VATICAN CITY, May 18:2013 Pope Francis toured St Peter’s Square to greet tens of thousands of people attending a rally of prayer, music and speeches on Saturday, and he embraced the brother of a Pakistani politician who was assassinated after calling for greater religious freedom for Christians.
Riding in an open-topped white jeep, Francis zipped through the square to greet the faithful who had been waiting for hours for his arrival at the evening rally designed to encourage Catholics to strengthen their faith.The Vatican estimated the crowd at 200,000.
Francis also embraced Paul Bhatti, a speaker at the rally. His brother Shahbaz, a Pakistani government minister, was assassinated in 2011 after urging reform of the blasphemy laws.—AP
05/19/2013 15:09 VATICAN Pope to Movements: man is in crisis. No to a church closed in on itself, but a Church that goes out, At the Vigil for Pentecost, Pope Francis pushes Christian witness in a world that has become the enemy of man, where the collapse of financial markets makes the news, but not the death of workers or child hunger. A great event for the Year of Faith, 200 thousand people are present: from CL and Renewal in the Spirit, to the Neocatechumenal Way, Focolare, Sant'Egidio, international associations. The testimony of John Waters, an Irish journalist, and Paul Bhatti, former minister for minorities in Pakistan. The Pope invites all to pray every day for persecuted Christians and to work for religious freedom. The Church is not an efficient NGO. Her main contribution is "to live the Gospel."
Vatican City (AsiaNews) - "Today mankind is in crisis, this is why the current crisis is a profound one". This is also why we must not isolate ourselves "in the parish, among friends, in our movement, with those who think like us ...". "The Church must go out to the suburbs of existence itself." These are just two of the most important emergencies that Pope Francis suggested to the New Movements, associations, communities that travelled to Rome for the May 18 vigil and the Mass of Pentecost on May 19. The Pope responded extemporaneously to four questions that were addressed to him, in which he recalled having received the faith in his family, from his grandmother, pointed out that the Church "is not an NGO," but the bearer of Jesus Christ; that to awaken the materialistic world to the faith personal witness is necessary, that in our present world falling stack markets are considered "a tragedy", while the fall (and death) of workers, or starvation, or difficulties of the poor cause little interest.
The vigil was held in St. Peter's Square packed with at least 200 thousand people, with a crowd that overflowed along Via della Conciliazione. Francis emerged at 17.30 for a long tour through the crowds on his jeep, greeting and kissing babies, surrounded by a forest of banners, caps, scarves, placards, cries of "Fran-cis! Fran-cis." Later the Pope corrected them ("fraternally, though!"): "From now on you have to say: Jesus, Jesus Jesus!" and the crowd obeyed.
The prayer vigil was attended by at least 150 movements, associations and new communities: including Communion and Liberation, the Focolare Movement, the Neocatechumenal Way, Sant'Egidio, Renewal in the Spirit and many groups from Europe, America, Asia and Africa . The appointment was fixed as part of the celebrations for the Year of Faith, with the title "I believe! Increase our faith." Archbishop Rino Fisichella, president of the Pontifical Council for the New Evangelization, introducing the time, said that the impetus for this oceanic gathering "is to find the most appropriate and consistent way to live and witness to the Gospel in today's world."
After two readings taken from St Paul's Letter to the Romans and the treatise of St. Irenaeus, there were two testimonies. John Waters, an Irish journalist, spoke of his leaving the faith, in search of a freedom that "makes us feel all-powerful and deeply powerless," typical man of today who "seeks to dominate everything and that's why he feels isolated and alone" . He then recalled his descent ("to his knees") into alcoholism, from which he was saved thanks to some friends who helped him rediscover the faith of his childhood. Now, he concluded "I am not only John, but one with the One who created me and I could not be free in any other way."
The other testimony was that of Paul Bhatti, former minister for minorities in Pakistan, who thanked Pope Francis for being able to "share the pain and hopes of the Christians of Pakistan." He recalled the mission of his brother Shahbaz, who was killed by Islamic extremists March 2, 2011, his commitment to the poor, the marginalized, the weak who "are the body of the persecuted Christ." At the same time, his brother never stopped dreaming of "a Pakistan free and open to all communities and minorities", in dialogue with Muslims, who "bear witness to the love of Jesus."
Four representatives from the Movements then addressed their questions to Pope Francis. The pontiff, who had previously read the questions, gave an unscripted response, apologizing at the end that he was "too long". The dialogue lasted for at least 40 minutes.
To the first question, "how did you achieve a certainty of faith in your life?" the Pope responded by recalling the religious education he received from his grandmother, from whom "I first heard the Christian proclamation ... All mothers and grandmothers transmit the faith. God puts people alongside us who help us in the faith. "
We say that we must seek God, go to Him to ask for forgiveness ... but when we go, He is waiting for us, He is the first one there...This creates wonder in the heart of those who do not believe, and this is how faith grows! It is important to study. But that alone is not enough! The important thing is our encounter with Jesus. Fragility's biggest enemy curiously enough, is fear. But do not be afraid! Faith grows with the Lord, out of the very hands of the Lord. And that makes us grow and makes us stronger". And referring again to the importance of mothers in the transmission of faith Francis concludes: "The one thing that makes me stronger every day is to pray the Rosary to Our Lady. I feel great strength because I go to her and I feel strong".
Una donna insegnante parla del materialismo banale in cui sono immersi i suoi studenti e gli altri insegnanti. E domanda: "Qual è la cosa più importante per attuare il compito a cui siamo chiamati? Come possiamo comunicare in modo efficace la fede nel mondo di oggi?".
A woman teacher speaks of trivial materialism in which her students and other teachers are immersed. And she asks: "What is the most important thing that we must do to carry out the task to which we are called and how can we effectively communicate the faith in the world today?".
"The most important thing - said the pope - is Jesus. Organization, things to do ... alone are not enough. Jesus is the most important thing .... Evangelization doesn't take place around a table , with strategies, they are secondary. Evangelization takes place with the testimony ... John Paul II and Benedict XVI have said that today's man needs witnesses, more than masters. "
It is important that "we are guided by Jesus," "our leader" and that we "allow God to gaze at us". The Holy Father revealed how at times, late in the evening he goes to the chapel and nods off from exhaustion in front of the Tabernacle. "But He understands ... And I let Him hold me in His gaze look and that gives me strength."
To the third question, asked by an employee, "How can we live as a poor Church for the poor? What contribution we can give to address the serious crisis of today?" Francis replied that the "main contribution" we can give is "living the Gospel. The Church is not a political movement, nor a well-organized structure. We are not an NGO. When the Church becomes an NGO it loses salt and becomes tasteless, an empty organization".
And after having warned against the temptations presented by efficiency, he added: "[In today's world] man is in crisis, for this is a deep crisis. Why we cannot be concerned only with ourselves ... We must not isolate in ourselves in our parishes, with friends, in our movements, with those who think like us ... When the Church becomes closed, it gets sick. A room closed for a year .. when you open it smells of damp...the Church must go out of itself to the existential outskirts. Jesus said, 'Go into all the world'. In doing so the Church runs the risk of accidents a long the way as some would point out. But I say, I prefer a thousand times a Church damaged by an accident, than a sick Church closed in on itself. We often lock ourselves up in antiquated structures out of fear, which make us slaves. "
He pointed out that the dominant culture is that "of contrast and of waste", which eliminates the elderly with their wisdom, and children because they are useless. Christians must go against this culture: "We need to go out and meet everyone, people who do not think like us, of other faiths, non-believers ... They share one thing with us, they are made in the image of God."
He then returned again to the "human crisis": "A homeless man who dies of cold, that doesn't make the news ... Children who die of hunger, do not make the news." "If we go out and we meet the poor, we can touch the flesh of Christ. A poor Church for the poor begins with going out, encountering the flesh of Christ, and [so] we begin to understand what the poverty of the Lord is."
The last question concerns "proclaiming the faith," persecution and how to "help our persecuted brothers and sisters", "how to help them change their political and social context".
"To proclaim the Gospel - says the Pope - it takes courage and patience." And playing on the connection between the word "patience" and "suffering", he defines the persecuted as "the Church in patience." Remembering that "there are more martyrs today than in the early centuries of the Church, our brothers and sisters who are suffering ... They witness the faith until martyrdom. But martyrdom is never a defeat. It is the highest degree of witness."
The pontiff noted that often conflicts in which Christians are victims "have no religious origin - they have social or political causes that then involve religious communities - but the Christian must always respond to evil with good."
And he asked all: "Let us try to make them feel that we are deeply united to their situation ... Do you pray for these brothers and sisters every day?".
The commitment for them, then added, "should prompt us to promote religious freedom for all. Every man must be free to [profess] his religion, because every man and woman are God's children."
At the end of the vigil, and after the blessing, Francis greeted everyone with a "Good evening." And the crowd yelled, "Je-sus! Je-sus! Je-sus ! ".
March 09,2013,
International Christian Voice Canada Condemn to attack on more than 150 houses in Joesph colony Lahore Pakistan, This act of violence is completely unacceptable and we demand the government of Pakistan to ensure that the minorities of Pakistan be protectedand ,Please remembers the Christian and other religious minorities of Pakistan in your Prayers.
Mrs Najami Saleem MPA Punjab and Members of CAC APMA along with other 60 members of APMA went to the incidents and helped victim families to rescue ,Dr Paul Bhatti Advisor to Prim minsiter on Interfaith and Harmony strongly condemn the incident and called relevant authority to ensure the safety of Christian of Pakistan and APMA team is continue helping the victims of this incident As soon as we will get further detail we will inform you.
150 houses of Christian families were attacked in Joseph Colony.
Protesters claimed that they would not let the families return to their homes until the accused was arrested. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE
LAHORE:
A mob of almost 3,000 people, forced a Christian community to flee for their lives on Friday, leaving behind their houses and possessions.
This occurred in the Badami Bagh area, when one of the Christians was accused of blasphemy against Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
The charged group gathered around Joseph Colony on Noor Road, led by Shafiq Ahmed, who was in search of the accused Savan, alias Bubby. The mob attacked Savan’s house, partially burnt it and pelted it with stones. Other houses in the locality – home to about 150 Christian families – were also attacked. Many residents, including women and children, hastily fled to save themselves.
Savan could not be found. However, his father was caught and badly beaten. The vehicle of a pastor, who reached the area to inquire about the incident, was also damaged.
The episode began at 1 pm in the afternoon and did not conclude till the evening, when a large number of police personnel finally reached the spot and averted further damage.
The police placated the mob by registering an FIR under section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code (death sentence) against Savan and ensuring that he would be given into their custody to decide his fate. They also took Chaman Masih into custody.
Despite all this, the protesters continued to claim that they would not let the families return until Savan’s arrest.
Shahid Imran, complainant in the FIR, told The Express Tribune that Savan would utter blasphemous remarks against the Holy Prophet (pbuh) from time to time. When it happened again on Thursday, he told his friend Shafiq, who took out a knife and went straight to Savan’s house. This visit bore no fruit. Then, on Friday, he incited other men to join him in punishing Savan.
According to Imran, the situation went out of control when people reached the spot after offering prayers under Qari Saifullah. Countless people had joined the mob, chanting slogans and throwing stones at the houses.
Qari Saifullah said that if they find Savan, they must cut him into pieces.
Human Liberation Commission of Pakistan Chairman Aslam Parvaiz Sahotra visited the site and told The Express Tribune that the police registered the FIR after bowing to the pressure of the mob. However, the police did save children and women.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 9th, 2013.
Freedom of Religion or Belief: An Individual’s Choice Speech by Dr. Paul Bhatti
Good afternoon foreign ministers, ladies and gentlemen, it is a matter of great privilege and honor for me to be among such a distinguished gathering to dialogue on this critical issue. I would like to offer my heartfelt thanks to the co-hosting Governments of Canada, Netherlands and the Republic of Senegal for organizing such a meaningful event.
Well over 90% of the World’s population are religious believers, therefore more than ever there is a growing need for not only dialogue that will address today’s context but for relationships with other inter-religious communities. The potential role of religion in conflict, and the growing place of religion in public life, present urgent challenges that require a greater understanding and co-operation among people of diverse faiths.
We do realize that contrary to what is often feared, religious freedom does not create social instability but actually leads to increased public order. Societies are more likely to flourish when its citizens have the freedom to voice their deepest beliefs and highest ideals. During the past few years, a number of studies show the benefits of religious freedom to civil society all over the world.
The Pope Benedict XV1 said “Religious freedom is an authentic weapon of peace, with an historical and prophetic mission. Peace brings to full fruition the deepest qualities and potentials of the human person, the qualities which can change the world and make it better. It gives hope for a future of justice and peace, even in the face of grave injustice and material and moral poverty.”
Pakistan today offers us serious challenges on many different levels and with this in mind our approach has to be different than what we would expect in the Western world. We are a nation that has suffered several atrocities after the independence .
The two wars with India over the disputed region of Kashmir, The previous fall out of the Russian invasion in Afghanistan and the presence of over 3 million Afghan refugees in Pakistan, and recently, being an ally to the Western world in its fight against terrorism and extremism, have caused further development of extremism and terrorism. We has lost well over 40,000 innocent citizens and over 4,500 law enforcing personnel. Today Pakistan is confronted with internal and cross border terrorism, sectarian violence, religious extremism, fanaticism, intolerance, and discrimination. I propose that religious freedom can be the solution in the actualization of world peace, but in the context of Pakistan, we need to put all our efforts and support into building a road of religious freedom and education. With this starting from the ground level, we need to overcome our major enemies which are: poverty, illiteracy, Terrorism and intolerance. They have to be fought by peaceful means of education, dialogue, economical reforms and love.
We can gain courage by looking to those who have gone before us who stood for peace and unity at such great cost.
But more than anything, may I call upon you, and the nations you represent, for peaceful action, to stand with us in solidarity and support, uniting for the cause of religious freedom, but by the process of building with us a road of religious education, throughout all levels of our society, thus bringing peace and an end to violence in the world.
At this point, I would like to strongly condemn the content and message of a recent movie called, “Innocence of Muslims,” which seems it’s purpose was to insult Great religions, and to provoke hatred and discord. It is both revolting and absolutely reprehensible. It’s content has deeply hurt Muslim and other religious communities alike not only in Pakistan but worldwide. Sadly in many instances this has incited, anger, hatred, rage and violence, resulting in loss of lives, which I also strongly condemn.
While freedom of speech and expression as stated in the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights is commendable. This kind of misuse of free speech is irresponsible and has become a weapon in the hands of people who clearly do not respect all human beings.
Therefore, I would kindly request the International community, offer proposals and or a resolution, to ban such activities, that can prevent this kind of hostility between the Great religions occurring in the future.
I further suggest; as a way forward in developing a greater understanding between the Great religions of the world, establishing an international committee for inter-faith and inter-relationship dialogue. who can contribute in the development of religious freedom in every society.
I would like to conclude my speech with statement of Dr Martin Luther King, when he said, Hate begets hate; violence begets violence… We must meet the forces of hate with the power of love… Our aim must never be to defeat or humiliate… but to win …friendship and understanding. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
Thank you
Pakistani Christians flee after girl accused of blasphemy
Published on Monday August 20, 2012
Pakistan blasphemy gate
B.K. Bangash/AP Residents gather outside the locked house of a Christian girl in a colony outside Islamabad on Monday. Up to 600 Christians have fled the colony since Pakistani authorities arrested the girl on suspicion of violating the country's blasphemy laws.
Richard Leiby The Washington Post
ISLAMABAD—Everyone in the teeming, tense community of Muslims and Christians just outside Islamabad seems to have a different story about the young girl and the Qur’an.
The 12-year-old Christian deliberately burned the Muslim holy book, some say. No, she innocently put pages from a nonsacred teaching text into the trash, say others, and nothing was burned. Still another version holds that an older Muslim boy planted pages of the Qur’an for the cleaning girl to find, and levelled the accusation of desecration because she had spurned him.
Amid the conflicting claims, this much is certain: As many as 600 Christians have fled their colony bordering the capital, fearing for their lives, officials said, after a mob last week called for the child to be burned to death as a blasphemer. Pakistan’s president has asked his Interior Ministry to look into the case.
The girl, whom authorities have described as mentally challenged, now sits in jail in Rawalpindi, charged by police with blasphemy, while her family has been put in federal protective custody. The evidence against her is muddled at best, but police said they arrested her in part to assuage the mob and also because they knew she would be safer in jail.
“The one who burned the Qur’an should be burned,” said Shaukhat Ali, an assistant at the local mosque, expressing a sentiment shared by many Muslims in the community.
Under Pakistani law, those found guilty of defaming the Islamic prophet Muhammad face the death penalty, while defiling the Qur’an can bring a life sentence. The case of the girl is the fourth in recent months to alarm human rights advocates, who say the law is frequently used to persecute Christians and also has been unfairly applied to the mentally ill, including some Muslims.
Liberal and moderate Pakistanis see the rise in blasphemy allegations as a reflection of a dangerous ascent of extremism and anti-Western sentiment throughout society.
“Most of the people consider the Christians here to represent the West,” said Paul Bhatti, who heads the Ministry of National Harmony, a post created after his younger brother, Shahbaz Bhatti, a Catholic and minority affairs minister, was assassinated by the Pakistani Taliban last year for advocating reform of the blasphemy laws.
Shahbaz Bhatti was the second prominent politician killed in 2011 for his opposition to the laws; Salman Taseer, the governor of Punjab Province, was gunned down by a member of his security retinue, who immediately confessed and was widely celebrated in Pakistan for defending Islam.
Christians are easy targets for false claims by accusers with ulterior motives. Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari took “serious note” of the girl’s arrest, a spokesman said Sunday, and quoted him as saying, “Blasphemy by anyone cannot be condoned, but no one will be allowed to misuse blasphemy law for settling personal scores.”
In an interview Sunday night at his heavily guarded office in Islamabad, Bhatti said such allegations are usually levelled against the poor and the powerless. The 50-year-old physician said he has drawn no firm conclusions about the girl’s case, but knows one thing: even if cleared, she and her family can never return to their home.
“If she is not guilty, some can understand and they can forgive,” he said. “But there are people who just want to have death.”
The slum where the 12-year-old lived is typical of other desperately poor Christian enclaves in and around the comparatively prosperous capital. Many Christians live in lean-tos and toil as trash pickers or wood scavengers.
The incident involving the girl happened Thursday afternoon, evidently while she was gathering trash; but beyond that, everything is in dispute. Some locals claim to have witnessed her and her mother burning the entire Qur’an.
But Tahir Muhammad, a 30-year-old shop owner and landlord, said the girl found just one page of the holy book while cleaning a house, mixed it with other papers and burned it.
A 10-year-old neighbourhood girl said she saw the whole thing and took the ashes to the mosque, with no pages of the Qur’an extant. In interviews Sunday, two men at the mosque also said only ashes remained and that the imam mixed in some pages himself before turning over the “evidence” to police.
“Somebody must be confused when they said pages (of the Qu’ran) were mixed in; no such thing happened,” Imam Hafiz Muhammad Zubair said Monday. He also said community leaders decided to turn the girl and her mother over to police for their own safety.
“Both the women confessed to us that they had indeed burned the Qur’an,” he said.
Various tellings of the incident spread Friday to other mosques. Some outside religious leaders and locals encouraged Muslims to converge on the Christian enclave, but others counselled restraint, said Bhatti, who talked with several clerics.
An estimated 500 to 1,000 Muslims, including many outsiders, turned out Friday to demand punishment for the alleged blasphemer, blocking a nearby highway and burning tires. The mob also menaced the police.
Other Muslims, who said they count Christians as their friends, said they oppose vigilantism. However, in their view, if the girl is found guilty then the Christians must leave for good.
“The people here are not extremists,” said Asad Riaz, 30, sitting in the mosque Sunday evening, “but this has provoked them.”
The imam sounded a note of conciliation, but with conditions. “It isn’t really those poor folks’ fault,” Zubair said, “but we will wait and see what the official verdict against her is, and if they are guilty then decide accordingly.”
Over the weekend, residents of the Christian enclave began to migrate to other colonies in Islamabad, where they have remained. Authorities said they could not guarantee their safety if they return.
Some Christians who stayed in the area said shopkeepers are refusing to sell them food and have issued threats.
“They said they will burn our house down if we don’t leave,” said 17-year-old Adnan, who lived next to the accused girl’s family. “They are also saying that since a woman burned the Qur’an they will come after our women now.”
He and his cousin, perched nervously on a motorbike, would soon be migrating to Islamabad, too, they said, then took off into the night.
Rifta suffers from Down’s Syndrome; allegedly burned pages of a Qaida while playing outside her house. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD: An 11-year-old Christian girl, suffering from Down’s Syndrome, was arrested on Saturday on blasphemy charges, after being accused of burning passages of the Holy Quran.
Rifta Masih was jailed by the police in Mehrabadi village, near Islamabad, after being severely beaten up by locals, for allegedly burning 10 pages of the Noorani Qaida.
On the eve of Ramazan 27, Rifta was playing outside her house, opposite sector G-11 in Islamabad, when she was allegedly seen burning and dumping the pages of the Qaida into a bin.
Fearing severe backlash, Rifta’s family fled from the area, while locals handed over the young girl and her mother to the local police.
According to sources, locals blocked the Kashmir Highway for hours and surrounded the Ramna police station in G-11 when the police initially showed reluctance to register a case against the young girl. The police, however, soon succumbed to the pressure, registering a blasphemy case against Rifta and formally arresting her on Thursday.
Zabiullah, the investigation officer of the case, could not be contacted, despite repeated attempts. Ramna police station SHO Qasim Niazi, meanwhile, refused to give details of the case, saying he did not have much information. ‘Paul Bhatti takes notice’
According to sources, Adviser to the Prime Minister for National Harmony Dr Paul Bhatti has taken notice of the incident.
Sources told The Express Tribune that Bhatti has spoken to lawyers to provide legal aid to Rifta and her family for her immediate release from the juvenile jail, as well as to take legal action against locals who influenced the police into registering a case.
They further disclosed that Bhatti has also taken up the issue with religious scholars of different sects, who, after Eid, will determine whether Rifta’s act was deliberate or unintentional, since she is only a child.
According to sources, the capital police, while briefing Bhatti on the issue, denied that Rifta and her mother were tortured by locals; however, they confirmed that she has Down’s Syndrome.
Down’s Syndrome is a severe genetic disorder that severely affects cognitive and physical growth – and affects a child from birth. Usually, children suffering from it are identifiable from their features. There is no cure for Down’s Syndrome. Therapy for this disorder is uncommon in Pakistan, and is usually unavailable for poorer segments of society.
Parliamentary Secretary on Human Rights and Chairperson of Parliamentary forum on Child Rights Rubina Qaimkhawni told The Express Tribune that the ministry will provide every possible aide to Rifta and her family.
“I will take up the issue at the parliamentary forum,” she said, adding that Rifta “is an innocent minor, who might not even be familiar with the meanings of religion”.
She said the issue could have been solved amicably at a local level but it was deliberately blown out of proportion.
“The government will continue to strive for human rights and particularly for the rights of minorities in Pakistan,” said Qaimkhawni. Published in The Express Tribune, August 19th, 2012.
Official policies restrict religious freedom in Pakistan, says US
US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton—AP Photo
WASHINGTON, July 30: In Pakistan, the Constitution and other laws and policies restrict religious freedom and the government enforced these restrictions, says a US State Department report released on Monday.
The report, which examines religious freedom or the lack of it across the globe, points out in a chapter on Pakistan that individuals accused of blasphemy or who publicly criticised the blasphemy laws and called for their reform continued to be killed.
The two most prominent victims of this practice were Governor Punjab Salman Taseer and Minister of Minority Affairs Shahbaz Bhatti, who was the only Christian in the cabinet, the report adds.
“The government demonstrated a trend towards deterioration in respect for and protection of the right to religious freedom,” claims the report, adding that “some government practices limited freedom of religion, particularly for religious minorities”.
The report also points out that:
Abuses under the blasphemy law and other discriminatory laws continued; the government did not take adequate measures to prevent these incidents or reform the laws to prevent abuse.
Since the government rarely investigated or prosecuted the perpetrators of increased extremist attacks on religious minorities and members of the Muslim majority promoting tolerance, the climate of impunity continued. There were instances in which law-enforcement personnel reportedly abused religious minorities in custody.
The government took some steps to improve religious freedom and promote tolerance, such as the creation of a Ministry of National Harmony and the appointment of a special adviser for minority affairs following Shahbaz Bhatti’s assassination.
There were reports of societal abuses or discrimination based on religious affiliation, belief, or practice. Societal intolerance and violence against minorities and Muslims promoting tolerance increased.
There were increased reports of human rights and religious freedom activists and members of minorities hesitating to speak in favour of religious tolerance due to “a climate of intolerance and fear, especially after the killings of Salman Taseer and Minister Bhatti as a result of their opposition to the blasphemy laws.
A rise in acts of violence and intimidation against religious minorities by extremists exacerbated existing sectarian tensions.
Extremists in some parts of the country demanded that all citizens follow their authoritarian interpretation of Islam and threatened brutal consequences if they did not abide by it”. — Anwar Iqbal
Minorities will feel secure, strong with more representatives in legislative assemblies, says Dr Paul Bhatti. DESIGN: FAIZAN DAWOOD
ISLAMABAD: Minister Incharge for National Harmony Dr Paul Bhatti sought more seats for minorities in the Senate, National and Provincial Assemblies, citing an increase in the national population. Bhatti was addressing a seminar titled “To stop forced conversion of religion” arranged by the Ministry of National Harmony.
“Minorities will feel secure and strong with more representatives in legislative assemblies,” he said.
Bhatti told the audience that the government had already reserved four seats in the Senate in light of new amendments introduced to the Constitution after the passage of the 18th Amendment and was also planning to establish a large university for arts and religions in Islamabad, where all religions would be taught with equal respect.
“It will mark our beloved homeland Pakistan as a tolerant and peace loving country on the map of the world,” he said.
The minister also urged the provincial and local governments as well as the Fata administration to encourage employment of minority individuals in all public and private sectors.
“I know that the youth of our minorities are also ambitious and want to join our valiant defence forces. I will give my proposals at appropriate forum in this regard,” said Bhatti. Correction: An earlier version of the article stated that the government is likely to allocate quota for minorities, but instead Paul Bhatti had called for an increase in the existing quota. The article has been revised for corrections.
Office of Religious Freedom ambassador to be named soon
Sunday, 08 April 2012 00:00 Deborah Gyapong/CCN
By Deborah Gyapong
Canadian Catholic News
OTTAWA Foreign Affairs Parliamentary Secretary Bob Dechert (left) with Prime Minister Stephen Harper, and International Christian Voice founder Peter Bhatti. Foreign Affairs Parliamentary Secretary Bob Dechert told a Parliamentary forum Apr. 2 an ambassador will be named soon to head the Office of Religious Freedom.
Dechert, who has been overseeing consultations for the new office that have been taking place across Canada, told the 2nd Parliamentary Forum on Religious Freedom and Governance the Canadian government is committed to making religious freedom a pillar of foreign policy. He did not announce a date for the office’s establishment, but said it will have a budget of $5 million.
As a lawyer and student of human rights for the past 30 years, Dechert said he thought Canada was an example to the world that would inspire other countries to emulate. “I thought every year it got a little better; if we waited long enough the world would look like Canada.”
But Dechert told the 150 representatives of religious groups, among them many who had experienced persecution in their native lands, that over the past ten years he has realized things are not getting better, but “a lot worse.”
“We’re going to point out the importance of religious freedom and point out where religious freedom is in jeopardy in places around the world,” he said, noting that societies that respect religious freedom are also more likely to be stable societies that respect other human rights.
Hosted by Conservative MP David Anderson, the forum featured politicians, an imam, representatives of Cardus, a think tank that examines religion and religious institutions in civil society, and Sun TV host Brian Lilley. International Christian Voice founder Peter Bhatti joined Anderson in making opening remarks. The brother of assassinated Pakistani Minister Shahbaz Bhatti, Bhatti named Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, China, Iraq, Iran, Egypt and Sudan among countries that restrict religious freedom.
Bhatti said he worked for seven years in Saudi Arabia where no non-Muslim may publicly hold their religious books or preach without facing prison and a possible death sentence. Pakistan was created a secular state with religious freedoms, but after the founding father’s death, rulers used religion to pursue vested interests and keep power, he said. His brother was assassinated for advocating the repeal of Pakistan’s blasphemy laws. “He spent his whole life to liberate the oppressed, victimized and downtrodden Christians and other religious minorities from persecution, intolerance, discrimination and human inequality,” Bhatti said.
Cardus president Michael Van Pelt, whose think tank researches the role of religion and religious institutions in the public square, told the gathering that the importance of religion is often not reflected in current human rights discourse, which tends to ignore the importance of civil society.
Van Pelt cited a number of examples where ignorance of religion or fear of religion raise concerns about religious freedom at home in Canada. He noted that in some modern city plans there is no reference to religious institutions or places of worship. In a recent Ontario election, the issue of funding of religious schools became the trump card that defeated Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory, he said. The subtext, was fear of radical Islamic schools, he said, and a willingness to “make other religions pay a price to prevent them.”
“What does that tell you about religious freedom in our own back yard?” he asked.
Lilley said religion stories do not often make it into print media or if they do, they get relegated to the back pages. The mainstream media and Canada’s elite classes do not understand the importance of religion, he said. He said he tells young journalists that it is necessary to understand religion if they want to understand the world.
Though there are a large proportion of committed religious believers of all kinds in Canada, the mainstream view is that religion is something other people and other cultures do, something exotic, or something “knuckle draggers in the southern United States” do, he said.
Like Van Pelt, he stressed religious freedom is under threat in Canada even the freedom of parents to teach their beliefs in their private homes. Governments are not only becoming co-parents, but attempting to become co-pastors, he said, citing one Ontario politician’s insistence the Catholic Church change its teachings in the Catechism on homosexuality.
He urged people to use the power of social media to spread the stories about religion that do not make it to the newspapers, but still may be published on mainstream media websites. He warned however that anyone entering into the fray will be called a bigot or hateful based on having religious beliefs.
“Be fearless,” he said. “Don’t worry about offending non-religious believers or believers of other religions.”
“Religious freedom for one means religious freedom for all,” he said. “If religious freedom can be taken away in Canada or in other countries, all other freedoms can be taken away.”
Conservative MP Scott Reid said religious discrimination can become active persecution when the state or majority religion sees people converting or groups proselytizing. In China, the persecution of Falun Gong began when the government saw the converts as a challenge to the regime, he said. The Chinese government also feels challenged by the unauthorized Christian house churches.
Reid said Canada must defend the individual right to follow one’s conscience and blasted attempts to pass laws that protect religions from defamation. Anti-religious defamation laws “essentially provide cover for states to pursue those who are converting from a state-sponsored religion,” he said.
Freedom of religion must include the right for open, vigorous debate of ideas, he said.
Former Liberal MP Mario Silva who now chairs the International Forum for Rights and Security said there is a need to make sure people are talking about the same thing when they speak of religious freedom.
Silva noted Pakistan’s blasphemy laws not only allow Christians to be targeted, but also other religious minorities, including Muslims who do not toe the majority line. “In Afghanistan, the situation remains fragile and will become more so with the pull out of allied forces,” he warned.
On a recent visit to Afghanistan, Silva said it was impossible to discuss issues of apostasy or blasphemy. “It was the single taboo topic of non-discussion,” he said. “People would walk out of the room because people fear for their lives.”
Imam Mohamad Jebara, the founder of Cordova Academy, gave the gathering a positive view of Sharia Law. He chanted in Arabic a passage from the Koran that he translated as upholding religious freedom, saying “there is no compulsion permitted when it comes to religion.”
He described Sharia as the “path to the best abode, the best way of life.” He cited a history of religious tolerance in the Muslim world, and explained the special or dhimmi status of non-Muslims as a form of elevation and respect. “Religious intolerance is not acceptable in Islam,” he said. “All of the stories we have heard about intolerance are contrary to the faith, contrary to the law and what the Prophet teaches and the tradition throughout Islamic history.”
One member of the audience, who came from Pakistan, came to the microphone and described Jebara’s view as a “Disneyland version of Islam.” Another suggested the imam should take his message to countries like Pakistan and Egypt where religious minorities are persecuted .
Minister In-charge of National Harmony directs concerned authorities to take up matter and resolve it at the earliest. PHOTO: NNI/FILE
ISLAMABAD: Minister In-charge of National Harmony Dr Paul Bhatti said on Sunday that he would raise objections in the parliament if the government fails to safeguard the places of worship of minorities, particularly the Hindu community.
“Minorities in Pakistan are in deep trouble,” Bhatti told the Express Tribune.
“The government should be committed to safeguard the places of worship of all minorities in the country and all possible steps should be taken for the care and maintenance of these places,” said Bhatti.
Taking notice of the Hindu community’s protest in front of the National Press Club in Islamabad for the repossession of their temple, the minister said that no one should be allowed to occupy their places of worship.
He also directed the concerned authorities to take up the matter and resolve it at the earliest.
More than 30 Hindus from Tehsil Zafarwal in Norowal district took part in the protest on Friday.
Bhatti said: “We should respect the places of worship of others and demonstrate tolerance to establish peace in the country in order to promote interfaith harmony. All religions are integral parts of the society.”
“Interfaith harmony can only be achieved through interfaith relationship,” added Bhatti. “Interfaith dialogue and harmony among the people of different faiths can create an environment of peace and tolerance in the society.”
“We should have interactions to understand each other’s point of views.”
He further said that peace was necessary for the development of the country and the socioeconomic uplift of the minorities so that the people of different faiths can sit together and work for the welfare of the nation.
London: Nearly 1,000 women and girls in Pakistan were victims of honour killings during 2011, a human rights group said.
At least 943 women were killed last year by their fathers, husbands or brothers for allegedly damaging their family name. Ninety-three of those killed were minors.
However, the true number of those killed is thought to be far higher. Many cases are thought to have been covered up by relatives and sympathetic police officers, the Daily Mail reported citing the human rights group.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan's annual report revealed seven Christian and two Hindu women were among the victims.
The figure of 943 was an increase of more than 100 over the previous year in 2010.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan's annual report on Wednesday highlighted the worrying scale of violence suffered by many women in conservative Muslim Pakistan, where they are frequently treated as second-class citizens and there is no law against domestic violence.
The report concluded, "Throughout the year, women were callously killed in the name of 'honour' when they went against family wishes in any way, or even on the basis of suspicion that they did so.
"Women were sometimes killed in the name of 'honour' over property disputes and inheritance rights."
Despite progress on better protecting women's rights, activists say the government needs to do more to prosecute murderers in cases largely dismissed by police as private, family affairs.
The report also said the police in Pakistan were often a "coercive force" against women, with officers rarely investigating questionable deaths.
This refers to the frequent newspaper reports of young women committing suicide following arguments with family members about their choice of friends.
Police often take accounts of these deaths at face value and rarely look at the circumstances in more detail.
The report revealed seven Christian and two Hindu women were among the victims and about 595 of those killed in 2011 were accused of having "illicit relations" while 219 of marrying without permission.
The Commission reported 791 "honour killings" in 2010.
– A young mother has been falsely accused of “blaspheming” Muhammad, the prophet of Islam, because she rebuffed attempts by relatives who had converted to Islam to force her to renounce her Christian faith, family members said.
Police arrested 26-year-old Shamim Bibi, mother of a 5-month-old girl for “blasphemy” in Punjab Province after neighbors accused her of uttering remarks against Muhammad.
Several relatives had converted to Islam and tried to get Bibi to also leave her Christian faith. Neighbors claimed that in the argument over the two religions, Bibi had somehow blasphemed Islam.
The young mother is charged with breaking Section 295-C of Pakistan’s “blasphemy” law which is punishable by death or life imprisonment. The statue is following:
“Whoever by words, either spoken or written or by visible representation, or by any imputation, innuendo, or insinuation, directly or indirectly, defiles the sacred name of the Holy Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) shall be punished with death, or imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable to fine.”
If one rejects Islam, it is almost impossible not to violate the blasphemy law in some way or another since one is rejecting the claims of Islam and the prophet Mohammed. The controversial statute is far too vague and the punishment is ridiculously severe.
Response: Christians by their very presence and continued faith in Christianity could be charged almost any time under this vague law since their very refusal to join Islam stands as a rejection and an “innuendo, or insinuation, directly or indirectly” against the so-called prophet of Islam and his religion.
There is no justice for Christians or minority religions in Pakistan as long as this law can be manipulated and used against those who refuse to become Muslims. Continued pressure needs to be put upon the Pakistani government to alter and change this outrageous statute. *Top
Ali Mumtaz, son of Salmaan Taseer's assassin Mumtaz Qadri, participates in a protest by Sunni Tehrik in Islamabad on January 4, 2011. PHOTO: INP
LAHORE: Around a thousand people gathered at Data Darbar on Wednesday in support of Mumtaz Qadri, the man who killed Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer one year ago, and called for his release.
Supporters of various religious parties that form the Tahaffuz Namoos-i-Rasalat Mahaz (Front for the Protection of the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) Honour) staged protests at the Lahore Press Club, Minar-i-Pakistan and other places before gathering at the Darbar. The participants, mostly Barelvi Muslims, held up portraits of Qadri and chanted slogans in his honour.
“Mumtaz Qadri expressed his love for the Holy Prophet (pbuh) by shooting a blasphemer, and you can’t even shout slogans,” said an announcer from the stage, trying to elicit a loud response from the crowd.
They also roared as their leaders announced a resolution denouncing the media for not giving them ‘proper’ coverage. When the clock struck 4:25pm, the hour marking exactly one year since Taseer was killed, by standing, raising their arms and pledging to follow Qadri “against every blasphemer”.
One speaker, Allama Muhammad Tahir Tabassum, suggested that the government auction off the gun with which Qadri shot the governor (), “like an auction of the bats or hockey sticks of famous athletes”. It was then announced that the Sunni Ittehad Council was willing to pay Rs100 million for the “holy gun”.
Allama Muhammad Nawaz Bashir Jalali paid tribute to Qadri for “remaining firm” that his actions were justified and right. He said Qadri had gained international fame for the killing, and the love “not just of mankind, but birds too”.
“Today is the day to renew our promises to defend the honour of the Prophet (pbuh),” said Pir Atharul Qadri. He said Taseer’s killing was justified by Islamic injunctions as he had committed blasphemy. He said blasphemers deserved to have their tongues cut off. He accused the media of downplaying their protests.
Advocate Habibulah Saeedi, one of the lawyers who famously garlanded Qadri when he was brought to the Rawalpindi courts, said that the legal fraternity backed the assassin.
“If Malik Ishaq, the killer of dozens of Muslims, can be released, why can’t Qadri?” asked Mujahid Abdul Rasool, referring to the founder of the outlawed Lashkar-i-Jhangvi. He said that the Sunni Ittehad Council would wage jihad against the PML-N, PPP, Sippah-i-Sahaba, Lashkar-i-Jhangvi and Lashkar-i-Taiba.
Dr Raghib Naeemi said the “true lovers” of the Holy Prophet (pbuh) would continue “eliminating the blasphemers” regardless of the views of the outside world.
Dr Ashraf Asif Jalali, Khan Muhammad Qadri and Pir Syed Zaheerul Hasan also addressed the participants.
A resolution was adopted at the end of the rally asking President Asif Zardari to declare clemency for Mumtaz Qadri and punishment for Asia Bibi, the Christian woman jailed for blasphemy whose release Taseer had campaigned for.
The resolution also demanded the permanent closure of Nato supply lines through Pakistan; purging of all Pakistani air bases of US personnel; the arrest of the killers of Dr Sarfaraz Naeemi and terrorists who bombed shrines; the removal of Ahmedis from government posts; and that “a free, fair and impartial investigation into the memo scandal be ensured and those responsible be tried under treason charges”. Published in The Express Tribune, January 5th, 2012p
LAHORE, Pakistan, December 26 (Compass Direct News) – A young man has been charged with desecrating the Quran under Pakistan’s controversial “blasphemy” laws after the Christian had an argument over rent with his Muslim landlord, his attorneys said.
Police in Shahdara Town, near Lahore, arrested Khuram Masih, 23, on Dec. 5 and charged him under Section 295-B after his landlord, Zulfiqar Ali, accused him of burning pages of the Quran in order to prepare tea, the attorneys said. Section 295-B makes willful desecration of the Quran or use of an extract in a derogatory manner punishable with life imprisonment.
This unrelated report highlights some of the problems with Pakistan’s blasphemy laws. In January 2011 the governor of Pakistan’s Punjab province, Salman Taseer, was assassinated by his bodyguard who claimed Taseer had violated the country’s blasphemy law. The late governor’s daughter, Shehrbano Taseer, has become a critic of the blasphemy law, saying it is is often abused.
Masih told his attorneys he was falsely accused because he had had an argument with Ali earlier in the day over the rent of the house in which he and his wife, Bano, a convert from Hinduism, have been living along with five other families in recent months.
“The charges are completely fabricated,” Masih told attorneys. “Ali has accused me of burning pages of a quranic booklet that had been [later] placed in a cavity in the wall [to keep them from touching the floor], while the truth is that the walls of our room and courtyard are cemented, and there’s no hole or cavity where the pages could have been placed.”
Another of Ali’s tenants, a neighbor of Masih, told the landlord that he had seen Masih and Bano burning the pages of the Quran to make tea and spread the word to other area Muslims, according to the First Information Report (FIR). Soon a crowd of Muslims gathered near Masih’s house and started shouting slogans against the Christians, and Muslim leaders made announcements from several mosques calling for severe punishment of the Christian couple.
Ali, the main complainant in the FIR (No. 1112/11), states in the FIR that he had the couple arrested after he visited their house and found burned pages of an “Arabic Qaida,” a small copy of the Quran. He states that the first two or three pages were burned and that Masih and Bano had probably used them along with some other materials for a fire to heat up water for tea.
Ali states in the FIR that he later realized Bano had no role in the incident, as she was sleeping while Masih prepared the tea. Police released her after questioning.
Masih, a low-income laborer, told a legal team from the Community Development Initiative (CDI), an affiliate of the European Centre for Law and Justice, that he had had an argument with Ali on the day of the incident and had found out about the charges only that evening.
Masih appeared in court on Saturday (Dec. 24), but the judge did not show up. A trial date is now scheduled for Jan. 7, with a bail hearing set for Jan 3.
A CDI team member told Compass that Masih was visibly shaken by the charges against him and wept as he sought protection for his wife, who is now living with Masih’s relatives.
CDI Executive Director Asif Aqeel told Compass that his team has appointed Niaz Amer to handle Masih’s case.
“The case is yet another example of how the blasphemy laws are misused to settle personal issues,” Aqeel said. “There’s no use moving for bail in the trial court because the lower courts cannot sustain pressure in such cases … We will make efforts for his bail in the Lahore High Court once the proceedings begin.”
Christian rights activist Khalid Shahzad told Compass that Masih didn’t know about the charges until he went to police to get his wife released from custody.
“Masih didn’t even know about the charges until then, because he wasn’t home,” Shahzad said.
Shahzad said that soon after news of the alleged desecration began spreading, he and other Christian leaders started efforts to defuse religious tensions threatening the lives and property of between 15,000 and 16,000 Christians living in the Shahdara area.
“Panic among Christians spread after announcements were made from mosques, and several people left their houses anticipating violence,” he said. “Thank God the situation normalized in a couple of days, although we have strictly forbidden our boys from standing in groups outside their homes or in streets and from reacting on unconfirmed reports.”
Shahzad said police were hasty in registering the case.
“They did not follow the procedure while booking Masih, as no police officer below the level of superintendent of police can investigate blasphemy charges,” he said.
Mian Shafqat, officer in charge of the investigation, said that police had seized the allegedly burned pages from the “scene of the crime” and that police had proven that Masih had intentionally burned them.
Under Pakistan’s internationally condemned blasphemy laws, conviction under Section 295-C for derogatory comments about Muhammad is punishable by death, though life imprisonment is also possible. Section 295-A prohibits injuring or defiling places of worship and “acts intended to outrage religious feelings.” It is punishable by life imprisonment, which in Pakistan is 25 years.
Pakistan’s Islamic blasphemy laws have been widely condemned. False accusations of blasphemy are often used by Muslims in disputes not only with Christians and followers of other faiths, but also with fellow Muslims.
On many occasions violent mobs of Muslims have taken justice in their own hands by killing or otherwise harming those why have been accused of blasphemy.
Those who are accused of blasphemy may be subject to harassment, threats, and attacks. Police, lawyers, and judges may also be subject to harassment, threats, and attacks when blasphemy is an issue. Those accused of blasphemy are subject to immediate incarceration, and most accused are denied bail to forestall mob violence. It is common for those accused of blasphemy to be put in solitary confinement for their protection from other inmates and guards. Like those who have served a sentence for blasphemy, those who are acquitted of blasphemy usually go into hiding or leave Pakistan.
December 25, 2011
Exclusive Interview with Jailed Pakistani Christian Asia Bibi
Asia Bibi, a Christian woman, has been sentenced to death under Pakistan's notorious blasphemy law for insulting Islam. She is now in prison. The law is often used to settle grudges, persecute minorities and fan rage of the Islamic devout. The same thing is coming here. The recent cancellation of my event by a Houston hotel, and the subsequent cancellation of an anti-Sharia conference in Nashville represent the first stage of the application of Islamic blasphemy laws here in America. Where full-on Sharia is enforced, "blasphemers" get the death penalty. Here in America, your character is assassinated. As part of my work to aid those whose lives are threatened for leaving Islam, I have been in touch with Asia through a Pakistani journalist and human rights activist, the Regional Director in Islamabad of the Maishi Foundation, which works for the human rights and education of Pakistani Christians. The activist recently visited Asia Bibi in prison and asked her questions I gave him. Here are her answers: Pamela Geller: What happened when you were arrested? Asia Bibi: When I was arrested, I was assaulted and harassed by the police. I was in a state of shock for many days. I fasted and prayed. My family has been in trouble; they have been moving one place to another. But I have forgiven the Muslims who put me and my family in this situation. PG: How are you being treated? AB: I live in a confined cell. I am allowed to go out for only 30 minutes every day, and allowed to meet my family for one hour every Tuesday. I am given raw material to cook for myself, since the administration fears I might be poisoned, as other Christians accused of blasphemy were poisoned or killed in the jail. The security on my duty is polite. Last week, a few hot words were exchanged with the warden over a minute issue, and she tried to strangle me. She has been suspended. PG: What are your expectations for the future?
AB: I pray and fast. I want to be with my family, hug my daughters, kiss them. I am waiting for a date from the Lahore High Court for the appeal regarding my death sentence. Masihi Foundation is supporting my family and has hired a lawyer for the case. A petition has been filed at the Lahore High Court asking them to accept the case for hearing. I am hopeful that I will be released, although there is a bounty of about $8,000 offered by the Islamic clerics to anyone who will kill me. I have left everything on God, I will accept His will.
PG: Do you have a message for the Christians of the U.S.? AB: I request them to pray and do something for the Christians in Pakistan who are suffering and persecuted. There are many other Christians in jails who need help. The Christians in the U.S. can help the human rights organizations who fight for the persecuted, and become the voice of the voiceless.
PG: Is there any way Americans can help you?
AB: They can pray and ask their government and representatives to do something for the persecuted Christians. PG: What do you think of the Pakistani blasphemy law? AB: Blasphemy law is a manmade law. It is being misused in Pakistan to settle personal vendettas, it should be repealed or at least amended. It has claimed so many innocent lives. I have also been falsely accused.
PG: What is the general situation of Christians in Pakistan? AB: It's not very good. The Christians specially in the villages are living the worst life. They are mistreated, abused and framed for false cases, as they cannot afford to fight for their rights. The NGOs need support to help them; they are denied government jobs and not given respect. Only 10% of the Christians are able to get good jobs and are settled only because they are educated. The odd jobs in the country are reserved only for the Christians.
Pamela Geller also talked with Asia's daughters. Her daughter Alishba said, "We are praying and fasting for our mother so that she can be with us. I visit her with my father and each time I meet her, I can't stop myself, and tears pour out. My mother tries to hold my hand through the gaps between the grilled window and says, 'Have faith in the Lord, He will bring me home one day.' Every time I hear these words, I cry to the Lord to bring back my mother so that we can be with her again."
Asia's youngest daughter said: "It has been months since I last saw my mother. I am scared. I just see her pictures and can't control my tears. I fear that I will not be able to see my mother in the condition she is in. As I have the pleasant memories of her when she was with us, I cannot even imagine what she is going through. There are times I even lose all the hope of seeing her ever again, so I want to keep the memories of her smiling and playing with us. If she comes back to us, I will forget this whole thing as a bad dream."
Minorities are not safe in this country Dr Mehar Chand
QUETTA: A 24-year-old Hindu businessman, abducted for ransom about 50 days ago, was found dead near the Western Bypass near Quetta, the police said on Tuesday. The tragedy began on October 22, when Ravi Kumar was abducted at gunpoint by four armed men, from his godown in Satellite Town. Three days later, the kidnappers contacted the family and demanded Rs20 million. “We asked them to keep their demand within justifiable limits, so that we could pay,” said Kumar’s uncle Dr Mehar Chand, who serves as the general secretary of the Pakistan Peoples Party’s minority wing. After negotiations, the kidnappers agreed to halve the ransom. On Monday evening, the family told the kidnappers they were ready to pay up but in the morning, the police informed them that three bodies needed to be identified at Civil hospital. One of them was Kumar’s. Dr Mehar Chand quoted the doctors as saying that his head and chest were crushed with some heavy object. “I’m sorry to say that minorities are not safe in this country,” said Dr Chand. He was also critical of the “lukewarm” response he received from the DIG and deputy commissioner of Quetta when he had asked for their help. Police officials, however, said that Kumar’s family was unwilling to accept their help and wanted to resolve the issue on their own, using personal contacts. Ultimately, police officials said, Kumar was executed by his captors when the ransom was not furnished. Despite the setback, the police are investigating the case for possible clues that may help in tracking down the culprits. Kumar was married and had a three-year-old son. Meanwhile, Human Rights Commission Pakistan, Balochistan chapter, expressed its serious concern over the increasing incidents of kidnapping for ransom, particularly targeting minorities. “Hindus have stopped sending their children to school since they have become vulnerable to kidnapping for ransom,” said Tahir Hussain, chairman HRCP Balochistan. (With additional reporting by our correspondent in Sukkur) Published in The Express Tribune, December 14th, 2011.
Another Christian in Pakistan has been murdered, and the local Catholic Church is calling her a “martyr of the faith.”
The 18-year-old Amariah Masih (also reported as Mariah Manisha), a Catholic girl from the village of Tehsil Samundari, near Faisalabad, in Punjab province, was shot dead on November 27, after putting up resistance when a Muslim man abducted her with the intent to rape her. Fr. Khalid Rashid Asi, General Vicar of the Catholic diocese of Faisalabad told Fides, the Catholic news agency, that “cases like these occur daily in Punjab. It is very sad; Christians, often girls, are helpless victims.”
The girl’s mother, Razia Bibi, 50, told the Catholic media outlet AsiaNews that she and her daughter were riding on a motorbike on their way to pick up drinking water, which is not available in their village, when a man seized the motorbike, grabbed the young woman, and tried to drag her away at gunpoint. As she tried to pull away, the man opened fire, killing her instantly. According to AsiaNews, the 28-year-old Muslim Arif Gujjar, the son of a wealthy local landowner, is in police custody for questioning for the murder of Amariah.
Amariah’s funeral was presided over by Fr. Zafal Iqbal, who said to Fides: “She is a martyr. . . . The girl resisted, she did not want to convert to Islam and she did not marry the man, who killed her for this.” He explained to AsiaNews: “Wealthy and influential landowners often take aim at those who are marginalized and vulnerable, for their dirty interests.” In Pakistan, a rape victim is often imprisoned for unlawful sex and released on the condition that she marry her rapist. Because, under sharia, a Muslim cannot be married to a Christian, the women in such cases are also forced to convert to Islam. In its sharia courts, the testimony of a Christian is worth less than that of a Muslim, and a Christian woman’s is worth less yet. The whole system is rigged against the Christian woman.
More information on Amariah can be found on the website of the Permanent Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations.
Meanwhile, Ruqqiya Bibi, a Christian woman, was sentenced in Pakistan in late October to a 25-year prison term for blasphemy on accusations that she defiled a Koran after handling it with unclean hands. Mrs. Bibi is not to be confused with Asia Bibi, a Christian mother of five who was convicted of blasphemy following a dispute with other Muslim women with whom she had been working as a field hand, and who remains imprisoned after being sentenced to death a year ago.
Pakistan’s minister of minority affairs, Shahbaz Bhatti, also a Catholic, was murdered earlier this year, as was Punjab governor Salman Taseer, a Muslim, for calling for the repeal of the nation’s blasphemy law. Pakistan’s harsh blasphemy law is notoriously vague and ever expanding to include new applications.
The BBC reported on November 17 that the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority has told mobile-phone companies to begin blocking text messages containing “obscene” and otherwise “offensive” words. The name “Jesus Christ” was listed among them.
The discriminatory blasphemy law, which protects only Islam, generally encourages targeted violence against Christians, as well as against Ahmadiyas, Hindus, non-Sunni Muslims, and Sunni Muslim dissidents.
December 5, 2011 - S031 - Member’s Statement by M.P. Bob Dechert on Asia Bibi
Mr. Speaker:
Last November, the Minister of Foreign Affairs issued a statement concerning Asia Bibi's incarceration in Pakistan under their blasphemy law. At the time, the Government of Canada registered its concerns with Pakistan at high levels.
We have also called on the Government of Pakistan to repeal laws criminalizing blasphemy, which restrict religious freedom and expression and have disproportionately targeted religious minorities.
Mr. Speaker, we remember the brave stance taken by Governor Taseer and Minister Shahbaz Bhatti, both of whom have paid the ultimate sacrifice for their promotion of the rights of religious minorities, tolerance, and legal reforms.
The promotion and protection of human rights are an integral part of Canada’s foreign policy. Canada continues to stand up for human rights and take principled positions on important issues to promote freedom, democracy and the rule of law.
Mr. Speaker, I call on Pakistan to release Ms. Bibi and to ensure equal rights and equal protection for all members of minority communities.
Thank you.
Pakistani Bishop and Pastor under threat of blasphemy law Thursday, November 17, 2011
LAHORE, PAKISTAN(ANS) -- Two Christian religious leaders, Bishop Pervaiz Joseph and Rev. Baber George, have become the target of a blasphemy law which forced them into hiding with their families in Pakistan.
According to Global Christian Voice, Bishop Pervaiz Joseph leads the Pastors Care Ministries and also serves as the Pastor of a Charismatic Gospel Church located in Lahore, Pakistan. Pastor Baber George is working with the Full Gospel Assemblies Church Pakistan (FGA), which is the oldest and 'mother church' of all Pentecostal church movements in Pakistan.
Pastor Baber George also works on a Church-planting project and for Christian minority rights. Bishop Pervaiz Joseph and Pastor Baber George have both been working on Interfaith Harmony and Peace promotion for the last seven years.
Global Christian Voice says that in order to promote religious harmony, Bishop Pervaiz Joseph and Pastor Baber George have been meeting frequently with Muslim religious and political leaders to discuss issues of common interests.
In a meeting on interfaith harmony with Sunni Tehreek in Lahore, in October 2011, the misuse of Pakistan's blasphemy law was also discussed. Apparently, this was not appreciated by Islamic leaders Rana Tahir Advocate, Nasreen Akhtar Advocate, Mohammad Sher Afghan and Moulana Mukhtar Ahmad Qadri.
The Muslim religious leaders, who were also working with them while they were discussing the misuse of blasphemy laws, during an exchange of communications, claimed that Bishop Joseph used some derogatory remarks against the Muslim Holy Prophet Mohhamed.
Global Christian Voice says Bishop Joseph has left his house and is now is in a safe place with his family.
"However, the truth is that Bishop Joseph and Pastor George never made any derogatory remarks against their Prophet and did not make any such remarks or words against any Prophet," Global Christian Voice stated in an e-mail to ASSIST News.
According to sources, the International Peace Council for Interfaith Harmony leader Rana Tahir Rahmat, who is the Chairman of IPCIH, and Mulana Mukhtar Ahmad Qadri Zei the Muslim leader of Ahlae Sunat wa Al Jamat( Suni Terreek) and other groups started blackmailing and harassing Pastor George for carrying out evangelism through Interfaith Harmony and Peace Promotion by uplifting the voice of the Christian community rights in Pakistan.
Bishop Joseph and Pastor George both were working with IPCIH when they decided to start a new organization for the Christian Rights and Peace Promoting. Rana Tahir Rahmat and his group then become angry and planned to destroy and kill both Christian leaders by accusing them of blasphemy.
Bishop Joseph and Pastor George have been reported to be in hiding with their families when Islamic leaders announced the blasphemy case would be filed against them.
Sources in the area say Christian clergymen have been receiving threatening phone calls from Islamic leaders.
"International Christian Voice would like to express its deep concern towards a Pakistani Bishop and Pastor who are under threat of the blasphemy law," said Peter Bhatti, Chairman, International Christian Voice.
"These threats have caused both the bishop and the pastor to flee Pakistan. The misuse of the blasphemy law is getting worse day by day, several Christians and other religious minorities are being targeted in Pakistan," Bhatti said.
He added: "Last week, three Hindu's were also killed in the midst of a dispute between the Hindu community and a Muslim tribe that took place a short time before mediation attempts were due to begin.
"The minorities of Pakistan are equal citizens of Pakistan and they have equal constitutional rights that must be protected."
Many young Christian women in Pakistan are forced to convert to Islam after being kidnapped or raped by Muslim Extremist Mullahs with whom they must marry against their will Al Ufaq has learnt. This barbaric trend is being reported by a few NGOs but is being criminally ignored by the state sponsored Electronic and Print Media. In a country where the rights of ethnic and religious minorities are already jeopardized by the nexus of the state and the Mullah cult, this heinous crime against humanity is swept under the carpet even by enthusiastic human rights activists.
The case of Asia Bibi, a Catholic lady sentenced to death for blasphemy, and murder of Governor Taseer that defended exponents had drawn back the veil on the rising religious fundamentalism in the country in recent months. This murder was hailed and praised by the Mullah cult and since then their aggressive mode of threatening and targeting religious minorities has become the order of the day.
A few days back an alarming report by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) revealed another disturbing aspect of the some forced conversions. At least 700 women each year are raped or kidnapped by the Mullah Cult in order to force them to abandon their faith.
It is a sort of “ethno-religious cleansing” that under the nose of the police and local courts, which prefer to close an eye to abuses, especially when powerful people are involved.
“It seems today that no one from the police to the judiciary or even the government has the courage to oppose the fundamentalist threats,” said the report released by the NGO, which deals with human rights in Asia from its headquarters in Hong Kong. The complaint is shared by other groups that are often afraid to make their voices heard. Christians in particular are treated as “untouchables” in Pakistan, where most of them in the Punjab province work as janitors and cleaners. The complaint also contains a long list of abuses in recent months.Among them is a Christian girl raped 13 years last August by the owner of a brick kiln in Punjab, which employs mostly Christians.
The perpetrator, Muhammad Amin, entered the house of the girl-child of an employee, while their parents were working and raped her. He then forced to put their fingerprints on a marriage certificate, to avoid any complaints. Such cases are on the rise and if the victims become pregnant they are forced into marriage by Muslim rites and change his Christian name.
In case the victim opposes, attempts on her life are made, as happened last October to Zubaida Bibi, a maid at the factory of a Muslim. As the newspaper account Pakistan Christian Post, she was abused and later was beheaded as she tried to resist the attempt.
Hindus not an exception
The tiny Hindu minority also lives in constant fear of assault and is no exception to the brutal and inhumane jungle law being followed by the Mullahs. The life of minorities is becoming more miserable, forced conversions are the order of the day told a Human Rights activist belonging to the Hindu faith, especially in the province of Sindh, where a religious leader recently claimed to have converted 40,000 Hindu girls to Islam
Pakistan is a country with a majority Muslim population, who live with minority Christians, Hindus and Buddhists in the country. A few Sikhs, Jews, Bhais and Jains also form this tiny fringe of the minority.
Federal Revenue Alliance Union (CBA) FBR on Thursday strongly condemned the murder of an employee of Regional Tax Office, near Shikarpur and urged the concerned authorities to arrest the killer.
Nerash Kumar, an employee of the Regional Tax Office Sukkur, was murdered on Eid day along with two doctors belonging to the Hindu community. President Federal Revenue Alliance Union (CBA) Mian Abdul Qayyum, Chief Coordinator Rashid Shah and other members of the union have urged the concerned authorities to take serious notice and arrest the killers as soon as possible.
APP adds: Adviser to Prime Minister for National Harmony, Dr Paul Bhatti has also strongly condemned the murder of three brothers of Hindu community in Shikarpur district on Eid day.
He said some anti-peace elements are trying to create situation of law and order in the country which will be foiled with the help of the democratic people of the country and their nefarious designs will never be let to fulfil.
Dr Paul said, “Minorities are the equal citizens of Pakistan and we are committed to ensure the protection of their constitutional rights.”
Three Hindu brothers’ murder condemned
STAFF REPORT Thursday, 10 Nov 2011 8:34 pm
ISLAMABAD - Adviser to Prime Minister on National Harmony Dr Paul Bhatti has strongly condemned the murder of three brothers of Hindu community in Shikarpur district on the Eid day. According to a press release issued on Thursday, Bhatti said, “As a human being and representative of minorities, I am shocked to know the murder of three Hindu brothers and share the sense of outrage of the Hindu community,” Dr Paul said in a statement. He said some anti-peace elements were trying to create law and order situation in the country and vowed their nefarious designs would be foiled with the help of democratic people of Pakistan.
Dr Paul said minorities had equal rights and they were committed to ensuring protection of their constitutional rights. The adviser said all possible steps were being taken for safety and protection of the minorities and the killers of the three brothers would be brought to book as early as possible.
Education is a powerful force that shapes how individuals respond to fundamental differences of opinion and belief. It can encourage tolerance and respect for all, but it can also foster disdain and contempt for those who dissent from prevailing orthodoxies.
ICRD, which has worked with Pakistani madrassas (religious schools) for over seven years, partnered with the Sustainable Development Policy Institute, an independent think tank in Pakistan, to conduct field research in four provinces — Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (formerly the North West Frontier Province), Balochistan, Sindh, and Punjab – to analyze the curriculum of public schools and madrassas. ICRD also examined pedagogical methods, conducting interviews and surveys of teachers and students regarding their views on Pakistan’s religious minorities. Project researchers visited 37 middle schools and high schools, and spoke with 277 students and teachers. They queried 226 students and teachers from 19 madrassas.
The goal was to assess the impact of textbooks and teaching practices on student attitudes toward religious minorities. The report’s findings suggest that linkages exist between deficits in religious freedom and societal forms of discrimination and violence. More broadly, the report provides important data supporting the importance of education in promoting tolerance of religious diversity and pluralism. Improvements in tolerance and religious freedom could significantly enhance political freedoms and social stability in Pakistan.
According to the report, Pakistan’s public schools and privately run and funded religious madrassas have an unmistakable tendency to devalue minority religious groups, fostering a climate conducive to acts of discrimination and even violence against them. These acts violate religious freedom and threaten the security not only of Pakistan, but also its neighbors, including Afghanistan.
Some of the key findings of the study are as follows:
In Pakistan’s public schools, all children, regardless of their faith, are forced to learn from textbooks that often had a strong Islamic orientation and frequently omitted mention of Pakistan’s religious minorities or made derogatory references to them. While non-Muslims are technically allowed to study alternative subjects, this has not been implemented in practice.
Hindus were depicted in especially negative ways, as enemies of Pakistan and Muslims, and descriptions of Christians were often erroneous, painting a distorted picture of Pakistan’s largest religious minority.
Teacher instruction in public schools and madrassas misrepresented religious minorities and their beliefs, and a large portion of their students failed to identify religious minorities as Pakistani citizens.
Teachers typically expressed negative views about Ahmadis, Christians, and Jews, and passed them along to their pupils.
To be sure, not all of the report’s findings were negative. Interviewees occasionally expressed sentiments of tolerance along with their neutral or intolerant comments, offering hope for reforms to the educational system that could have broader, positive effects on Pakistan’s religious freedom conditions.All in all, however, the report’s key findings present serious concerns about the role of education in providing misinformation about, and shaping opinions against, Pakistan’s religious minority communities (Muslim and non-Muslim alike), fostering intolerance toward their members.
The consequences of this intolerance are chillingly evident. From Shi’a and Sufi Muslims to Ahmadis and Christians, Pakistan’s religious minorities face a culture of impunity through violence and serious discrimination. In addition, Pakistan’s laws violate international standards by criminalizing Ahmadi religious practice, and maintaining a blasphemy law that results in minorities and dissenters targeted for arrest, and even at times death. Over the past decade, Pakistan has suffered from repeated bouts of religious-related violence, with extremists launching attacks against both Muslims and non-Muslims.
If Pakistan is to combat religious intolerance and discrimination and stem the tide of violent religious extremism, reform of its educational system, including both public schools and madrassas, is an urgent priority.
To that end, Pakistan should ensure that national textbook and curricula standards promote religious tolerance and establish review and enforcement mechanisms to ascertain that public schools are meeting them. Pakistan’s government should replace current public school textbooks with ones that exclude messages of intolerance, hatred, or violence based on religious or other differences. A madrassa oversight board should be empowered to develop, implement, and train teachers in human rights standards, as well as oversee madrassa curricula and teaching standards.
Respect for human rights and religious freedom demands spotlighting these problems in Pakistan’s schools and urging dramatic reform. The interests of peace and security, both domestically and regionally, warrant immediate and deliberate policy responses to support educational reform in Pakistan.
Leonard A. Leo serves as Chairman of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF).
Dr. Elizabeth H. Prodromou serves as Vice Chair of USCIRF.
Christian Nurse in Pakistan Boldly Opts to Report Videotaped Rape
Colleague tries to blackmail her into converting to Islam, marrying him.
LAHORE, Pakistan, September 8 (CDN) — A Christian nurse here filed a police report on Saturday (Sept. 3) alleging she was raped by a Muslim colleague who filmed the act in an attempt to blackmail her into renouncing her faith and marrying him, she and hospital sources told Compass.
Shaista Samuel, a 27-year-old nurse at the Services Institute of Medical Sciences (SIMS), filed a First Information Report (FIR) at Shadman police station accusing Ali Adnan, an assistant accounts officer at the hospital, and an armed accomplice of abducting her at gunpoint from the government hospital on Aug. 21 and taking her to a house in Lahore where Adnan’s accomplice filmed the rape.
“[Adnan] was holding my arm tightly and forcibly led me to a white car in the parking lot,” Samuel said in tears, adding that as they approached the car, Adnan’s accomplice came out of the shadows and placed a handgun to her head. “Adnan said that they would shoot me if I raised my voice. I was in complete shock … my senses went numb, and I could not believe this was happening to me. They took me to a house in WAPDA Town [for housing Water and Power Development Authority workers in Lahore], where Adnan raped me while his friend filmed the entire incident. They ruined my life completely”. Christians have little legal or societal standing in Pakistan, and Muslim criminals tend to assume they will not be prosecuted if their victims are Christians. Samuel said she had worked several years at the hospital on good terms with Adnan, “I thought of him as a good friend, since we were working together… he used to visit my home often and was known to my family,” she told Compass. Recently, however, Adnan had begun acting strangely toward her, she said. “He started criticizing Christians for not observing the purdah[covering of women] and of following our ‘own brand of religion,’” she said. “One day when I was least expecting it, he told me that he had started liking me and that I should convert to Islam and marry him. I told him that I had always considered him just a friend, and that although I held him in great regard, marrying him was not possible since we belonged to different faiths.”
Adnan began harassing her at the workplace and by telephone, she said. “He used to block my way at the hospital, and then one day he forced his way into my house and threatened me and my family, Saying that he would not rest until they marry me to him,” she said. “He was acting like a mad man … He started cursing my family and even tried to set the house on fire. ”Disturbed by Adnan’s obsessive behavior, Samuel said that she tried her best not to come into any sort of contact with him. On Aug. 21, however, as soon as she entered the hospital he approached her from behind and forced her to sit in a car in the hospital’s parking area, she said. “All this while, he told me not to make a commotion as it would only create an embarrassing situation for me,” she said. “He said he just wanted to talk to me to ‘clear up some misunderstandings.’ ”He then led her to the white car, and the accomplice appeared. Samuel said the two men held her for over an hour and then dropped her back at the hospital, telling her that if she told anyone about the rape they would send the film to her family and also upload it on social networking sites.
In Pakistan, a rape victim is generally considered too shamed to resume a normal life or pursue marriage. “I was devastated,” she said. “I wanted the earth to open up and swallow me. I did not share my ordeal with any person, not even my parents. I did not have the courage to tell them that their daughter had been dishonored, and decided to keep my misery to myself … I could not see my father and brothers face the shame brought by my bad luck. ”Her misery did not end there – Adnan began trying to blackmail her by phone, she added. “At first he demanded that I convert to Islam, and only then would he consider forgiving me for refusing his proposal,” she said. When she refused, he began demanding sexual favors and threatening to come to her house and show the film to her family – Pakistanis tend to shame the victims rather than the perpetrators of rape – but Samuel refused to be manipulated by his threats, she said. “My defiance angered Adnan to such an extent that one evening he turned up at my home and showed the film to my parents,” Samuel said. “He then told my shocked family that they had no other option but to hand me over to him ... he told them that he ‘owned’ me now.”
Adnan left the house, leaving the family, members of Church of Pakistan-affiliated St. Andrews Church, in deep anguish. “We had a very tough decision to make,” Samuel said. ‘We could have either conceded to his demand or be ready to face the shame and dishonor by reporting his crime, but we chose the latter. Adnan must be punished for ruining my life. I thank God that he rescued me from Adnan’s blackmailing, otherwise I would have remained in mental agony for the rest of my life. ”Compass tried to reach Adnan for comment, but he was unavailable as he had turned off his cell phone. Although Shaista and her family have filed an FIR with police, getting justice without higher government help may be difficult. At press time police had yet to arrest the two suspects, who fled their homes soon after the registration of the case and have managed to obtain pre-arrest bail. “The police deliberately gave them time to get interim bails,” Samuel said. “My father and brothers have been going to the police station every day to ask them to record the statements of the accused, but the investigating officer of the case is using delay tactics. I’ve been asked ridiculous questions about the incident, but I will not be discouraged from seeking justice. ”Samuel said she was tired of suspicious and questioning eyes at her workplace and has taken leave from the hospital. The administration has formed a committee to probe into the matter. “I am sick and tired of people staring at me and asking questions,” she said, adding that after she took leave, no one from the hospital administration had contacted her though she had heard of the committee’s formation. The two-member committee includes SIMS medical Superintendent Muhammad Javaid and the hospital’s finance director. Javaid told Compass that the committee would record the statements of the complainant and the accused and would also examine the circumstantial evidence.
Pakistan must protect religious minorities, says world churches chief.
13 Oct 2011
During a visit to Pakistan, the General Secretary of the World Council of Churches has urged for the protection of religious minorities and the need for the state to take necessary measures against religious intolerance.
“The Pakistani government should not turn a blind eye to the culture of violence perpetrated through the use and abuse of the blasphemy law, which intensify communal hatred, intolerance and persecution that can hit anybody in the country, and particularly the religious minorities,” said the Rev Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, speaking at a press conference in Lahore, at the end of his three day visit.
Christians are among country’s religious minorities, alongside Hindus, Ahmadis, Parsees, Sikh and Baha'is, who are affected severely by the discriminatory laws - including the ambiguous blasphemy law 295 C, which has caused many lives, including of the minister for minorities Shahbaz Bhatti, a Christian, this year.
During his stay in Pakistan, Dr Tveit met with church and ecumenical leaders and representatives of civil society organisations.
The church leaders shared with him how religious minorities especially Christians, "live in an atmosphere of insecurity. The existences of Christians have never been threatened as it is today, and the situation has gone worse in the past years,” the WCC chief was told.
Dr Tveit emphasised that “Pakistan should give protection to every citizen, also its religious minorities under the constitution of the country.”
He recalled assurance given to the religious minorities from the founder of the country Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who clearly stated, “You are free; you are free to go to your temples, you are free to go to your mosques or to any other place or worship in this state of Pakistan,” in 1947 after the country’s independence.
Dr Tveit was accompanied on his visit by Dr Mathews George Chunakara, director of the WCC Commission of the Churches on International Affairs, who described this visit as “timely solidarity expression since the Christian minorities are fearful of the violence which is a threat to the interfaith harmony and peaceful co-existence.”
From 8 – 10 October, the WCC General Secretary addressed an ecumenical gathering at the headquarters of the National Christian Council of Pakistan, met with national executive committee of the Presbyterian Church of Pakistan, attended a public reception organised by the Synod of the Church of Pakistan and the Raiwind Diocese, and participated at the dedication of the Central Cathedral of Praying Hands in Lahore. In his greetings he quoted Psalm 85: “Righteousness will look down from the sky.”
Dr Tveit also delivered a keynote address at a Christian mission conference on the theme, “Finding God in a Challenging and Difficult Situation”, organised by the Church of Pakistan.
Dear Friends,
International Christian voice would like to welcome and appreciate the government of Pakistan and the Pakistani courts who brought justice towards Mumtaz Qadri, killer of Governor of Punjab Salman Taseer. This will hopefully be a lesson to learn for all others who want to take the law in their hands to promote and support violence and terrorism. Mumtaz Qadri was the bodyguard of Governor Salman Taseer, killed him for supporting the innocent Asia Bibi who was in prison under the Blasphemy law.
Please pray for the judicial system of Pakistan that God Almighty will give them more strength and courage to make the right decisions to bring everyone to justice despite of the daily pressures from forces of violence and extremism.
Peter Bhatti
Chairman
International Christian Voice
Address by Minister Baird at Office of Religious Freedom Stakeholder Consultations
No. 2011/34 - Ottawa, Ontario - October 3, 2011
Check Against Delivery
Ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased to join you this morning. This is an opportunity to exchange ideas on a key priority for our government: establishing an Office of Religious Freedom.
We announced our intention to do so in the Speech from the Throne on June 3. And I repeated our commitment most recently at the United Nations General Assembly this past week in New York.
This office will be created to promote and protect freedom of religion and belief, consistent with core Canadian values such as freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law. Most importantly, it will demonstrate that Canada truly is a free society.
Canadians enjoy the rights and privileges that come with living in a free and democratic society in which human rights are respected. We are also keenly aware of the struggles that religious minorities face around the world.
That is why, whatever the circumstances, Canada will continue to speak out, and take principled positions. As I said in my address at the United Nations General Assembly, we will not just go along to get along. We will stand for what is principled and just, regardless of whether it is popular, convenient or expedient.
All human rights are essential, of course, but today, we come together for a special purpose.
History has shown us that religious freedom and democratic freedom are inseparable.
As Franklin Roosevelt observed on the eve of global war:
“Where freedom of religion has been attacked, the attack has come from sources opposed to democracy.
“Where democracy has been overthrown, the spirit of free worship has disappeared.
“And where religion and democracy have vanished, good faith and reason in international affairs have given way to strident ambition and brute force.”
Societies that protect religious freedom are more likely to protect all other fundamental freedoms. They are typically more stable and more prosperous societies. This view has been reinforced in consultations I’ve had around the world so far.
I honestly believe it is critically important that Canada is uniquely placed to protect and promote religious freedom around the world.
We are a country of many ethnicities and religions, but we all share one humanity—one of tolerance, one of acceptance, one of peace and security.
Canada has spoken out against violations of freedom around the world.
I’ve voiced strong concern about serious violations of the rights of Iranian citizens to practice Christianity, including those facing charges of apostasy. I spoke up for the Bahá’í community, which continues to face difficulties in Iran with its leaders being imprisoned on unfounded charges.
I spoke out on the discrimination by the Burmese regime against Muslims and Buddhists.
I stand with Roman Catholic priests and other Christian clergy and their laity, as they are driven underground to worship in China while their leaders are detained. And our government has raised the issues of Tibetans, Uyghurs and Falun Gong practitioners at the United Nations.
We stood in solidarity with Pakistan’s Shahbaz Bhatti and Salman Taseer, who were assassinated by extremists for speaking out against unjust blasphemy laws.
We have called for accountability for the violence faced by the Ahmiddya community in different parts of the world.
We were the first major country to speak out about the attacks against Egyptian Coptics following the events in Nag Hammadi, and we deplored the New Year’s Eve attacks in Alexandria.
And in Iraq, where al Qaeda has driven out many Christians and minorities, we implemented a program to resettle refugees.
This year, our government created an award, the John Diefenbaker Defender of Human Rights and Freedom Award, to recognize individuals who show exceptional leadership in defending human rights and freedoms.
It was former Prime Minister John Diefenbaker who, during his time in office, championed human rights both in Canada and around the world. On the day he introduced the Canadian Bill of Rights in Parliament, he spoke these words:
“I am a Canadian, …, free to speak without fear, free to worship God in my own way, free to stand for what I think right, free to oppose what I believe wrong, free to choose those who shall govern my country. This heritage of freedom I pledge to uphold for myself and mankind.”
I pledge to continue this tradition. But I of course can’t do this alone.
And we as a country are compelled to get this right.
That’s why I’m glad each of you is here to share your expertise, insights and experiences.
I’m extremely pleased at the calibre of people gathered here.
I know this is a challenging task, but, then again, Canadians stand for what is right, not what is easy, so I have no doubt we here today are up to that challenge.
It is our common duty to defend the rights of the afflicted, and to give voice to the voiceless.
Our positions will not soften, our determination will not lessen, and our voices will not be diminished until all citizens can enjoy the freedoms and rights we hold to be universal and true.
Through our combined efforts, I am confident that the Office of Religious Freedom can help do just that.
Supporters of convicted killer Mumtaz Qadri chant slogans alongside hundreds of others who had gathered to protest against his sentence outside the jail he is being held in, October 1, 2011. PHOTO: REUTERS
RAWALPINDI: Malik Mumtaz Hussain Qadri, the self-confessed murderer of former Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer, has been sentenced to death by an anti-terrorism court today (Saturday).
Qadri, one of Taseer’s elite force guards, shot and killed the governor for his views on the blasphemy law outside a restaurant in Islamabad.
During the incamera hearing of the murder case, the anti-terrorism court (ATC) said that it was a heinous crime and there is no justification to it; however, no date has been given for the execution of the sentence. The court also fined Qadri of Rs200,000 along with the death sentence. Justice Syed Pervez Ali Shah, an ATC judge, while taking up the case at the Adiala Jail, noted down the statement of Qadri. In this statement, Qadri admitted before the judge that nobody intimidated him to murder the former governor.
Raja Shujahur Rehman, Qadri’s lawyer, told the media outside Adiala Jail that his client had also submitted a written statement of 40 pages, referring to 11 Quranic verses, 28 quotes from Sunnah and several other eminent Muslim jurists with reference to Islamic jurisprudence.
The defence lawyer stated that the prosecution raised no objection over the statement of Qadri, therefore the court validly admitted this statement and made it a part of the court record. Experts say that Qadri has to appeal within seven days against the verdict.
Tears of anger Qadri’s supporters took to the streets to denounce the sentence soon after it was handed down.“By punishing one Mumtaz Qadri, you will produce a thousand Mumtaz Qadris!” one man shouted through a megaphone outside the jail.
Several hundred supporters of Qadri blocked a road outside the jail and chanted slogans. Some recited verses from the Quran while members of the Sunni Tehreek group waved their party’s green and yellow flags. A Qadri supporter, wiping tears from his face, said: “We don’t accept this. We don’t accept this.” Police were deployed at the jail gate to prevent any break-in. After Qadri was sentenced, the judge left through the back door.
In Rawalpindi’s Liaquat Bagh area, where former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto was assassinated in December 2007, about 1,000 angry Qadri supporters blocked a main Road with burning tyres. Shouting slogans against the government and the judge who sentenced Qadri, they forced shops to shut down. Stick-wielding protesters attacked passing vehicles. “This decision was made to please the Jewish lobby,” said Sahibzada Ata-ur-Rehman, a leader of the Sunni Tehreek. Qadri, a constable in the Punjab Police and a member of its Elite Force, tried to justify his murder of the governor by stating that he had killed him for supporting Aasia Bibi, a Christian woman whom Taseer had believed had been wrongly convicted of committing blasphemy.
According to Qadri’s statement, he had approached the governor on the evening of January 4 and tried to talk to him about Taseer’s very public support for Aasia Bibi and his advocacy of reform – not repeal – of the blasphemy laws.
Published: September 25, 2011
Eighth-grader expelled from school; mother forced to move from city.
It may have been a mere misplaced dot that led to accusations of blasphemy against a Christian eighth-grader, whose miniscule error led to her expulsion from school and uproar amongst local religious leaders.
Faryal Bhatti, a student at the Sir Syed Girls High School in Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF) colony Havelian, erroneously misspelt a word in an Urdu exam while answering a question on a poem written in praise of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). The word in question was ‘laanat’ instead of ‘naat’ – an easy error for a child to make, as the written versions of the words are similar.
According to the school administration and religious leaders who took great exception to the hapless student’s mistake, the error is ‘serious’ enough to fall within the realm of blasphemy, Saturday.
Spelling out her punishment
On Thursday, Faryal’s Urdu teacher was collecting the answer sheets from her students when she noticed the apparently offensive word on her pupil’s sheet. The teacher, Fareeda Bibi, reportedly summoned the Christian girl, scolded her and beat her. Her punishment, however, did not end here. When Faryal’s class fellows learnt of the alleged blasphemy, the teacher brought the principal’s notice to the matter, who further informed the school management.
In the meanwhile, the news spread throughout the colony. The next day, male students of the POF colony school as well as certain religious elements took out a rally, demanding the registration of a criminal case against the eighth-grader and her expulsion from the area.
Prayer leaders within the community also condemned the incident in their Friday sermons, asking the colony’s administration to not only take action against Faryal but her entire family. In the wake of the increasing tensions, Managing Director POF Colony Havelian Asif Siddiki called a meeting of colony-based ulemas and school teachers to discuss the situation. The girl and her mother were asked to appear before the meeting, where they explained that it was a mere error, caused by a resemblance between the two words. The two immediately apologised, adding that Faryal had no malicious intentions.
In a move that was apparently meant to pacify the religious elements clamouring for action against the teenage ‘blasphemer’, the POF administration expelled her from the school on Saturday. Faryal was not the only one who got in trouble for her spelling error, however, as her mother, Sarafeen Bhatti, who was a staff nurse at the POF Hospital Havelian for several years, was immediately transferred to POF Wah Cantonment Hospital.
Decision applauded
While talking to The Express Tribune, Maulana Alla Dita Khateeb of Gol Masjid praised the decision of the POF colony administration, claiming that he had personally seen the answer sheet in question. He further went on to say that he had met the girl himself, who had apologised for the word used in error. Asked whether the incident still fell within the realm of blasphemy and whether Faryal deserved expulsion when she had misspelt the word unintentionally, Khateeb said that although he was unclear about the intentions of the girl, the word she had used was sacrilegious
Pakistani Christian killed during pilgrimage to the town of Mary
Published on: September 18, 2011 at 21:05 PM
MARIAMABAD: Sunil Masih, a 25 year old Pakistani Christian, was kidnapped and killed as he walked on a pilgrimage to the shrine of the Virgin Mary in Mariamabad, the “city of Mary,” in the province of Punjab. The Pakistan Christian Post (PCP) reports that during the journey the young man left the group for a few minutes, heading for the fields for physiological needs, and his body was found shortly after, with visible signs of injuries.
The boy was run over by a truck, to make it appear an accident. However, police investigating the body and the dynamics of episode, strongly deny the possibility of it being an accident. Sunil Masih was an only child and sole source of income for the family, because his father suffers from serious kidney problems.
At the news of the death of the young man, the mother fainted from the pain. Human rights activists and Pakistani Christians denounce repeated deaths, thefts and robberies perpetrated against the religious minority. They demand greater protection from police and government authorities. For 60 years now, September 4 marks the beginning of the traditional pilgrimage to the Grotto of Our Lady, Daman E Mariam, located in one of the oldest Christian places of Pakistan, about 115 km from Lahore. The culmination of the festival coincides with September 8, the day the Church celebrates the Nativity of Mary, Mother of Jesus.
The faithful from around the country travel on country roads on foot or by bicycle. Some groups go by train. Those who have them, go by car. All embellish their means of transport with streamers or banners to signal that they are travelling to the village of Mary. Catholics move along with Christians of other confessions, as well as Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs. Our Lady of Marialabad has many devotees and over the years has attracted a growing number of pilgrims. The construction of the grotto dates back to 1927, built by a missionary, Fr Ostar. Years later, in 1949, Fr. Emmanuel Asi promoted the first pilgrimage over three days, starting then as now on September 4. The faithful throughout the country make their journey to pay homage to the Virgin and ask for her intercession. —AsiaNews
Pakistani Christian teacher was “invited” to “leave the country” by a judge after he was accused of violating the country’s blasphemy law.
The teacher, referred to under the name of Javed Masih in order to protect his identity, was working at a public school in Punjab where most of the students are Muslim, reported Fides news agency on Sept. 15. A student he disciplined for poor academic performance convinced a number of Muslim teachers at the school to accuse Javed of burning the Koran.
After resigning from his position, Javed filed a motion in court to prove his innocence. Rather than order that his accusers be detained, the court recommended that Javed “leave the country.” Supporters of the Christian teacher say the court order “proves that the system is powerless and incapable of protecting the rights of religious minorities. It is proof that the courts are subject to Islamic fundamentalist groups. It is proof that the State shares blame in the persecution of innocent Christians, for whom justice is merely a sham.” Javed has moved to an undisclosed location with his family.
In response to the continuous harassment of Christians as a result of the blasphemy law, the Committee on Justice and Peace of the Pakistani bishops’ conference has invited U.N. observers to visit the country to verify “the abuse and violence against religious minorities.”
Minister Baird Statement on Pakistan's First-Ever National Minorities Day
(No. 227 - August 11, 2011 - 9:15 p.m. ET) John Baird, Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister, today issued the following statement marking the inaugural National Minorities Day in Pakistan:
"On Pakistan's inaugural National Minorities Day, Canada welcomes efforts by Pakistan to protect human rights, including religious freedoms, and to advocate interfaith tolerance and understanding.
"Freedom of speech and religious assembly are integral elements of democratic societies and key ingredients for prosperity and security. In order for societies to succeed, extremists cannot be allowed to intimidate minorities through violence.
"We are reminded that, tragically, Federal Minister for Minorities Shahbaz Bhatti and Governor of Punjab province Salman Taseer, both strong public advocates for tolerance and moderation in Pakistan, were assassinated earlier this year. Canada is hopeful that their legacies will continue to advance the values they championed.
"Canada encourages Pakistan to continue promoting the rights of all minorities, including for individuals belonging to Ahmadiyya and Christian communities."
The Government of Canada has committed to creating an Office of Religious Freedom to help protect and promote religious minorities around the world. Canada will continue to pursue a principled foreign policy to advance freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law.
The Conservative campaign got a boost here Saturday from the brother of Pakistan's slain minister of minorities, Shahbaz Bhatti.
Bhatti, a Catholic who was the only religious minority in the Pakistani cabinet, was gunned down in March of this year for his defence of Christians in Pakistan and his promotion of religious freedom.
Peter Bhatti, who now lives in Canada, said his brother would be "proud" to see Canada continue to fulfil his legacy of promoting religious freedom, and praised the Conservative Party's promise to create an Office of Religious Freedom.
"I would like to thank from the bottom of my heart the Right Honourable Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Honourable Jason Kenney for being such a strong voice on the international stage for religious freedom and human rights, and for this commitment to create this office for international religion freedom," Bhatti said here Saturday during a Conservative event at the Canada Coptic Centre. "I have real hope that this office will make a huge difference to uplift the downtrodden and oppressed religious minorities of Pakistan and around the world."
Harper, who met with Shahbaz Bhatti in Ottawa shortly before he was assassinated called him, "a man of great humility and a man of extraordinary courage" who promoted religious freedom knowing his life was in danger for doing so.
"As we all know, not long after I met Minister Bhatti, he was murdered for his work on behalf of religious minorities," Harper said. "Meeting him is an experience I will never forget. We do need to do more for this cause. We owe it to all who look to us as an example of freedom and refuge, and it is a cause worthy of us as Canadians."
Peter Bhatti told the crowd of about 650 gathered for Harper's event that religious freedom is a right worth fighting for.
"I would like to ask all of you, those living in Canada, to realize the importance of freedom of religion that you celebrate today. Do not take it for granted," he said. "Those of us who enjoy these rights to praise and worship freely must defend these rights for ourselves and others."
Pakistan: Yet another Christian accused of blasphemy
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
A Christian woman, Agnes Nuggo, was accused of blasphemy and arrested in the Diocese of Faisalabad, in the Punjab province of Pakistan. The Catholic Church, which is handling the case, expressed "extreme concern" over the affair.
The Commission for Justice and Peace in the diocese reported that Agnes (50) is married to Bashir Masih, has children and lives in the Christian quarter of Waris Pura. She was accused of blasphemy after a dispute over a piece of land that had already created controversy with his relatives. Some Muslim neighbours accused her of having made insulting statements against the Prophet Mohammed and against Islam. On 16 February, the local police registered a FIR (First Information Report) pursuant to art. 295/a of the Criminal Code and arrested her. Agnes professes her innocence and says the accusations are completely fabricated.
Fr. Nisar Barkat, Director of the Justice and Peace Commission in Faisalabad, reported "Bishop Joseph Coutts has become aware of the case and asked me to follow it closely." Fr. Nisar was in court and obtained a copy of the complaint against Agnes, who will have her first court hearing in two weeks. The church will find her a lawyer and will take care of her family.
According to some sisters who know Agnes personally "the case is quite complicated: the woman was lured into a trap. Some people wanted to take revenge on her, because in the past Agnes had agreed to testify in court for money."”
Fr. Pascal Paulus, a Dominican priest in the Waris Pura area, said that "the situation is critical for us Christians. We need to be very careful. The Islamic radicals want to exploit these cases to attack the Christian minorities. We are exposed to spurious attacks, which have already been happening."
Asia Bibi, another Christian woman accused of blasphemy, has been imprisoned for several months and has been condemend to death under Islamic law, Haroon Barket Masih of the Masihi Foundation said of Nuggo, "She is a new Asia Bibi. Agnes' case is one of many cases of persecution that continue to occur. Most of the episodes don't leave a trace and do not reach the clamour of the spotlight. Only when the victims' families trust in the Churches, foundations and NGOs, then the injustices come to light. Families often keep silent for fear of retaliation. And institutions are absent: in this situation, what can Christians do?"
Rosemary Noel, head of the Pakistan Catholic Women's Organisation said, "Being a Christian woman in Pakistan is a dual challenge. Even the status of women is itself exposed to discrimination, violence and abuse. Women struggle to gain access to education and the world of work. Those Christians are doubly discriminated against. They are considered as objects by Muslims and suffer all sorts of abuse and injustice to general indifference."
According to data provided by the Justice and Peace Commission of the Pakistani Bishops, including Agnes, there have been 16 Christian women accused and imprisoned between 1987 and 2010 (in addition to a Muslim woman and a Hindu), but many other cases escape inclusion, because they did not end with a formal complaint.
ISLAMABAD: In a major development Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday approved his law minister’s recommendations to kill both the Minority Ministry’s proposal to amend the blasphemy laws and Interior Ministry’s initiative seeking pardon for Aasia Bibi.
Under the signature of Khushnood Akhtar Lashari, Principal Secretary to the prime minister, the PM’s Secretariat Tuesday issued the order, which reads as: “The prime minister has been pleased to approve the proposals contained in the subject note of minister for law, justice & parliamentary affairs. Ministries concerned are being conveyed necessary directions on actionable proposals, copies of which are being endorsed to you (ministries) separately.” Law Minister Babar Awan while talking to The News also confirmed that his proposals have been endorsed by the prime minister, who has agreed to reject the proposal for amendment in the blasphemy law besides returning the Interior Ministry’s proposal seeking pardon for Aasia Bibi while her appeal is pending against her conviction before the Lahore High Court (LHC).
On Monday, Awan had sent a detailed note to the prime minister, strongly advising the latter neither to amend the blasphemy law nor pardon Aasia Bibi, arguing that the said law containing death penalty for a blasphemer as interpreted by the Federal Shariat Court is in consonance with the injunctions of Islam as laid down in the Holy Quran and Sunnah of Prophet (SAW).
Regarding the pardon for Aasia Bibi as sought by the Interior Ministry, Babar Awan wrote to the PM: “The Ministry of Interior is advised to follow the legal course of respecting the principle of re lis-pendens. No action is required by executive authorities as Mst Aasia Noreen had already sought herself legal remedy under section 410 of the Criminal Procedure Code 1898 by filing an appeal against her conviction.” In respect to the Ministry of Minorities’ reference seeking amendment in the blasphemy laws, the prime minister was advised, “So far as the request made to the prime minister of Pakistan by the Ministry of Minorities which is also referred to the Law, Justice & Parliamentary Affairs Division to look into the reforms of blasphemy legislation as a matter of urgency is concerned, it has no substance. Therefore, no action is recommended.
The law minister, in his note, had also asked for the rejection of Shehrbano Rehman’s (Sherry Rehman) bill, seeking amendment in the blasphemy law. The note in Shehrbano’s case had recommended, “The present private member’s bill as reported in the press stands verbally withdrawn by the member concerned too......The blasphemy law as discussed in the preceding paragraphs have already been examined by the Federal Shariat Court under clause (2) of Article 203D, Federal Shariat Court has already decided that the legislative instrument under question is in accordance with the injunctions of Islam and has declared the alternative punishment repugnant to the injunctions of Islam. This decision by virtue of proviso (b) to clause (2) of Article 203D has taken effect already, therefore, in view of the aforesaid resume the Criminal Law (Review of Punishment for Blasphemy) (Amendment) Bill, 2010 moved by Shehrbano Rehman (Sherry Rehman), MNA is liable to be rejected.
The approved note of the law minister had concluded that the death penalty for blasphemy as provided in section 295C of the PPC 1860 is well in accordance with the injunctions of Islam as laid down in the Holy Quran and Sunnah of Holy Prophet (SAW) and “NEED NOT TO BE CHANGED OR AMENDED”.
The approved note while citing different examples also said that some propaganda driven minds and agenda driven individuals give a wrong impression that procedural laws in Pakistan do not meet the international standards of human rights or these laws are not recognisable globally. “This impression is totally baseless and ill-founded.”
MP pledges support to end persecution of religious minorities
Ottawa - MP Candice Hoeppner attended a luncheon this week hosted by The Hon. Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, with Pakistani Minister for Minorities Shabaz Bhatti.
Minister Bhatti was in Ottawa to share his story and bring attention to minority rights and the injustices religious minorities face in Pakistan.
Minister Bhatti is Pakistan's minister responsible for minorities. An impassioned defender of religious freedom, Minister Bhatti has gained international respect for his commitment to protecting minority rights.
"I was honoured to meet with Minister Bhatti and discuss the issue of minority rights," said Hoeppner.
"As a Canadian it is unfathomable to think that people around the world suffer under religious persecution. The freedom to practice your faith without discrimination is an inalienable human right. Mr. Bhatti's courageous advocacy is a model for all those who wish to lend their voice in demanding an end to the persecution of religious minorities around the world".
Minister Bhatti's fierce opposition to Pakistan's blasphemy laws and his support of Asia Bibi, a Christian mother of five who is currently on death row after being found guilty of insulting Islam, has made him the primary target of Pakistan's radical pro-Taliban extremists.
Last month, Governor Salman Taseer, a vocal critic of the blasphemy law, was assassinated by his bodyguard after enduring months of threats and fatwas from religious extremists.
Gov. Taseer was an advocate for the rights of women and religious freedoms who had called for clemency in the case of Asia Bibi.
"He was a bold and courageous voice for the rights of minorities, the rights of women, and for a liberal and moderate Pakistan," said Bhatti.
"He sacrificed his life for the struggle against the misuse of the blasphemy law and I think Pakistan's religious minorities give him respect for his bold stand."
"Minister Bhatti is a man of unwavering faith and conviction. He has refused to back down from his fight despite threats from pro-Taliban thugs who seek to persecute the minority Christian population in Pakistan," said Hoeppner.
"I am proud to be a part of a government who stands up for the rights of religious minorities. Cases like those of Mrs. Bibi's are unacceptable and I am committed to standing in solidarity with Minister Bhatti and all those who seek to protect the religious freedoms of all faiths."
Politician under death threat from Taliban thanks Canada
OTTAWA - He knows that he is a target for the Taliban and other extremists but, Shahbaz Bhatti, a Pakistani cabinet minister says he will continue to speak up for freedoms of religion and expression, and against Pakistan’s blasphemy laws.
“I’ve faced assassination attempts; I’ve been in prison,” Bhatti told QMI Agency in an exclusive interview.
Bhatti is Pakistan’s minister responsible for minorities and says he is the first Christian ever appointed to a cabinet position. He’s taken up the cause of repealing Pakistan’s blasphemy laws, which prohibit speaking out against Islam and even wounding religious feeling.
Bhatti became the leading voice in calling for the blasphemy laws to be repealed after Punjab’s governor, Salmaan Taseer was assassinated in early January.
“I’m told by the extremists that if I will continue to speak out, I can be killed. I will be beheaded,” Bhatti said.
Despite the threats, Bhatti says he will speak out in favour of important principles, which he thinks find favour not only with Pakistan’s Christian and Sikh minorities, but also with the majority of the Muslim population. And he thinks Canada can be an example of how to integrate diverse backgrounds.
Bhatti, 39, part of Pakistan’s minority Roman Catholic population, has been fighting the blasphemy laws since they were first proposed in the 1980s.
“Nobody in Pakistan speaks against Islam. Nobody has intention to insult the prophet of Islam or the holy books,” Bhatti said. “This law is used to actually take revenge.”
Bhatti met with Prime Minister Stephen Harper and several cabinet ministers during his visit to Ottawa. According to a spokeman for the prime minister, the two men discussed the importance of standing up for the rights of religious minorities. Bhatti also thanked Harper and immigration minister Jason Kenney for their support of minority rights.
Prior to coming to Canada Bhatti had visited Washington where he spoke with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton about similar issues.
Asked about the unrest throughout the Middle East and fears it may spread, Bhatti said he’s not worried.
“We are a democracy in Pakistan,” he said.
Minister Kenney issues statement following his visit with Pakistan's Minister of Minorities, Shahbaz Bhatti
Ottawa, February 9, 2011 — The Honourable Jason Kenney Minister of Citizenship, Immigration, and Multiculturalism released the following statement today in conclusion of Pakistani Minister of Minorities Shahbaz Bhatti’s visit to Canada:
“Over the past two days I have had the great honour of hosting Pakistan’s brave Minister of Minorities, Shahbaz Bhatti.
“During his trip Minister Bhatti had the chance to meet with the Right Honourable Prime Minister Harper, Foreign Affairs Minister Cannon, several parliamentarians, and local religious and community leaders to discuss Canada — Pakistan relations, as well as the status of ethnic and religious minorities.
“I salute Minister Bhatti for his courageous work to promote religious freedom and human rights in Pakistan and around the world. His visit gave us an opportunity to discuss the importance of protecting vulnerable religious minorities at home and abroad.
“We expressed our sincere condolences to Minister Bhatti over the recent assassination of Punjab Governor Salman Taseer, and reiterated Canada’s opposition to the abuse of blasphemy laws, as exemplified by the death sentence imposed on Asia Bibi.”
For further information (media only), please contact:
Celyeste Power
Minister’s Office
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Lawrence Cannon, Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs met with the Minister for Minorities of Pakistan, Shahbaz Bhatti, in Ottawa to discuss the current situation in Pakistan.
Minister Cannon expressed support for the Government of Pakistan and outlined Canada's concerns regarding Pakistan's current blasphemy laws, the death sentence handed to Asia Bibi, and the situation of minorities in Pakistan.
Tuesday, February 01, 2011, Safar 27, 1432 A.H.
Under threat, minorities’ minister is left on his own
ISLAMABAD: While all PPP ministers enjoy bulletproof BMWs for their security, the Federal Minister for Minorities ShahbazBhatti has been left on his own without similar security, despite serious life threats.[Soft Break][Soft Break]“The party colleagues, including cabinet members, are not only constantly overlooking to give him proper safety cover but also keeping themselves away from expressing concerns on existing dangerous circumstance for him involving his life,” sources close to the minister said. They pointed out that Bhatti’s office is situated outside the red zone and he is provided with two guards at his residence, contrary to the dozens of the ministers roaming around in bulletproof vehicles and escorted by caravans of security personnel.[Soft Break][Soft Break]To a question, these sources added that precautionary measures are insufficient with the ordinary security he has been given since he assumed the minister’s job. “No, Bhatti does not have bulletproof vehicle as he travels in routine official vehicles.”[Soft Break][Soft Break]President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister YusufRazaGilani and Interior Minister RehmanMalik were apprised about the security concerns shortly after assassination of Punjab Governor SalmanTaseer. “But nothing has been put in place till now to avert any untoward incident.” “The minister is being targeted in public rallies despite almost all the top government functionaries have made it clear, again and again, that there was no committee working under his chairmanship on making changes in blasphemy laws.” When contacted for comment, ShahbazBhatti confirmed that he is under severe life threat particularly after the assassination of Punjab governor. “I am getting threats and was warned that I would be beheaded and would be meted out the treatment similar to MrTaseer.”[Soft Break][Soft Break]To a question he said that he would continue to follow his stand on the misuse of blasphemy laws. “There should be no misuse of these laws. We, like the Muslim community, have great respect for Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him (PBUH) and cannot even think about blasphemy.”
Friday, January 28, 2011 Pakistani authorities increase prison security for Asia Bibi
Now comes news that terrorist organizations in Pakistan are preparing an attack to eliminate Shahbaz Bhatti, Federal Minister for Religious Minorities By Dan Wooding
Founder of ASSIST Ministries SHEIKPHURA, PAKISTAN (ANS) -- Prison officials have transferred Asia Bibi, the 45-year-old Christian mother of five, condemned to death under Pakistan's controversial blasphemy law, to a secure cell at Sheikphura prison to protect her from assassination attempts.
According to a story published by EWTN News (http://ewtnnews.com), her husband, Ashiq Masih, explained that because Asia was in constant danger of being attacked, prison and government officials decided to increase security for her protection.
Ashiq told Fides news service (www.fides.org) that his wife was transferred to her own personal cell and is now guarded 24/7 by two prison guards and two security cameras.
Her food is also thoroughly inspected to avoid the risk of poisoning.
Asia "is still sad and concerned about her children, her husband said. "I told her she should trust in God" and assured her that "we are doing everything possible to ensure her released.
"I also told her that all Christians and people of good will in Pakistan will be praying for her on the day for peace on Jan. 30," her husband said.
The Church in Pakistan has set aside Sunday, Jan. 30 as a day of fasting and prayer for peace in the country.
The Masihi Foundation, which is providing legal assistance to the Bibi family noted that though officials have increased security, Asia "will only be completely safe when she can leave the country."
Bibi has been in the Sheikphura prison for a year and a half.
Threat on the life of Shahbaz Bhatti
Ashiq Masih, husband of Asia Bibi, and his daughters Sidra (2R) and Esham submit their application to Shahbaz Bhatti to work on her behalf
In a separate story, Fides is reporting that terrorist organizations in Pakistan are preparing an attack to eliminate Catholic Shahbaz Bhatti, Federal Minister for Religious Minorities.
The alarm was issued to Fides by the "All Pakistan Minorities Alliance" (APMA), the network that unites religious minorities in Pakistan, of which the Minister is the founder and president.
In the note sent to Fides, APMA reports information of a report by the Pakistani Secret Service which says it is "deeply concerned by the latest news circulating about the organization of an imminent attack on the Minister, who has become the number one target because of his commitment to the abolition of the blasphemy law. Those close to the Minister need to protect him and ask the State to afford the Minister maximum protection."
A Laskar-e-Toiba member
Minister Bhatti had already received a "death sentence" from the powerful terrorist organization "Laskar-e-Toiba". Now the new information confirms that the militants are actually implementing a plan to put him to death.
"Pray for me and for my life. I am a man who has burnt his bridges. I can not and will not go back on this commitment. I will fight fanaticism and fight in defence of Christians to the death," Minister Bhatti told Fides.
Fides sources in Pakistan deplore the fact that the ruling party, Pakistan People's Party (PPP) - which chose and invited Minister Bhatti into the executive - "is not openly aligning itself with Bhatti and defending the Minister, as it is being place under pressure by lobbies from fundamentalist Islamic parties."
"The PPP," the Fides source continues, "is leaving too much space to the fanatics in society: its leadership believes that his political survival depends in keeping the militant religious right happy. However, in doing so, the party is losing its traditional nature: moderate, secular, popular and pluralistic."
Sunday Jan 09,2011
Pakistani Christians pay their respects and lay floral wreaths in front of the portrait of late Punjab Governor Salman Taseer at the Fatima Church in Islamabad on January 9, 2011. More than 20,000 people rallied in Pakistan's southern city of Karachi on Sunday, police said, against proposed amendment to blasphemy laws that were recently used to sentence a Christian woman to death.
Islamic Radical Organizations Announce Countrywide Protest to Protect Blasphemy Laws
The Blasphemy Laws have become the topic of heated debate in Pakistan after a Christian woman Asia Bibi was falsely accused of Blasphemy, convicted and sentenced to death by a session’s court in Punjab last month. Asia Bibi’s case has received world wide attention.
In his investigation report to the President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari, Mr Shahbaz Bhatti Federal Minister for Minorities declared that the Blasphemy case against Asia Bbi is false, concocted, fabricated and based on personal and religious enmity. He proposed abolishment of the Blasphemy Laws or then recommended that these Laws need to be significantly amended in order to prevent its misuse.
The President called for the formulation a committee headed by the Federal Minister for Minorities Mr Shahbaz Bhatti to review / revisit the Blasphemy Laws.
On the other hand, the Islamic Organizations are on a war footing against the possibility of bringing about any changes in the existing blasphemy Laws.
The country’s major religious parties have formed an alliance under the name of Tehrik-e-Namoos-e-Risalat to oppose any amendment to the blasphemy law and have announced a countrywide movement in this regard.
Tahaffuz-i-Nabuwat Conference (defending the honor of the Prophet Muhammad) was held in Islamabad on Dec 15, 2010. The daylong conference which was presided over by the JUI-F Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and was attended by the top leadership of Jamaat-i-Islami, PML-Q, Jamaatud Dawa and representatives of Wafaqul Madaris and many other Islamic organizations and groups.
A campaign for upholding the sanctity of Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) and against the proposed amendments in the Blasphemy Laws was announced. The JUI-F Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman declared that all religious parties were united for the protection of the Blasphemy Laws and he vowed to resist any move by the government to make changes in the existing blasphemy laws.
He called for countrywide protests on December 24th and confirmed that all the mosques in the country would organize protest demonstrations.
A complete countrywide shutter-down and wheel jam strike will be observed on December 31 and Maulana Fazlur Rehman made an appeal to traders’ organizations and associations of small and big markets to extend their support to the movement in order to make the strike a success.
He further announced that a public meeting and protest demonstration would be held in Karachi on Jan 9 and will be attended by all central leaders of religious parties. A future line of action will also be unveiled at this meeting.
The Islamic religious parties warned that their protest would be so forceful that no one would ever dare to think about changing the blasphemy laws.
The participants vowed that every kind of sacrifice would be rendered to protect these laws and their struggle would continue till the achievement of their goals.
The participants also stated that the only punishment for a blasphemer is death. Furthermore Five hundred Muslim Clerics have issued a religious decree (Fatwa) confirming death penalty for a Blasphemer.
PML-Q chief, former Prime Minister of Pakistan and close ally of General Pervaiz Mushraf, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, declared that his party would oppose every move to change the blasphemy law in the Parliament.
The participants also requested the media to effectively support their campaign for the cause of Islam and to show its love for the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
The conference was also attended by Hafiz Saeed Head of the banned organization Lashkar-e- Tayyaba.
The radical parties are mobilizing the masses to carry out protest demonstrations in order to pressurize the government on the issue of the Blasphemy laws. They are instigating the public on one of the most sensitive religious issues i.e. the Blasphemy Laws, which is very close to the hearts of the Muslims. They want to prevent the Government from amending the Blasphemy Laws.
Pro Taliban elements are backing this movement for their own vested interests.
The religious minorities especially the Christians in Pakistan are concerned about these protests demonstrations during the Christmas season.
The Session of Parliament in Pakistan is scheduled for Dec 20th 2010 and these religious parties intend to raise this issue in the Parliament as well.
Petitioner claims parliament would go against the Quran if the law is amended.
LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday admitted for regular hearing a petition seeking directions to the federal government not to table the blasphemy law amendment bill.LHC Chief Justice Khawaja Muhammad Sharif also issued a notice to the federal government for December 23.The petition was filed by a citizen Muhammad Nasir, stating that the parliament has no right to amend the blasphemy law.
The parliament cannot amend or alter the blasphemy law to soften the punishments linked to the offence, he submitted. He added that the blasphemy law was promulgated in light of the Quranic injunctions to protect the honour and dignity of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and it cannot be amended.
During the hearing, the CJ asked Deputy Attorney-General Naseem Kashmiri, who was present in the court, if it is true that the government is bringing such a bill in the parliament. Kashmiri denied it.
The petitioner, however, alleged that the amendment bill had been drafted and the government is ready to table it in the parliament.
Meanwhile, a petition against the federal government’s bid to pardon blasphemy convict Aasia Bibi was also fixed for hearing on Monday. Hearing was adjourned till December 23.
Earlier, the chief justice had sought a reply from the federal government, restraining the president from pardoning Aasia Bibi until the LHC gave its verdict on her appeal.
Kashmiri, on behalf of the federation, sought more time and the CJ adjourned hearing also till December 23, observing that these petitions were identical and should be clubbed.
The petitioner had submitted that the government is planning to grant pardon to Aasia Bibi under pressure from foreign countries. According to Article 45 of the Constitution, Aasia Bibi cannot be pardoned by the president because her case is sub judice, the counsel pleaded.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 7th, 2010
Monday, December 6, 2010 Pakistan Minister Condemns Reward for Killing Christian Woman PAKISTAN(ANS) -- Pakistan's Federal Minister for Minorities Affairs Shahbaz Bhatti condemned Saturday the recent announcement of a reward for killing the jailed Christian woman on death row for blasphemy.
According to a story by Christin Post reporter Ethan Cole, Bhatti said the call is unjust and irresponsible.
He said the reward should be discouraged in the strongest possible manner because no one has the right to issue a decree to kill someone else, according to Pakistan's Daily Times newspaper. He also added that Pakistan is a civilized country and violation of the rule of law is not allowed.
"Every legal and constitutional means will be adopted in the Asia Bibi case," assured Bhatti, who was in charge of investigating the case and reported that Bibi was innocent to President Asif Ali Zadari.
The Christian Post said a hard-line imam known for making similar reward-for-murder calls in the past offered about $6,000 to anyone who kills Asia Bibi during his sermon at the largest mosque in Peshawar on Friday.
Imam Maulana Yousuf Qureshi also threatened the government to not amend or repeal the blasphemy laws "which provide protection to the sanctity of Holy Prophet Muhammad," according to Asia News.
The Christian Post reported that Qureshi, who had also called for the murder of the Danish cartoonists who drew caricatures of the Muslim Prophet Muhammad, said that if the appeals court judge freed Bibi then Muslim extremists will kill her.
"There are hundreds of thousands of people including mujahedin (warriors) and Taliban who are ready to sacrifice their lives for the honor of the Prophet Muhammad. Anyone of them could finish her," Qureshi said Friday, according to All Pakistan Minorities Alliance, a human rights group with which Bhatti formerly served as chairman.
The Christian Post said Bibi, a mother of five, has been imprisoned for 18 months, and was sentenced in November to death by hanging for allegedly speaking badly of Muslim Prophet Muhammad.
She is Christian and is the first woman to receive a death sentence for blasphemy in Pakistan.
Her case has sparked international outcry against Pakistan's blasphemy laws, which are often used against religious minorities after a small non-religious-related dispute. According to Bibi, the Christian Post said, her imprisonment and death sentence stems from an argument she had with fellow field workers in June 2009.
She was picking fruit in the field with fellow Muslim workers and went to get water for the group. Upon returning, the Christian Post said, the Muslim women in the field refused to drink the water because the container was touched by a Christian.
The Christian Post said Bibi was offended and argued with the women, but then afterwards thought nothing of the incident. However, a few days later dozens of Muslims dragged her away. She was accused of blasphemy against the Muslim Prophet Muhammad, which she denies.
The Christian Post said Bhatti has submitted a report to President Zadari, stating that his findings show Bibi to be innocent. But the country's high court banned the Pakistani government from pardoning her. It said doing so while a case is pending is illegal.
The high court has yet to set a date for Bibi's appeals hearing
Tuesday, November 23, 2010 Pakistan's president will pardon Christian woman, official says ISLAMBAD, PAKISTAN (ANS) -- Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari will pardon a Christian woman sentenced to death for blasphemy, the governor of Punjab state told CNN on Tuesday, November 23, 2010.
Family photo of Asia Bibi, sentenced to death for blasphemy in Pakistan (Photo: CNN website)
"What basically he's made it clear is that she's not going to be a victim of this law," Gov. Salman Taseer told CNN International's "Connect the World" program. "I mean, he's a liberal, modern-minded president and he's not going to see a poor woman like this targeted and executed. ... It's just not going to happen," Taseer said.
According to the CNN story, Asia Bibi, who has been jailed for nearly 15 months, was convicted in a Pakistani court earlier this month of breaking the country's controversial blasphemy law by insulting Islam's Prophet Mohammed, a crime punishable with death or life imprisonment, according to Pakistan's penal code. She was sentenced to death.
She has filed a petition for mercy with the High Court, Taseer said.
If the High Court suspends the sentence and gives her bail then that is fine. We'll see that, and if that doesn't happen, then the president will pardon her," he said.
A preliminary investigation showed Bibi was falsely accused, a government official said Monday.
Minister for Minorities, Shahbaz Bhatti, along with Asia Bibi's daughters, Sidra and Ashi, at his office in Islamabad on Saturday (Photo: Tanveer Shahzad, DAWN)
"The president asked me to investigate her case and my preliminary findings show she is innocent and the charges against her are baseless," Pakistani Minister for Minority Affairs Shahbaz Bhatti told CNN.
Bhatti emphasized Monday that he has reached only preliminary conclusions and will submit a final report Wednesday to Zardari's office.
Prosecutors say Bibi, a 45-year-old field worker, insulted the Prophet Mohammed after she got into a heated argument with Muslim co-workers who refused to drink from a bucket of water she had touched.
CNN went on to say that in a brief news conference at the prison where she's being held, Bibi said Saturday that the allegations against her are lies fabricated by a group of women who don't like her.
"We had some differences and this was their way of taking revenge," she said.
Bibi's death sentence sparked outrage among human rights groups, who condemned Pakistan's blasphemy law as a source of violence and persecution against religious minorities.
Note: CNN's Luke Henderson and Ravi Agrawal contributed to this report
Zardari orders review of blasphemy case against Christian woman
By AZHAR MASOOD | ARAB NEWS
Published: Nov 20, 2010 01:15 Updated: Nov 20, 2010 01:15
ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday asked the Ministry of Religious Affairs to review the case of a Christian woman convicted under blasphemy law.
The president has called for a report from the Ministry of Minorities Affairs over the sentencing to death of the Christian woman for blasphemy, a statement from the president's house said.
Aasia Bibi, a resident of Nankana Sahib in Punjab was sentenced to death under Sections 295 B and C of the Pakistan Penal code, following an incident in which an altercation took place between her and her co-workers over the issue of fetching water from fields. Media reports said police took her into protective custody to shield her from an angry mob and later registered a case of blasphemy against her.
Farhatullah Babar said the president asked the Minorities Affairs Minister Shahbaz Bhatti to submit a report within three days.
Earlier, Pope Benedict XVI had appealed to the government of Pakistan to free Aasia Bibi, mother of five.
Aasia Bibi was sentenced on charges of blasphemy and has been in prison for over a year.
According to reports and an investigation by the National Commission on the Status of Women, Aasia is a victim of vendetta. A landlord is said to have framed the woman to settle scores.
Pope appeals to Pakistan to spare Christian woman's life
Last Updated: 2010-11-17 23:36:34
Pope Benedict XVI waves from his pope-mobile on his way to the Sagrada fami...
Vatican City: Pope Benedict XVI Wednesday made an appeal for a Pakistani Christian mother of five who has been sentenced to death for blasphemy after she collected water from a well to be drunk by Muslims.
'I today express my spiritual closeness to Ms Asia Bibi and her family while asking that, as soon as possible, she may be restored to complete freedom,' said the pontiff at the end of his weekly general audience at the Vatican.
'Over these days, the international community is, with great concern, following the situation of Christians in Pakistan, who are often victims of violence or discrimination,' said Benedict.
Forty-five-year-old Asia Bibi is believed to be the first woman sentenced to death under Pakistan's notorious blasphemy law, which opponents say is often exploited by Islamist extremists or those harbouring personal grudges.
Bibi was charged with insulting Prophet Mohammed, after she was sent by the wife of a village chief in her village in eastern Punjab province to fetch water. Muslim clerics reported her to police after villagers claimed it was sacrilegious to drink water collected by a non-Muslim, Bibi's husband was quoted as saying.
Following a year-long trial, Bibi was sentenced to death Monday by a court in Nankana, about 75 km from Lahore. Her family announced it would appeal the sentence.
'I also pray for people who find themselves in similar situations, that their human dignity and fundamental rights may be fully respected,' the pope stated.
Mayor Gianni Alemanno said Tuesday that Rome's Colosseum should be lit up to highlight Bibi's plight. The city council has also placed a giant poster of Bibi at Rome's Campidoglio Town Hall.
Alemanno is among Italian politicians who have backed a campaign to save Bibi launched by the Italian Bishops Conference's television channel TV2000.
Muslim and Christian women's associations and rights groups in Pakistan have held protest marches in Lahore and other cities against Bibi's death sentence and non-governmental organisations have ratcheted up their campaign to repeal the blasphemy law.
Dawn
Zilhaj 9, 1431
Devolution of minorities’ ministry opposed
By Our Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD, Nov 15:At a time when the Parliamentary Commission on Implementation of the 18th Amendment is reviewing the process of devolution of ministries and departments under clauses on provincial autonomy, a National Assembly standing committee opposed on Monday the plan to transfer the Ministry of Minorities Affairs from the centre to the provinces.Members of the Standing Committee on Minorities Affairs, which met under its chairman Dr Mahesh Kumar Malani, were of the unanimous view that the ministry should not be transferred to the provinces because it would create complications in legislation of personal laws.
RameshLal of the Pakistan People’s Party told Dawn there was complete unanimity among the 10 minority members belonging to different parties that the ministry should remain at the centre.
He said they had already written letters to the government in this regard and they would soon write to Senator RazaRabbani, the chairman of the implementation commission, asking him to review the decision.
Minister for Minorities Affairs ShahbazBhatti justified the committee’s recommendation and said the minorities had always been treated at the national level which was evident even from the country’s flag in which white colour represented the minorities.
He said the move to transfer the ministry to the provinces could affect international treaties and conventions that the country had signed and which made it binding upon the government to protect the rights of the minorities.
When asked how could this be done when parliament had already approved the 18th Amendment, he said there was no need for any amendment because the ministry was not a part of Concurrent List that had been abolished through the 18th Amendment.
On the other hand, MrRabbani ruled out possibility of any change in decisions already been taken for implementation of the 18th Amendment.“The Constitution cannot be violated,” he said.
Dawn
Tuesday 16th November 2010 | Zilhaj 9, 1431
Punjab asked to ensure safety of blasphemy convict
By Our Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD, Nov 15:The Centre has directed the Punjab government to ensure protection of a Christian woman in jail and her family members at home after she was given death sentence by a district and sessions court on blasphemy charges in Nankana Sahib last week.Federal Minister for Minorities Affairs ShahbazBhatti has also urged the provincial government to provide all possible chances to AasiaBibi to plea her case on merit.Talking to reporters outside parliament house after attending a meeting of National Assembly standing committee on Monday,MrBhatti said the government would not allow anyone to misuse the blasmphy law,
He said safeguarding the life and property of minorities was the constitutional obligation of the government.
He said in most of the cases, the blasphemy law was being misused to settle personal scores, political vendetta and religious enmities.
AasiaBibi, a resident of Ittanwali, was accused of passing derogatory remarks against Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in an FIR registered with the Saddar police by QariSalim, a mosque imam.The judge, Mohammad NaveedIqbal, reportedly also imposed a fine of Rs300,000 on her.
AasiaBibi, the mother of five children, has filed an appeal with the Lahore High Court against the judgment.
Meanwhile, the National Commission on the Status of Women in a statement here expressed its ‘shock’ over the capital punishment awarded to AasiaBibi and called for her immediate release. “AasiaBibi is the latest victim of the pernicious blasphemy laws that in their present form were promulgated arbitrarily by a military dictator more than 20 years ago.
International Christian Voice Canada (ICV) condemns the death sentence of a Christian woman under blasphemy law in Pakistan
According to "Release International" the court of sessions passed the death sentence on Asia Bibi on November 7, 2010. Asia who is from Ittanwali in Punjab province,laboured in the fields for a Muslim landlord. She was arrested after a heated discussion about religion with her fellow farm workers. Hers was one of only three Christian families in the village. Some of the women workers had been putting
her under pressure to renounce her Christian faith and accept Islam. On June 19, 2009, the women pressed Asia about Islam She responded by sharing with them about her faith in Christ,She spoke of how Jesus Christ had died on the cross for their sins and then asked them what Mohammed had done for them. On hearing this response the Muslim women became very angry and began to beat her. Some men took Asia by force and locked her in a room. They used the PA system of a local mosque to broadcast plans to punish Asia by blackening her face and parading her through the village on a donkey. For the first time in history Pakistan has sentenced to death a Christian woman for blasphemy. According to "Release International" A mob formed and Asia was violently abused by Muslim villagers and clerics. Her children were also beaten. However some Christians informed the police and Asia was taken into protective custody. Pressure to charge her was brought to bear by Muslim leaders.
Sentence was passed yesterday. Asia was also fined £728 the equivalent of two-and-a half years salary for an unskilled worker. No one sentenced to death for blasphemy in Pakistan has ever been executed, but Asia could now spend years in appalling conditions on death row. If she appeals to the High Court, it may take years before her case is heard.
The misuse of the Blasphemy Law in Pakistan has led to physical violence, damage, destruction of properties and loss of life within the innocent Christian minority over the years; This is a violation of
the fundamental rights guaranteed by Article 36 of the Constitution of Pakistan.
International Christian Voice requests all of you to please raise your voice to abolish Blasphemy law and other discriminatory laws from Pakistan Penal Code.
Please pray for Asia and her family, so that they may have courage to
stand firm in their faith during this critical time. Also, please join International Christian Voice in signing the petition to repeal the Blasphemy Law.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Pakistani Christian Woman Sentenced to Death for Blasphemy Charges
By Success Kanayo Uchime
Special to ASSIST News Service
PUNJAB, PAKISTAN (ANS) -- A Pakistani court has sentenced Asia Bibi, a Christian mother of four, to death for "blasphemy" charges thereby becoming the first woman to receive such a capital punishment.
Asia Bibi (Photo: www.persecution.com)
This news is contained in a report by Release International, (www.releaseinternational.org), a United Kingdom based Christian organization serving the persecuted Christians, which adding that a sessions court judge yesterday (Sunday, November 7, 2010) gave Asia the maximum sentence at the end of a trial that lasted for more than 16 months.
The report said that Asia, a farm laborer in her late-30s from Ittanwali, Punjab, was also fined more than £700 ($1,129.76 USD) - the equivalent of two-and-a-half years' salary for the average worker.
"Release partners at Sharing Life Ministry Pakistan (SLMP), who have been supporting Asia and her family throughout their ordeal, say that they and the family are shocked by this outcome," it stated.
After a previous court appearance, Asia is hugged by some of her children. One was Isha, who cried and hugged her mother and would not let her go. Isha pointed to the veil on her mother's face and said, "I want to see your face, remove this cover." It was a sad scene. (Photo: http://persecutedchurch.blogspot.com)
The group noted that no one sentenced to death for blasphemy in Pakistan has ever been executed, but Asia could now spend years in appalling conditions on death row. If she appeals to the High Court, it may take years before her case is heard.
According to the report, police first filed a case against her in June 2009 after local Muslims accused her of making derogatory comments against Islam's prophet, Mohammed.
"She had reportedly been discussing matters of faith with fellow laborers in the fields when Asia and her daughters were attacked by local villagers and Muslim clerics. She had reportedly been under pressure from her fellow workers to convert to Islam," the report added.
It continued: "A spokesman for SLMP described Asia as having a strong faith - but said that this decision would be a crushing blow to her and her family. She was longing to go back home to her children, but her dreams of release have vanished now. She desperately needs peace in her heart, the peace that comes from God. The SLMP team plan to visit Asia in prison as soon as possible."
Release International said they're concerned that Asia's conviction could set a dangerous precedent. Martha Bibi is currently on trial for blasphemy in Lahore and she was charged in 2007, after a dispute with builders who allegedly refused to return equipment belonging to her.
They say, "Act now by signing our petition calling for justice for Christians in Pakistan at www.releaseinternational.org/current or call our office Tel: +44 (0) 1689 823491 for a paper copy.
Release International, through its international network of missions, serves persecuted Christians in 30 countries around the world by supporting pastors and Christian prisoners, and their families; supplying Christian literature and Bibles and also working for justice.
Hindu community in Pakistan celebrates Diwali
From ANI Islamabad, Nov 6: The Hindu community living in Pakistan celebrated the festival of Diwali at their religious places of worship on Friday.
Federal Minister for Minorities' Affairs- Shahbaz Bhatti- felicitated Hindus on their festival of lights, colors and happiness, giving the message of promoting tolerance, dialogue, understanding, cooperation, and harmony, and to remove misunderstandings among different faiths, The News reported.
The Ministry of Minorities had announced celebrating the festival officially for mainstreaming the minorities living in the country, like ten other festivals of minorities including Baisakhi, Holi, Eid-i-Rizwan, Chelumjusht, Nauroze, Christmas and Easter festivals of Sikhs, Hindus, Bahais, Kalash, Parsis and Christian Communities respectively.
In a message, Bhatti said that his ministry welcomes the minorities' guests, and added that besides resolving the issues of minorities on a priority basis, the government will also table the Hindu Sikh Marriage Act in the parliament soon.
Although the ministry planned to hold colorful programmes to celebrate Diwali, the events were arranged in a simple way in view of the disaster caused by the recent floods in Pakistan.
This year, it was celebrated on November 5, while the festivities last for five consecutive days- starting two days before Diwali- and including the celebrations of Dhanteras, Narak Chaturdashi, Govardhan Puja and Bhai Duj.
During the festival, which is connected with deep-rooted cultural values of the Hindu religion, people wake up early in the morning, wear new clothes, offer their prayers and touch the feet of their elders, and in return elders give them Diwali gifts. Hindus offer special prayers to Goddess Lakshmi to seek blessings of well being and good fortune, and celebrate with clay diyas, candles, lamps and firework to mark the jubilations.
Copyright Asian News International/DailyIndia.com
Muslim Tortures, Accuses Christian Who Refused Slavery
Jawad Mazhar November 1, 2010
SARGODHA, Pakistan (CDN) — A Muslim land owner in Pakistan this month subjected a 25-year-old Christian to burns and a series of humiliations, including falsely charging him with having sex with his own niece, because the Christian refused to work for him without pay.
Fayaz Masih is in jail with burns on his body after No. 115 Chitraan Wala village head Zafar Iqbal Ghuman and other villagers punished Masih for refusing to work as a slave in his fields, said the Rev. Yaqub Masih, a Pentecostal evangelist. The village is located in Nankana Sahib district, Punjab Province.
Sources said neither Fayaz Masih nor his family had taken any loans from Ghuman, and that they had no obligations to work off any debt for Ghuman as bonded laborers.
Yaqub Masih said the young man's refusal to work in Ghuman's fields infuriated the Muslim, who was accustomed to forcing Christians into slavery. He said Ghuman considered Masih's refusal an act of disobedience by a "choohra," the pejorative word for Christians in Pakistan. On Oct. 3 Ghuman and 11 of his men abducted Masih from his home at gun-point and brought him to Ghuman's farmhouse, according to Yaqub Masih and Yousaf Gill, both of nearby village No. 118 Chour Muslim. Gill is a former councilor of Union Council No. 30, and Yaqub Masih is an ordained pastor waiting for his denomination to assign him a church.
Fayaz Masih's family members told Yaqub Masih that Ghuman was carrying a pistol, and that the 11 other men were brandishing rifles or carrying clubs, axes and bamboo sticks. They began beating Masih as they carried him away, calling him a choohra, Yaqub Masih said.
Gill said that Ghuman's farmhands tied Fayaz Masih's hands and legs and asked him once more if he would work in Ghuman's fields. When he again refused, Gill said, Ghuman summoned four barbers; three ran away, but he forced one, Muhammad Pervaiz, to shave Masih's head, eyebrows, half of his mustache and half of his beard.
After they had rubbed charcoal on Masih's face, Ghuman then announced that Masih had had relations with Masih's 18-year-old niece, Sumeera, and called for everyone in the village to punish him. He and his men placed Masih on a frail, one-eyed donkey, Yaqub Masih and Gill said, and a mob of Muslim men and children surrounded him - beating tins, dancing and singing door-to-door while shouting anti-Christian slogans, yelling obscenities at him and other Christians, and encouraging villagers to beat him with their shoes and fill his mouth with human waste, Yaqub Masih said.
Some threw kerosene on Masih and alternately set him on fire and extinguished the flames, Gill said. He added that Muslims made a garland of old shoes from a pile of garbage and put it around Masih's neck.
Yaqub Masih said the abuse became unbearable for the young man, and he collapsed and fell off the donkey.
Police Ignore Court
Masih's sister, Seema Bibi, told Compass that the accusation that Masih had had sex with her daughter Sumeera was utterly false. She said Ghuman made the allegation only to vent his fury at Masih for refusing to work for him.
Seema Bibi said that Ghuman told her daughter at gun-point to testify against Masih in court on Oct. 4. Sumeera surprised the Muslim land owner, however, saying under oath that Masih was innocent and that Ghuman had tried to force her to testify against her uncle. A judge ruled that Sumeera had not had illicit relations with Masih, and that therefore she was free to go home.
Her mother told Compass, however, that since then Ghuman has been issuing daily death threats to her family.
After Masih collapsed from the abuse, Yaqub Masih and Gill called local police. Police did not arrive until three hours later, at 3:30 p.m., they said, led by Deputy Superintendent of Police Shoiab Ahmed Kamboh and Inspector Muhammad Yaqub.
"They rebuked the Muslim villagers that they could have killed this Christian youth, and they told them to give him a bath at once and change his clothes, in order to reduce the evidence against them," Gill said.
Family members of Masih said Kamboh and Inspector Yaqub arrested some of the leading figures within the mob, but soon thereafter they received a call to release every Muslim.
"Instead of taking the Muslim men into custody, they detained my brother, and he was taken to the police station," Seema Bibi said.
On Oct. 4 police sent Masih to District Headquarters Hospital Nankana Sahib for examination, where Dr. Naseer Ahmed directed Dr. Muhammad Shakeel to mention in the medical report how severely Ghuman and his farmhands had beaten him, Gill said. He said the medical report also stated that Masih had sustained burns and that his head, mustache, eyebrows and beard were shaved.
In spite of the court ruling that Masih had not had sex with his niece, police were coerced into registering a false charge of adultery under Article 376 of the Islamic statutes of the Pakistan Penal Code, First Information Report No. 361/10, at the Sangla Hill police station.
At press time Masih remained in Shiekhupura District Jail, said Gill. Gill also has received death threats from Ghuman, he said.
The 11 men who along with Ghuman abducted Masih and brought him to Ghuman's farmhouse, according to Masih's family, were Mehdi Hussain Shah and Maqsood Shah, armed with rifles; Muhammad Amin, Rana Saeed, Muhammad Osama and four others unidentified, all of them brandishing clubs; Muhammad Waqas, with an axe; and Ali Raza, bearing a bamboo stick and a club.
Copyright 2010 Compass Direct News. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Pakistani Christian Men ‘Falsely’ Accused of Blasphemy
By Jawad Mazhar
Special Correspondent for ANS, reporting from Pakistan
RAHWALI, PAKISTAN(ANS) -- Two young Pakistani Christians have been accused of blasphemy, resulting in threats by local Muslims to burn them alive.
The two men, Nasir (aged 20) and Hanif (aged 24) -- known to be best friends in the town of Rahwali, a suburb of Gujranwala -- were implicated in a what is alleged to be a false case of blasphemy under article 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code, according to a report from CLASS (Center for Legal Aid Assistance Settlement) obtained by ANS.
Rev Sharif Allam, a local pastor serving in the Church of Pakistan in Gakhar, about 75 kilometers (an estimated 46 miles) from Lahore, and Mr. Joseph Francis, National Director of CLAAS, told ANS by telephone that both men have been “falsely implicated” in the blasphemy case and have “fled the area in fear of their lives.”
Rev Allam, who helps the Christian community in social, economic, political and legal affairs, said the matter is a “very sensitive issue in the area” and that the Muslim community was “ready to attack local Christians and burn them alive.”
According to Rev. Allam, there are only 30 Christian families living in Rahwali, among more than 300 Muslim residents. Most Christians there, he told ANS, are “poor and illiterate and are used to doing manual labor to meet the needs of their families.”
Nasir is known to have done different kinds of labor, including working with masons and collecting scrap from door-to-door and then selling it to scrap shops. He also worked as hawker, selling different items on the streets.
Hanif, who is also known as Chand, was reported to be a government servant, working for the Pakistan Army as a sweeper at the Rahwali Army Base, which he has been doing for the last eight years.
Nasir's father, William Masih, told CLAAS that the alleged incident of blasphemy took place on October 16, 2010, when Mohammad Baig, a factory night watchman, called Nasir and Hanif late at night and asked them to sell some books to a scrap dealer.
Apparently, Baig told Nasir that he would pay him for selling the books, weighing almost 80 kg. Nasir allegedly asked Hanif to help in taking the books to the scrap shop. In one night, they sold two bags of books to a scrap dealer and one bag to another dealer, and were paid for the books.
In the morning, when one of the scrap dealers saw that the books were actually Islamic Holy books, he came to Nasir, returning the books and demanding his money back. Nasir told him that he had spent money, but he would return it soon. As a result of this conversation, the scrap dealer became angry and started shouting, alleging that Nasir committed blasphemy and had insulted the Islamic/religious Holy books.
Nasir and Hanif then fled from the factory, but the owners and other local Muslims went to the police station to register a blasphemy case against Nasir and Hanif.
When local Muslims learned that Nasir and Hanif had left the area, they become furious and aggressive toward other Christians living in Rahwali.
At about 9:30 p.m. on the evening of October 18, 2010, Mohammad Zahir, a cleric from a local Mosque, along with about 50-60 young Muslims, started shouting at local Christians. Zahir told the Muslims to attack the Christians.
One of the local Christians informed the area police, who were on the scene immediately, and the angry Muslims left the area and did not attack local believers as was threatened.
Local believers were reported to be scared, and unable to sleep that night. Early in the morning of October 19, most of the Christian families fled the area to save the lives of their children and young girls from any harm.
Pastor Allam was informed about the incident and was asked to negotiate with police and the factory owners. He was able to speak to the police, the factory owners and other some influential leaders from the Muslim community, telling them that Nasir and Hanif were innocent and asking them to allow time for police to solve the matter.
The Muslim factory owners demanded that Nasir and Hanif should give an oath in the church about their innocence, and would then forgive them of all charges of blasphemy.
Pastor Sharif Allam immediately called Mr. Joseph Francis of CLASS and informed him about what was going on in the area.
Local Christians, led by Rev. Allam and Mr. Francis, gathered in the church, together with Muslims under the leadership of Mr. Faryad Sethi, who accused Nasir and Hanif of blasphemy. Pastor Allam then instructed all the believers about the oath they were making according to the Old and New Testaments.
ANS learned Mr. Joseph also addressed the public, giving some other examples of incidents of blasphemy, and also educating them about the importance of reconciliation, interfaith peace, love and harmony between the two communities.
Also present were Nasir and Hanif’s parents, who took an oath in the presence of those gathered, stating their sons were illiterate and innocent, had committed the offence unknowingly, and that the two young men were not aware that what they tried to sell were, in fact, some holy books.
Pastor Allam, Mr. Francis, Mr. Sethi and the young men's parents then went to police station to make written statements of compromise through legal procedures.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Inundated, marginalized, hapless Pakistani Christians are still in dire need of help
By Jawad Mazhar
Special Correspondent for ANS, reporting from Pakistan
KARACHI, PAKISTAN(ANS) -- Despite the claims of many governmental and none governmental organizations (NGOs) to have helped all of the flood stricken people of Pakistan, irrespective of their faith, ANS has discovered that in the country’s devastated Sindh province, food and help is still being sought by a large majority of its Christians.
A Christian family having meal after days at the Kotri Railways Hospital, Sindh, Pakistan
This news was given to ANS by the Rev. Khadim Bhutto, head of Global Vision Gospel Ministries (GVGM) in Pakistan, in an interview in which he said that his team of workers had visited many flood-stricken Christian villages and had found that Christians were still living in "appalling conditions" although flood waters had started to recede.
Talking to ANS by phone, he stated that his teams had uncovered the dire situation as they visited Dadu, Jacobabad, Khairpur Nathan Mahar, Qazi Arif, Longmahesar, Faridabad, Joli, Bhaseedabad, Tutlee, Lucky Shah, Shahdad Kot, Allah Bachao Shorogoath, Talka Kotli, Jamshoroo District and Dae Buda.
Rev. Khadim Bhutto’s flood relief team prays with flood affected Christians
The Rev. Bhutto went on to say that “flood waters have swept away Church buildings, Christian residential areas, and crops worth thousands of Pakistani Rupees,” and now these Christians “were compelled to live in deplorably pathetic conditions.”
He added that local believers were in “urgent need” of tents, mattresses, clean drinking water, medicine, blankets (as winter is approaching), mosquito nets (to prevent malaria and dengue fever), cots/beds, toilet disposals, water tanks, crockery, hygienic kits, soap/ shampoo, warm clothes and books and stationary for the children to keep up with their education.
Rev. Rafique Masih of Dae Buda village,
Sindh province
He also said that in Dae Buda and many other Christian villages, local pastors “need immediate funding to renovate their church buildings and people to erect new homes.” He cited that he had been told this by two local pastors, Rev. Munawar Masih and Rev. Rafique Masih.
The Christian leader concluded by asking Christians from around the world and donor organizations to help his flood relief team working for Christians so that can provide immediate assistance for “stranded and destitute Christians who have lost their jobs as well as their crops
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Muslim Extremists Murder Christian Family in Pakistan
Lawyer, wife, five children shot to death after he tried to defend Christian
By Jeremy Reynalds
Senior Correspondent for ASSIST News Service
ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN(ANS) -- Islamic extremists killed a Christian lawyer, his wife and their five children in northwestern Pakistan this week for mounting a legal challenge against a Muslim who was charging a Christian exorbitant interest, local sources said.
According to a story by Compass Direct News, police found the bodies of attorney and evangelist Edwin Paul and his family on Sept. 28 at their home in Haripur, a small town hear Abbotabad in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province (previously known as the North-West Frontier Province, or NWFP), according to Haripur Station House Officer (SHO) Maqbool Khan.
The victim and his wife Ruby Paul, along with their five children ages 6 to 17, had been shot to death.
"On Sept. 28 at around 8 a.m., we received a call from Sher Khan colony that people heard gunshots, and there was a group of people who ran from a house and drove away," Compass reported Khan said. "We went and found seven bodies in a house."
Paul's Muslim neighbor, Mushtaq Khan, told Compass that the previous day a group of armed men had threatened the lawyer.
"On Monday a group of armed men stopped Paul and took him by the collar and said, 'Leave the town in 24 hours - we know how to throw out Christians, we will not allow even a single Christian to live here. We will hang them all in the streets, so that no Christian would ever dare to enter the Hazara land."
Compass reported the Hazara are settlers from northern Pakistan who are an ethnic mixture of Punjabi Jats and Pashtuns (also called Pathans). Drawing attention for demanding a separate province for themselves when the NWFP became Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Hazara community financially supports area Islamic extremist groups and is known for charging up to 400 percent interest to Christians. Paul had moved with his family to the area in February.
Compass said he had taken up the case of Robin Mehboob, a Christian taxi driver in Haripur who had received a loan of 150,000 rupees (US$1,725) from Noor Khan, an influential Muslim whose lending network extends to some parts of Punjab Province, to buy a taxi. Originally Noor Khan agreed that Mehboob would pay back 224,000 rupees (US$2,580) after one year, Mehboob said.
"I gave my property papers as a guarantee," Mehboob told Compass, "but then the amount of the interest was raised to 500 percent because I am a Christian - he was demanding back 1.12 million rupees (US$12,893). They have forcefully taken over my property and have confiscated my taxi as well. I am a poor man; the taxi is the only source of income."
Paul took Mehboob and the documents of the original loan agreement to the Haripur police station, Mehboob said. "We talked to the SHO, who said, 'You can file a complaint, but I can assure you that no one will testify against Noor Khan, as he is supported by extremist groups,'" Compass reported Mehboob said. "We filed the complaint, and one of the police officers informed (Noor) Khan that we went to the police station."
On their way back from the police station, three cars filled with Noor Khan's associates stopped near his house, Mehboob said.
"They came out and said, 'How dare you Christians go to the police, don't you know we own the law here?' They assaulted us, beating us with fists and clubs, and warned that if we try to seek any assistance, they will kill us."
Compass said Mehboob left Haripur that night and went to his brother in Sialkot.
Compass reported Paul wrote to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, Christian organizations and churches for help, explaining how Noor Khan and the extremist groups were driving Christians out of the area by taking over their property or threatening to kill them unless they sold their homes.
Compass said the Muslim extremist groups most active in the area are the banned Jamat ul Dawa, the Sunni Tahreek, and some groups linked with the Pakistani Taliban. The extremist groups were making fake documents to occupy properties owned by Christians, and Hazara investors were supporting the campaign, area Christians said.
The Muslim extremists have also threatened many Christians with death if they do not convert, they said.
Pastor Rehmat Naeem of St. Paul Church in Haripur told Compass that he had also received threats.
"Some extremists sent us threats through phone calls and letters, asking us to leave Haripur," Naeem said. "Many Christians were forced to sell their property at very low rates and leave the area. Edwin Paul tried to help the Christians - he even talked to the higher authorities, but no one was ready to testify against the extremists."
Compass said Naeem added that two months ago area extremists kidnaped eight missionaries; six have been released, and the two others are presumed dead.
A First Information Report has been filed in the murder of Paul and his family, and the District Coordination Officer and District Police Officer (DPO) have strongly condemned the crime and instructed the SHO to find those responsible, authorities said.
Compass said Chief Secretary of Hazara Division Ali Ahmed has released a statement ordering a police operation "under the Terrorist Act against the extremists and the Hazaras for forcefully driving away the Christians and killing seven innocent people. We will not allow anyone to threaten the religious minorities. It is the duty of the state to protect the life and property of its people. The DPO has been instructed to arrest the culprits in 72 hours and submit a report or he will be suspended."For more information about Compass Direct News go to www.compassdirect.org
Friday, June 4, 2010 Pakistani Muslim Mob Attacks Christian Family
Attack Comes as a Result of a Thirteen-Year-Old Christian Refusing to Read the Qur’an By Dan Wooding
Founder of ASSIST Ministries
SMUNDRI, PAKISTAN(ANS) -- International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that on Friday, May 28, 2010, twelve heavily armed Muslim men attacked a pastor and his family in Smundri, Pakistan.
ICC says that Pastor Mubarak Masih and his family were assaulted after Shaid Masih, the pastor’s 13-year-old nephew, refused to read verses from the Qur’an (the Muslim holy book) despite pressure from his teacher.
“The Islamists beat the pastor’s head with sticks and rods; almost killed his brother when they shot him, grazing his head and causing a minor injury; and broke their mother’s left arm,” an ICC spokesperson told the ASSIST News Service (ANS).
In a statement to ICC, the family said that Zufair Gujhar, Shaid’s teacher, is a fundamentalist Muslim who routinely forces Christian students to read the Qur’an and other Islamic books. He pressures his Christian students to accept Islam.
Pastor Mubarak, a pastor of the Church of God, said, “We will continue our mission work at any cost and no one can stop us.”
The family reported the incident to the police but they have not yet taken any action against the alleged perpetrators.
ICC’s Regional Manager for South Asia, Jonathan Racho, said, “The violent attack against Pastor Mubarak and his family as well as the beating of Shaid for refusing to read the Qur’an is another demonstration of the dire situation in which Christians find themselves in Pakistan. We are saddened by the utter disregard of the rights of religious minorities in Pakistan.”
ICC has requested that people concerned about this situation, should contact the embassy of Pakistan in their country and ask the Pakistani officials to bring Zufair Gujhar and the other 12 perpetrators of this attack to justice.
Foreign Affairs Parliamentary Secretary Bob Dechert (left) with Prime Minister Stephen Harper, and International Christian Voice founder Peter Bhatti. Foreign Affairs Parliamentary Secretary Bob Dechert told a Parliamentary forum Apr. 2 an ambassador will be named soon to head the Office of Religious Freedom.
Thursday, November 17, 2011 
