Posted on May 9, 2014 by beenasarwar
On April 21 evening, Supreme Court advocate Rashid Rehman Khan in Multan sent this note below to an email list with the subject line, “media campaign by vampires”. He included scans of a report in that day’s daily Khabrain about a press conference by Tehrik-e-Tahafuz-e-Namoos-e-Risalat (Movement to Protect the Honour of the Prophethood), where speakers objected to his attempts to move the case of a ‘blasphemy’ accused teacher whom he was defending, out of Multan. It was also after a media campaign against him that the Governor of Punjab Salmaan Taseer was murdered.
Continue reading →
Filed under: Blasphemy Laws, Human rights | Tagged: blasphemy, media campaign, Pakistan, Rashid Rehman, threatened | 3 Comments »
Posted on May 8, 2014 by beenasarwar
Heard the terrible news a few hours ago that the courageous Multan-based advocate Rashid Rehman Khan of Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has been shot dead in Multan. Criminal cowards barged into his chamber and opened fire, killing him and injuring two others. He had been under threat for some time for defending a blasphemy accused, but refused to back down. More ominously, no protection was provided to him – although given the climate in Pakistan, any lawyer taking up a blasphemy case should be given 24-hour protection. Continue reading →
Filed under: Blasphemy Laws, Human rights | Tagged: blasphemy, HRCP, Human rights, Pakistan, Rashid Rehman, rashid rehman advocate multan | 2 Comments »
Posted on March 13, 2013 by beenasarwar
This family refuse a tent so they can squat in front of their home. Photo: Nadia Jamil
In the midst of the despair and anger caused by the insane, cold-blooded attack on the Christians of Joseph Colony (also known as Esa Nagri), in Badami Bagh Lahore, it is heartening to see Pakistanis come together not just to unequivocally condemn the attack, but also to help those who have lost everything. Please join this effort. Friends that I trust are working with the Cecil and Iris Chaudhry Foundation, run by Cecil and Michelle, whose father the late Sqdn Ldr Cecil Chaudhry I knew as a wonderful human being, and a dedicated peace activist and educationist (although he was more famous for being a war hero). Please see below for information on how to help, as well as photos and updates. Continue reading →
Filed under: Blasphemy Laws, Human rights | Tagged: Badami Bagh, Caritas, Cecil Choudhry, donate, help the affected, Joseph Colony, Lahore, Nadia Jamil | Leave a comment »
Posted on March 10, 2013 by beenasarwar
@Norbalm: Where are the blasphemy charges now?
“Howl, howl, howl, howl! O, you are men of stones:
Had I your tongues and eyes, I’d use them so
That heaven’s vault should crack…”
King Lear
See this brief, heartbreaking video below documenting the damage done by the criminal mob at Joseph Colony, Badami Bagh, Lahore. All efforts must be made to rehabilitate them and provide them with justice. When is enough enough? Or have we still not reached the breaking point? Also see my earlier article on the ‘blasphemy’ laws and the dangers of ignoring malicious intent when accusing someone of this crime.
Joseph Colony Arson Attack from
Saad Sarfraz Sheikh on
Vimeo.
Filed under: Blasphemy Laws | Tagged: Badami Bagh, blasphemy, Christians attacked, Joseph Colony, Lahore | 2 Comments »
Posted on March 10, 2013 by beenasarwar
Demonstration in Karachi against the attack on Christians’ homes in Lahore. AP Photo/Fareed Khan
Another day, another bout of madness in Pakistan. On Saturday, a mob torched Christian houses in Joseph Colony in the Badami Bagh area of Lahore, after allegations of ‘blasphemy’ against one of its residents. This was clearly no spontaneous ‘riot’ but a well-planned and orchestrated move. Because of the warnings received ahead of time, the residents were evacuated so that there was no loss of life (though the alleged blasphemer’s 65-year old father was beaten up). Small mercies.
Locals say that the land mafia was behind this attack. No surprise. Malafide motives (property, debt, rivalry etc) have been behind all accusations of ‘blasphemy’ investigated so far. Continue reading →
Filed under: Blasphemy Laws | Tagged: Badami Bagh, blasphemy law, Christians attacked, Joseph Colony, Lahore, land mafia, Pakistan | 3 Comments »
Posted on November 26, 2012 by beenasarwar
Shaheen Dada (left) and Renu Srinivasan were arrested last Monday, seen here leaving a court in Mumbai on Nov 20, 2012. AP photo
Some thoughts on ‘blasphemy’ and the issue of ‘injuring religious sentiments’, in this blog post, which includes ‘Malicious Intent’, an article I wrote for The New Humanist on the blasphemy issue (original article below including references deleted from the published piece for reasons of space). Since then, in a move that was widely welcomed, the Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court quashed the First Information Report (FIR) of the “blasphemy” case registered against the minor Christian girl Rimsha Masih. Here is the link to a downloadable PDF copy of the judgment, dated Nov 14, 2012 – IHC verdict on the Rimsha case. Continue reading →
Filed under: Blasphemy Laws | Tagged: aasia bibi, Bal Thackeray, blasphemy, facebook arrests, India, Indian Rationalists, M. F. Hussain, Pakistan, rimsha masih, salamat masih, Shiv Sena | 11 Comments »
Posted on September 27, 2012 by beenasarwar
This blog post is not about the violence and mayhem let loose in Pakistan to protest the anti-Islam film made by some fanatics. The destruction caused by the protestors in the name of love for the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) last Friday was televised for the world to see. This post is about what some people, mostly youth, are doing to counter such madness.
Horrified at the destruction and violence, some youngsters decided to actually DO something beyond sitting around and complaining about the protestors and their criminal activities: “The idea is simple, just get out on the streets and roads, use whatever resources you can to clean up the mess created by these riots. This is a national thing, and it would be great if people in every city of Pakistan join in!” Continue reading →
Filed under: Blasphemy Laws, Peace | Tagged: #projectcleanupforpeace, #rebuildmardanchurch, Activism, anti-Islam film, Mardan church, Pakistan | 2 Comments »
Posted on September 6, 2012 by beenasarwar
1993 – May 11: Salamat Masih, a 14-year-old Christian boy, was named as the main accused in a case lodged by the imam of the mosque at Ratta Dhotran, district Gujranwala, Punjab, Pakistan. It was alleged that Salamat had written derogatory remarks about the Prophet Muhammad (SW) on the mosque walls and thrown slips of paper with similar language written on them into the mosque. Salamat’s father Rehmat Masih and uncle Manzoor Masih were co-accused. Manzoor Masih and Salamat Masih were illiterate. A sessions court sentenced them to death but the high court later acquitted them. Manzoor Masih was shot dead during the hearings, and the High Court Judge, Arif Iqbal Bhatti, who acquitted them, was also later shot dead. Salamat Masih and Rehmat Masih had to flee the country.
For a list of more cases see Incidents of minors in Pakistan accused of ‘blasphemy’ at the Citizens for Democracy blog
Filed under: Blasphemy Laws | Tagged: blasphemy, cfd, Pakistan, rimsha, salamat masih | Leave a comment »
Posted on August 26, 2012 by beenasarwar
People of all ages and from all faiths came out in Karachi in support of Rimsha Masih, the young girl accused of blasphemy. For more photos see the Christians in Pakistan facebook page. Photo Copyright © Sunny Gill Photography.
Filed under: Blasphemy Laws | Tagged: 295-C, Activism, blasphemy, Pakistan, rimsha masih | Leave a comment »
Posted on August 25, 2012 by beenasarwar
Posted by Citizens for Democracy: LAHORE protest against blasphemy charges and detention of Rimsha Masih: Join us in solidarity on 25 August 2012; Time: 4 pm. Venue: Youhanabad, Ferozepur Road, Lahore – from: Life for All Pakistan and Masihi Foundation Pakistan.
In my view, it doesn’t matter how old she is or whether she’s got Downs Syndrome or not. There must be a stop to charging & demanding death for anyone accused of ‘blasphemy’.
Filed under: Blasphemy Laws | Tagged: blasphemy accused, Pakistan, rimsha masih | 2 Comments »
Journeys to democracy 