Bounty on Asia Bibi, we need to prosecute imams: letter from the bishops and politicians in the government

ASIA/PAKISTAN - 

Islamabad (Agenzia Fides) - In a letter to the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Yousaf Raza Gilani, the Bishops, political leaders and representatives of civil society in Pakistan write: prosecute the imam who put a bounty on Asia Bibi; abolish or amend the law on blasphemy, injustice and discrimination; stop the abuses; and promote the rights of minorities in accordance with the Constitution of Pakistan.

The letter, received by Fides, is signed by the Catholic Bishops: Bishop Anthony Rufin (Islamabad), Secretary of the Episcopal Conference, Bishop Joseph Coutts (Faisalabad), Bishop Andrew Francis (Multan), Bishop Max John Rodriguez (Hyderabad), Bishop Sebastian Shaw (Auxiliary of Lahore). Bringing with them the signatures of other Bishops and leaders of other Christian communities, as well as leader of Sikhs, Hindus and Baha'is, and of Khalid Masood, leader of the Council of Islamic Ideology of Pakistan. In addition, several members of the Parliament of Punjab, some judges, lawyers, military and civil society representatives, all who are Muslim, have signed.
The letter cites the case of Asia Bibi and demands the immediate prosecution of imam Yusef Qureshi of Peshawar who has promised 500,000 rupees (around € 4,500) to anyone who kills Asia Bibi, noting that this is contrary to the laws and the rule of law.
The text recalls the religious harmony that prevailed in the country before the promulgation of the law, promoted by the dictator Zia in 1986, noting that between 1947 (the date of the founding of Pakistan) and 1985 there were no allegations of blasphemy.
The letter was issued on the conclusion of a meeting held in Islamabad in recent days by the “All Pakistam Minorities Alliance”, which brought together religious leaders, parliamentarians, lawyers and members of civil society, under the leadership of Minister for Religious Minorities, Shabhaz Bhatti and with the participation of Minister for Human Rights, Mumtaz Alam Gilani. The meeting stressed the negative impact on Pakistani society for the abuse of the blasphemy law, appreciating the position of President Ali Zardari, who agreed to change it.
Meanwhile, radical Islamic groups, such as the “Jaamat-e-Islami”, the “Jammiat Ulema-e-Islam” and others who met in recent days in Rawalpindi, announced the launch of a national campaign and a global strategy, made up of advertisements, appeals, conferences, sit-ins and demonstrations, “to defend the sanctity of the Prophet Muhammad and prevent any amendment to the blasphemy law.” 

 Blasphemy in a “frenzy”: a Muslim doctor incriminated

Hyderabad (Agenzia Fides) - Shock and protest reign in the Pakistani civil society. Naushad Valyani, a Muslim doctor in Hyderabad (Sindh province) was arrested for blasphemy in the last few days. His crime is to have snatched and thrown in the trash business cards from a sales representative, named Mohammad, who proposed the purchase of certain drugs. “This fact is totally illogical. It is a perfect example of how the blasphemy law is exploited for personal vendettas,” Father Robert McCulloch, a missionary of St Columba in Hyderabad and administrator of St Elizabeth Hospital told Fides.
The case was raised by Mohammad Faizan, representative of a well-known multinational pharmaceutical company, against the doctor who belongs to the Ismaili Muslim community. When Faizan realized that the doctor was not going to give him attention, and that he threw his card away on which is written the name of the Prophet Mohammad, he accused him of blasphemy. His suit is supported by other representatives of pharmaceutical companies that have staged a protest calling for the indictment of the doctor for blasphemy. Some police officers registered the complaint and arrested him.
Civil society is shocked by the level reached in the abuse of the blasphemy law: “99% of Muslim citizens are named Mohammad. So then we commit the crime of blasphemy every time a newspaper page or any written text that contains the name is destroyed?” This is the question posed to Fides by some human rights activists. “This is simply absurd. If this goes ahead, the nation will collapse into a sectarian disaster. This episode should make us reflect and may help the Government to propose a major change in the law,” they said.
Several organizations working for human rights demand the immediate release of the doctor, asking the drug companies not to exploit the incident, not to use blasphemy as a form of pressure on doctors and to drop the charges.
“The public has begun to understand and share the urgency to amend the blasphemy law. But the fundamentalist groups that support it are still very strong and threaten with violence and anarchy. Even the courts are terrified. The continuity of the law is guaranteed today by the culture of violence that has spread throughout the country,” Fr McCulloch told Fides.
Moreover, in the case of Dr Valyani, there is also an attempt to hit the Ismaili Muslim community, a minority religious sect of Shiite origin, which brings together the followers of the seventh imam Ismail. The spiritual leader of the Ismaili community of reference is the Agha Khan, known Persian religious leader who lived in the nineteenth century. 

 

 Islamic radicals: a Christmas protest against Asia Bibi, for “the honour of the Prophet”

Islamabad (Agenzia Fides) - It promises to be a difficult Christmas for the Christian community in Pakistan. An alliance among radical Islamic groups - which includes religious parties, Islamic movements, organizations allied with terrorist groups - has called a large mass national demonstration entitled Namos-e-risalat, that is, defending the honour of the Prophet Muhammad on 24 December, after Friday prayers, to say “no” to the release of Asia Bibi and any changes to the blasphemy law. The alliance has called on the “ummah” (Islamic community) in all the world, demanding universal support in the defence of the Prophet. Moreover, the radical leaders say: “Asia Bibi is a blasphemous woman and should be repudiated by Christians. Anyone who defends her, an ordinary citizen, politician or Minister, is guilty of blasphemy along with her.”

Local sources speaking to Fides referred to the fear that the initiative, obviously provocative, may degenerate into open violence and attacks against Christians. The Commission for Justice and Peace of the Bishops of Pakistan expressed to Fides “great concern at the increasing tension, at the possible outcomes of the protest and the situation in which religious minorities may be, especially Christians.”

“It touches upon one of the most sensitive keys to the Islamic religion, a matter of great emotional impact: to interpret the desire for the revision of the blasphemy laws as an attempt to dishonour the Prophet means to foment hatred and religious conflict. Christians have repeatedly stressed the desire for harmony and peace, and the desire to avoid the abuses that this legislation permits” explain Fides sources.

Worrying religious minorities above all is the newfound unity of many political parties and Islamic movements, which have recalled their militants. Among the promoters are “Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam-F” (left out recently by the team of Government) with leader, Fazl-ur-Rehman, “Jaamat-e-Islami,” “Jammat Ahle Sunnat”, but also “Jamaat ul Dawa”, the Islamic humanitarian organization, expression of the terrorist group “Lashakr-e tayyba” and many other smaller groups.

The event will also put pressure on the Federal Parliament, which in those days could examine the parliamentary motion presented by Sherry Rehman, who is proposing substantial changes to the blasphemy law (see Fides 26/11/2010). Following afterwards will be a general strike on 31 December - on which all workers of Islamic faith will be called to stop work - and a public meeting in Karachi on 9 January, 2011.

Fides sources explain that during the time of Christmas, the climate in the Islamic community is already tense; a few days later is “ashura”, the holy day which commemorates the martyrdom of the imam, Hussein, grandson of the Prophet. The day - a celebration for the Sunnis, mourning for the Shiites - is often a harbinger of clashes between the two communities. It is likely now that the latent aggression may be directed toward Christians, who are waging a campaign for legality, human rights and religious freedom.

Meanwhile, the Christian Pastor, Samson Dilawar, who visited Asia Bibi in jail in recent days to bring her assistance and spiritual comfort, has received death threats and has confirmed to Fides that Asia “is in grave danger for her life in prison.”

 (PA) (Agenzia Fides 16/12/2010)

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