsp;

&quot;You&#39;re looking at a law that can&#39;t be defined... anything can be blasphemy, so it&#39;s very broad,&quot; said Pakistani lawyer Yasser Latif Hamdani.&nbsp;

Activists have long called for reform, saying the legislation is too often abused to settle personal scores and target the religious minorities.

In recent months some have cautioned it is also becoming a way to stifle digital dissent, with authorities rounding up bloggers and sending out nationwide text messages warning against dubious postings on social media.

Now analysts fear Hamid&#39;s capitulation has proven the statutes can serve as an all-powerful political weapon, allowing even a marginal group to deliver a humiliating blow to the country&#39;s rulers.

The amendment at the center of the row altered the oath&#39;s reference to Prophet Mohammed. The government said the change was inadvertent and quickly reversed course but the protesters were not appeased.

&quot;The optimist would argue that this could be a one-off. But it isn&#39;t,&quot; Zeeshan Salahuddin of the Center for Research and Security Studies, a think tank in Islamabad, told AFP.

&quot;This is the net result of four decades of slow poisoning with intolerance, political indifference, and the state&#39;s inability to truly understand the public&#39;s concerns.&quot;

A history of violence&nbsp; 
The country&#39;s first blasphemy law was originally passed down from Pakistan&#39;s former colonial masters and largely aimed at keeping the peace between different religious communities on the subcontinent.&nbsp;&nbsp;

But the framework was given a shot in the arm during the rule of former hardline Islamist dictator Zia-ul-Haq in the mid-80s.&nbsp;

His regime passed a series of new statutes that included a provision for capital punishment in cases of insulting the Prophet Mohammed.

&quot;The true tragedy is that the law never actually takes the course, as the accused is often publicly lynched or beaten,&quot; explains Salahuddin.

Hamid is not the first politician to face consequences over blasphemy.

In 2011, Salman Taseer -- a liberal governor who called for the reformation of the laws -- was gunned down by his own bodyguard in broad daylight in the heart of Islamabad.&nbsp;

A lone vigilante killed Taseer, whereas Hamid&#39;s downfall came when the government -- already wounded by the ousting of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif earlier in the year over graft claims -- was forced to turn to Pakistan&#39;s most powerful institution, the army, to extricate itself from what had become an explosive situation.

Taseer&#39;s son Shahbaz, himself held captive by the Taliban for five years until he was freed last year, tweeted a viral video Monday in which Hamid attempted to defend his reverence for the Prophet.

&quot;I understand how scared this man is for his life but I&#39;m so proud to be my father&#39;s son after seeing these cowards,&quot; he wrote.

For decades leaders have forged political alliances and courted religious hardliners on the fringe for electoral support.

But analysts have warned the government&#39;s credibility has been eroded by the TLY victory, leaving a vacuum which could also fuel the rise of right-wing religious parties in elections due in 2018.

&quot;There&#39;s been a generational gestation period for this shift. Political parties are becoming increasingly beholden to right-wing extremist groups with whom they&#39;ve had political alliances,&quot; said Shuja Nawaz, a fellow at the Atlantic Council.

&quot;When push comes to shove, people are willing to make deals with them. They make a political ruckus and they get much more leverage than they actually have in Pakistani society at the moment.&quot;

As protesters packed up their belongings Monday evening, they warned future politicians would face a similar fate to Hamid&#39;s if they crossed the line.

&quot;By the grace of God, this incident will serve as a reminder and a lesson for the politicians,&quot; said protester Muhammad Irfan Raza Qadri, 27.&nbsp;

&quot;The blood of the martyrs of this protest will further strengthen the finality of the Prophet and will expose and destroy the anti-Islam politicians.&quot;

Blasphemy is a profoundly sensitive issue in the Islamic republic and can rouse even moderates whose religion emphasises devotion to the Prophet

An obscure Islamist group in Pakistan has brought down a federal minister and dealt the government a stinging blow with the help of a blasphemy law that authorities have long used as a tool of repression against minorities and dissidents. Law minister Zahid Hamid resigned on Monday, caving to a key demand from Islamist protesters who virtually paralysed the capital for weeks over a hastily abandoned amendment to the oath sworn by-election candidates. Hamid's surrender marked a disturbing new precedent in the country's political landscape after the fringe Tehreek-i-Labaik Ya Rasool Allah Pakistan (TLY) tied the amendment fiasco to blasphemy charges. Blasphemy is a profoundly sensitive issue in the Islamic republic and can rouse even moderates whose religion emphasises devotion to the Prophet. At its most extreme, even unproven allegations have sparked mob lynchings and vigilante murders. But it is also enshrined in the country's legal code, where it carries the death penalty, with analysts warning the charge is unanswerable. "You're looking at a law that can't be defined... anything can be blasphemy, so it's very broad," said Pakistani lawyer Yasser Latif Hamdani. Activists have long called for reform, saying the legislation is too often abused to settle personal scores and target the religious minorities. In recent months some have cautioned it is also becoming a way to stifle digital dissent, with authorities rounding up bloggers and sending out nationwide text messages warning against dubious postings on social media. Now analysts fear Hamid's capitulation has proven the statutes can serve as an all-powerful political weapon, allowing even a marginal group to deliver a humiliating blow to the country's rulers. The amendment at the center of the row altered the oath's reference to Prophet Mohammed. The government said the change was inadvertent and quickly reversed course but the protesters were not appeased. "The optimist would argue that this could be a one-off. But it isn't," Zeeshan Salahuddin of the Center for Research and Security Studies, a think tank in Islamabad, told AFP. "This is the net result of four decades of slow poisoning with intolerance, political indifference, and the state's inability to truly understand the public's concerns." A history of violence The country's first blasphemy law was originally passed down from Pakistan's former colonial masters and largely aimed at keeping the peace between different religious communities on the subcontinent. But the framework was given a shot in the arm during the rule of former hardline Islamist dictator Zia-ul-Haq in the mid-80s. His regime passed a series of new statutes that included a provision for capital punishment in cases of insulting the Prophet Mohammed. "The true tragedy is that the law never actually takes the course, as the accused is often publicly lynched or beaten," explains Salahuddin. Hamid is not the first politician to face consequences over blasphemy. In 2011, Salman Taseer -- a liberal governor who called for the reformation of the laws -- was gunned down by his own bodyguard in broad daylight in the heart of Islamabad. A lone vigilante killed Taseer, whereas Hamid's downfall came when the government -- already wounded by the ousting of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif earlier in the year over graft claims -- was forced to turn to Pakistan's most powerful institution, the army, to extricate itself from what had become an explosive situation. Taseer's son Shahbaz, himself held captive by the Taliban for five years until he was freed last year, tweeted a viral video Monday in which Hamid attempted to defend his reverence for the Prophet. "I understand how scared this man is for his life but I'm so proud to be my father's son after seeing these cowards," he wrote. For decades leaders have forged political alliances and courted religious hardliners on the fringe for electoral support. But analysts have warned the government's credibility has been eroded by the TLY victory, leaving a vacuum which could also fuel the rise of right-wing religious parties in elections due in 2018. "There's been a generational gestation period for this shift. Political parties are becoming increasingly beholden to right-wing extremist groups with whom they've had political alliances," said Shuja Nawaz, a fellow at the Atlantic Council. "When push comes to shove, people are willing to make deals with them. They make a political ruckus and they get much more leverage than they actually have in Pakistani society at the moment." As protesters packed up their belongings Monday evening, they warned future politicians would face a similar fate to Hamid's if they crossed the line. "By the grace of God, this incident will serve as a reminder and a lesson for the politicians," said protester Muhammad Irfan Raza Qadri, 27. "The blood of the martyrs of this protest will further strengthen the finality of the Prophet and will expose and destroy the anti-Islam politicians."

Pakistan's blasphemy law hands fringe Islamists dangerous weapon

Pakistan on Friday blocked off roads into Islamabad, the capital, as an Islamist party that backs strict blasphemy laws staged a sit-in on a key highway, demanding the resignation of a minister it blames for changes to an electoral oath.

Dozens of Pakistanis are on death row, convicted of having insulted Islam&rsquo;s prophet, a charge that carries a mandatory death sentence, although no executions have been carried out.

More than 500 supporters of the Tehrik-e-Labaik Pakistan party, or Movement of the Prophet&rsquo;s Followers, chanted slogans as speakers addressed them from atop a cargo truck, pledging their lives to protect Pakistan&rsquo;s blasphemy laws.

The protesters demanded the resignation of Law Minister Zahid Hamid, whom they hold responsible for the law change, and denounced him as a blasphemer.

&ldquo;Immediately appear before us and beg for forgiveness,&rdquo; said one speaker.

Two high court lawyers who joined the sit-in said they would work to advance Labaik&rsquo;s agenda in the courts. &ldquo;He (Hamid) has insulted the blasphemy laws, the punishment for which is death,&rdquo; said one of the lawyers.

Pakistan&rsquo;s interior ministry did not immediately answer telephone calls from Reuters to seek comment.

The ruling Pakistani Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) unexpectedly set off a firestorm last month after voting through the alteration of the oath, among seemingly small changes to the nation&rsquo;s electoral law. The changes prompted accusations of blasphemy from religious parties and the government retreated, apologising in parliament for what it called a &ldquo;clerical&rdquo; mistake.

But the apology did not satisfy Tehreek-e-Labaik, triggering the sit-in, as the culmination of a march of nearly 400 km (249 miles) from the eastern city of Lahore.

The party rose to prominence in September, after placing third in a by-election in Lahore, edging out a major opposition party to pick up 6 percent of the vote. Last month, it gained nearly 8 percent in a by-election in the northwestern city of Peshawar.

While Tehrik-e-Labaik is unlikely to break out of single digits in coming votes, its rapid rise could present a challenge for the PML-N.

On a bridge overlooking the highway demonstration site, drivers of trucks halted by blockades erected by city authorities complained about cargo delivery delays.

One commuter unable to take public transport to work told Reuters his business had suffered. &ldquo;I run a tailoring shop and can&rsquo;t go to work today,&rdquo; said Mohammad Altaf. &ldquo;I have lost a day&rsquo;s earnings.&rdquo;

Dozens of Pakistanis are on death row, convicted of having insulted Islam?s prophet, a charge that carries a mandatory death sentence, although no executions have been carried out.B

Pakistan on Friday blocked off roads into Islamabad, the capital, as an Islamist party that backs strict blasphemy laws staged a sit-in on a key highway, demanding the resignation of a minister it blames for changes to an electoral oath. Dozens of Pakistanis are on death row, convicted of having insulted Islam’s prophet, a charge that carries a mandatory death sentence, although no executions have been carried out. More than 500 supporters of the Tehrik-e-Labaik Pakistan party, or Movement of the Prophet’s Followers, chanted slogans as speakers addressed them from atop a cargo truck, pledging their lives to protect Pakistan’s blasphemy laws. The protesters demanded the resignation of Law Minister Zahid Hamid, whom they hold responsible for the law change, and denounced him as a blasphemer. “Immediately appear before us and beg for forgiveness,” said one speaker. Two high court lawyers who joined the sit-in said they would work to advance Labaik’s agenda in the courts. “He (Hamid) has insulted the blasphemy laws, the punishment for which is death,” said one of the lawyers. Pakistan’s interior ministry did not immediately answer telephone calls from Reuters to seek comment. The ruling Pakistani Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) unexpectedly set off a firestorm last month after voting through the alteration of the oath, among seemingly small changes to the nation’s electoral law. The changes prompted accusations of blasphemy from religious parties and the government retreated, apologising in parliament for what it called a “clerical” mistake. But the apology did not satisfy Tehreek-e-Labaik, triggering the sit-in, as the culmination of a march of nearly 400 km (249 miles) from the eastern city of Lahore. The party rose to prominence in September, after placing third in a by-election in Lahore, edging out a major opposition party to pick up 6 percent of the vote. Last month, it gained nearly 8 percent in a by-election in the northwestern city of Peshawar. While Tehrik-e-Labaik is unlikely to break out of single digits in coming votes, its rapid rise could present a challenge for the PML-N. On a bridge overlooking the highway demonstration site, drivers of trucks halted by blockades erected by city authorities complained about cargo delivery delays. One commuter unable to take public transport to work told Reuters his business had suffered. “I run a tailoring shop and can’t go to work today,” said Mohammad Altaf. “I have lost a day’s earnings.”

Pakistan blocks roads as blasphemy law supporters protest

Six influential US Senators have urged secretary of state Rex Tillerson to designate Pakistan as a &quot;country of particular concern&quot; on the issue of religious freedom violation, saying its discriminatory laws continue to result in prosecution of individuals due to their faith.

Senators Bob Menendez, Marco Rubio, Chris Coons, Todd Young, Jeff Merkley and James Lankford wrote a letter to Tillerson ahead of the November 13 deadline before which the State Department needs to notify Congress on its country of particular concern (CPC) designations.

In the letter to Tillerson, who has just concluded a visit to Afghanistan, Pakistan and India, the bipartisan group of Senators said that they believe &quot;the State Department should designate Pakistan as a CPC as long recommended by US Commission on International Religious Freedom.

&quot;The government of Pakistan continues to perpetrate and tolerate systematic, ongoing and egregious religious freedom violations. Discriminatory constitutional provisions and laws, including the country&#39;s blasphemy and anti-Ahmadiyya measures, continue to result in the unjust prosecution and imprisonment of individuals due to their faith,&quot; the Senators said in their letter to Tillerson.

&quot;At least 40 people are currently sentenced to death or are serving life sentences for blasphemy. Religious minority communities, including Christians, Hindus, Ahmadis, and Shia Muslims also experience religiously motivated and sectarian violence perpetrated by terrorist organisations and societal elements with relative impunity,&quot; said the letter.

Additionally, provincial textbooks with discriminatory content against minorities remain a significant concern, the Senators said in the letter dated October 27.

The Frank R Wolf International Religious Freedom Act requires the president to make CPC designations no later than 90 days after the release of the annual report and that Congress be notified no later than 90 days after these designations about the parties responsible for the violations prompting the designations, the actions the US government has taken in response, and the effectiveness of these actions.

&quot;We, therefore, expect to receive CPC designations by November 13, 2017, and the notification of the responsible parties, actions were taken, and the effectiveness of these actions by February 11, 2018.

&quot;We believe promoting freedom of religion and belief is a moral imperative and encourages peace, stability, and economic vibrancy. We look forward to working with you to help ensure this precious freedom has a central role in US foreign policy,&quot; the Senators added.

The Senators also sought the CPC designation of Myanmar over the issue of Rohingyas.

Tillerson has urged the Myanmar army to help the government end violence in the northern Rakhine state where unrest has forced over 600,000 Rohingya Muslims to flee to Bangladesh.

The senators said Pakistan's discriminatory laws continue to result in prosecution of individuals due to their faith

Six influential US Senators have urged secretary of state Rex Tillerson to designate Pakistan as a "country of particular concern" on the issue of religious freedom violation, saying its discriminatory laws continue to result in prosecution of individuals due to their faith. Senators Bob Menendez, Marco Rubio, Chris Coons, Todd Young, Jeff Merkley and James Lankford wrote a letter to Tillerson ahead of the November 13 deadline before which the State Department needs to notify Congress on its country of particular concern (CPC) designations. In the letter to Tillerson, who has just concluded a visit to Afghanistan, Pakistan and India, the bipartisan group of Senators said that they believe "the State Department should designate Pakistan as a CPC as long recommended by US Commission on International Religious Freedom. "The government of Pakistan continues to perpetrate and tolerate systematic, ongoing and egregious religious freedom violations. Discriminatory constitutional provisions and laws, including the country's blasphemy and anti-Ahmadiyya measures, continue to result in the unjust prosecution and imprisonment of individuals due to their faith," the Senators said in their letter to Tillerson. "At least 40 people are currently sentenced to death or are serving life sentences for blasphemy. Religious minority communities, including Christians, Hindus, Ahmadis, and Shia Muslims also experience religiously motivated and sectarian violence perpetrated by terrorist organisations and societal elements with relative impunity," said the letter. Additionally, provincial textbooks with discriminatory content against minorities remain a significant concern, the Senators said in the letter dated October 27. The Frank R Wolf International Religious Freedom Act requires the president to make CPC designations no later than 90 days after the release of the annual report and that Congress be notified no later than 90 days after these designations about the parties responsible for the violations prompting the designations, the actions the US government has taken in response, and the effectiveness of these actions. "We, therefore, expect to receive CPC designations by November 13, 2017, and the notification of the responsible parties, actions were taken, and the effectiveness of these actions by February 11, 2018. "We believe promoting freedom of religion and belief is a moral imperative and encourages peace, stability, and economic vibrancy. We look forward to working with you to help ensure this precious freedom has a central role in US foreign policy," the Senators added. The Senators also sought the CPC designation of Myanmar over the issue of Rohingyas. Tillerson has urged the Myanmar army to help the government end violence in the northern Rakhine state where unrest has forced over 600,000 Rohingya Muslims to flee to Bangladesh.

Religious intolerance: 6 US Senators urge listing of Pak as 'country of particular concern'

Supporters of Jakarta&#39;s Christian governor staged a colourful rally outside city hall Wednesday a day after he was jailed for blasphemy, in a case that has damaged Indonesia&#39;s image as a bastion of tolerant Islam.

A crowd wearing red and white -- the colours of the Indonesian flag -- gathered outside the colonial-era building calling for Basuki Tjahaja Purnama&#39;s release, and singing the country&#39;s national anthem.

&quot;Let&#39;s fight for justice,&quot; said acting governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat, who was Purnama&#39;s deputy and has taken over his powers, to cheers from the crowd.

Purnama was jailed Tuesday for two years after being found guilty of blasphemy against Islam, a shock decision after prosecutors recommended only probation.

The jail sentence and his loss in last month&#39;s Jakarta&#39;s election to a Muslim rival amid the blasphemy controversy have stoked concerns that a much-vaunted brand of tolerant Islam in the world&#39;s most populous Muslim-majority country is under threat.

The United Nations and European Union have expressed concerns over the verdict while Amnesty International said it &quot;will tarnish Indonesia&rsquo;s reputation for tolerance&quot;.

Despite the claims he insulted Islam, Purnama, 50, retained a loyal following due to his determined efforts to clean up the chaotic Indonesian capital.&nbsp;

Over 1,000 supporters packed out the courtyard of city hall at the rally, chanting &quot;Free Ahok&quot;.

&quot;I admire Ahok, the way he leads, regardless of his religion,&quot; said Diana Sari, 49, adding she was a Muslim.

Acting governor Hidayat added: &quot;Last night I met with Ahok and he wants me to convey this message: &#39;We have to respect whatever the judges have decided, but the fight is not over yet&#39;.&quot;

Purnama, Jakarta&#39;s first Christian governor for half a century and its first ethnic Chinese leader, was transferred early Wednesday to a high-security detention facility outside the capital after hundreds of supporters descended on the jail where he was initially sent.

Islamic hardliners -- who led a series of mass protests last year against Purnama -- celebrated after the verdict was handed down, although some were angry the governor did not receive the maximum jail term of five years.

The blasphemy allegations stemmed from comments that Purnama made in September in a pre-election speech, in which he accused his rivals of using a Koranic verse to trick people into voting against him.

(AFP) 
&nbsp;

'Let's fight for justice,' said acting governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat

Supporters of Jakarta's Christian governor staged a colourful rally outside city hall Wednesday a day after he was jailed for blasphemy, in a case that has damaged Indonesia's image as a bastion of tolerant Islam. A crowd wearing red and white -- the colours of the Indonesian flag -- gathered outside the colonial-era building calling for Basuki Tjahaja Purnama's release, and singing the country's national anthem. "Let's fight for justice," said acting governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat, who was Purnama's deputy and has taken over his powers, to cheers from the crowd. Purnama was jailed Tuesday for two years after being found guilty of blasphemy against Islam, a shock decision after prosecutors recommended only probation. The jail sentence and his loss in last month's Jakarta's election to a Muslim rival amid the blasphemy controversy have stoked concerns that a much-vaunted brand of tolerant Islam in the world's most populous Muslim-majority country is under threat. The United Nations and European Union have expressed concerns over the verdict while Amnesty International said it "will tarnish Indonesia’s reputation for tolerance". Despite the claims he insulted Islam, Purnama, 50, retained a loyal following due to his determined efforts to clean up the chaotic Indonesian capital. Over 1,000 supporters packed out the courtyard of city hall at the rally, chanting "Free Ahok". "I admire Ahok, the way he leads, regardless of his religion," said Diana Sari, 49, adding she was a Muslim. Acting governor Hidayat added: "Last night I met with Ahok and he wants me to convey this message: 'We have to respect whatever the judges have decided, but the fight is not over yet'." Purnama, Jakarta's first Christian governor for half a century and its first ethnic Chinese leader, was transferred early Wednesday to a high-security detention facility outside the capital after hundreds of supporters descended on the jail where he was initially sent. Islamic hardliners -- who led a series of mass protests last year against Purnama -- celebrated after the verdict was handed down, although some were angry the governor did not receive the maximum jail term of five years. The blasphemy allegations stemmed from comments that Purnama made in September in a pre-election speech, in which he accused his rivals of using a Koranic verse to trick people into voting against him. (AFP)

Supporters rally for Jakarta's jailed Christian governor

An Indonesian court is expected to decide on Tuesday whether Jakarta&rsquo;s Christian governor is guilty of blasphemy against Islam, in a trial that is widely seen as a test of religious tolerance in the world&#39;s largest Muslim-majority nation.

Hundreds of members of hardline Islamist groups gathered outside the south Jakarta courtroom amid a heavy security presence, calling for governor Basuki &quot;Ahok&quot; Tjahaja Purnama to be given the maximum penalty possible over comments he made that they believe insulted the Islamic holy book, the Koran.

The government has been criticised for not doing enough to protect religious minorities but President Joko Widodo, a key ally of Purnama&#39;s, has urged restraint over the trial and called for all sides to respect the legal process.

Thousands of police have been deployed in the capital in case clashes break out between Purnama&#39;s supporters and opponents who have demanded he be sacked and jailed.

&quot;Both groups will have the opportunity to demonstrate, but we are taking steps to prevent clashes,&quot; said national police spokesman Setyo Wasisto.

Purnama lost his bid for re-election in an April run-off - after the most divisive and religiously charged election in recent years &ndash; to a Muslim rival, Anies Baswedan.

He will hand over to Baswedan in October.

Prosecutors have called for a suspended one-year jail sentence for Purnama on charges of hate speech. His opponents believe that is too light. The maximum sentence is four years in prison.

&quot;Ahok will be jailed because he insulted religion,&quot; read one of many anti-Purnama posts on the Facebook account of the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI), a conservative Islamic group instrumental in organising mass protests against Purnama as he sought re-election.

&quot;Balloons and flowers will be useless,&quot; the post added, referring to a recent outpouring of sympathy from supporters of the ethnic Chinese, Christian incumbent governor after he lost the April election.

His supporters delivered thousands of red and white balloons to City Hall ahead of Tuesday&#39;s court session.

Purnama has denied wrongdoing, though he apologised for comments he made last year criticising his opponents&#39; use of the Koran in political campaigning.

The tensions whipped up during the Jakarta election have raised concerns about the rising influence of Islamist groups in Indonesia, which is home to sizeable communities of Buddhists, Hindus, Christians and people who adhere to traditional beliefs.

The government said on Monday it would take legal steps to disband Hizb ut-Tahrir Indonesia (HTI), a group that seeks to establish an Islamic caliphate, because its activities were creating social tensions and threatening security.

(Reuters)

The trial is widely seen as a test of religious tolerance in the world's largest Muslim-majority nation

An Indonesian court is expected to decide on Tuesday whether Jakarta’s Christian governor is guilty of blasphemy against Islam, in a trial that is widely seen as a test of religious tolerance in the world's largest Muslim-majority nation. Hundreds of members of hardline Islamist groups gathered outside the south Jakarta courtroom amid a heavy security presence, calling for governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama to be given the maximum penalty possible over comments he made that they believe insulted the Islamic holy book, the Koran. The government has been criticised for not doing enough to protect religious minorities but President Joko Widodo, a key ally of Purnama's, has urged restraint over the trial and called for all sides to respect the legal process. Thousands of police have been deployed in the capital in case clashes break out between Purnama's supporters and opponents who have demanded he be sacked and jailed. "Both groups will have the opportunity to demonstrate, but we are taking steps to prevent clashes," said national police spokesman Setyo Wasisto. Purnama lost his bid for re-election in an April run-off - after the most divisive and religiously charged election in recent years – to a Muslim rival, Anies Baswedan. He will hand over to Baswedan in October. Prosecutors have called for a suspended one-year jail sentence for Purnama on charges of hate speech. His opponents believe that is too light. The maximum sentence is four years in prison. "Ahok will be jailed because he insulted religion," read one of many anti-Purnama posts on the Facebook account of the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI), a conservative Islamic group instrumental in organising mass protests against Purnama as he sought re-election. "Balloons and flowers will be useless," the post added, referring to a recent outpouring of sympathy from supporters of the ethnic Chinese, Christian incumbent governor after he lost the April election. His supporters delivered thousands of red and white balloons to City Hall ahead of Tuesday's court session. Purnama has denied wrongdoing, though he apologised for comments he made last year criticising his opponents' use of the Koran in political campaigning. The tensions whipped up during the Jakarta election have raised concerns about the rising influence of Islamist groups in Indonesia, which is home to sizeable communities of Buddhists, Hindus, Christians and people who adhere to traditional beliefs. The government said on Monday it would take legal steps to disband Hizb ut-Tahrir Indonesia (HTI), a group that seeks to establish an Islamic caliphate, because its activities were creating social tensions and threatening security. (Reuters)

Jakarta court to decide if Christian gov is guilty of blasphemy

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