Pakistan Radio Broadcast Battle; Mother's Day in solitude for Asia Bibi, between pain and hope

ASIA/PAKISTAN-Post Bin Laden: radio broadcast battle between " propaganda of hatred" and "propaganda of peace"

Islamabad (Agenzia Fides) - There are radio stations that fuel religious hatred and terrorist propaganda and those who combine their efforts to send messages of peace, dialogue and harmony: it is through radio broadcast that divisions and different ideological orientations that exist in the Pakistani society are clearly revealed. The society is split between those who praise Bin Laden as a "martyr" or "hero", and those who believe in peace and the common good, in a secular, tolerant and harmonious nation. All of them have given birth to the radio network "Radio Partnership for Peace", the first initiative of its kind in Asia.
The radio, says Fr. John Nadeem Shakir, director of Radio Veritas in Urdu and Secretary of the Commission for Social Communications of the Episcopal Conference to Fides, "is one of the main means of communication in shaping public opinion and influencing trends in society, also because 65% of the Pakistan society is composed of young people under 25, large radio users listeners. It is important to spread values such as peace and harmony by radio. "
The radio is still the favourite means of Taliban groups to impose their ideological propaganda and their restrictive view of Islam, and to threaten and intimidate the population, especially in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and tribal areas. It is regularly used by groups such as "Lashkar-e-Islam" and people such as Mullah Fazlullah, known as the "Radio Mullah" for its frequent radio interventions, imbued with religious hatred and anti-government propaganda, broadcast by a local radio station in the valley of Swat, where the Taliban groups have established a real "absolute reign."
In response to this use of the radio instrument, more than 60 radio stations in Pakistan, of different inspirations, have come together and formed the project " Radio Partnership for Peace , gradually including more than 130 radio stations throughout the country. Radios deal with 150 talk programs and in-depth examination are discussing the implications of the "after Bin Laden" shared with a vision of peace, dialogue and tolerance, which aim at creating harmony and defusing the existing tensions in society. The propaganda of peace, as opposed to the propaganda of hatred by extremist Islamic groups, runs via air in the region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, in Punjab and Beluchistan, thanks to many people of good will from all religions, who seek to expose the Taliban propaganda .
In the network "Radio Partnership for Peace" there are independent radios, radio organizations and civil society groups, university radio, community radios, radios which receive funds from the government, stations belonging to religious communities, the Catholic radio station "Radio Veritas" in Urdu: in a statement sent to Fides, the radios say that they desire to commit themselves, in this delicate stage in the history of the country, "to broadcasting programs that contribute to human development in the country, promoting peace, education for young people, according to values of peace and justice. " It also intends to "contrast the religious fundamentalism", thanks to the project of a web site of the network, which would allow listeners to listen to the radio contents "on demand". The radios call for a revision regarding the restrictions recently imposed by the government which, with a general order, has banned all radio stations to broadcast news, just with the aim to combat extremist propaganda. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 05/07/2011)

ASIA/PAKISTAN-Mother's Day in solitude for Asia Bibi, between pain and hope

Lahore (Fides Service) - The pain of a mother who cannot embrace her children, prayer and trust in God, with the hope of salvation and freedom: with these feelings Asia Bibi - the Pakistani Christian woman sentenced to death unjustly for blasphemy - is about to get ready to live "Mother's Day", which is celebrated tomorrow, May 8, worldwide. As reported to Fides by the "Masihi Foundation, an organization that deals with legal aid to women and the protection of her family, Asia has recently received the visit of her youngest daughter (Eshum, 10 years), who brought her a bouquet of flowers, the love and affection of all the brothers. It was a moving moment, and Asia experienced the meeting in tears. The woman, these days, feels very lonely and longs to meet her family. Another situation at heart: one of Asia`s sons, Imran Masih, is engaged and wants to get married, but would like the presence of his mother at the wedding.
Asia`s family, informs the "Masihi Foundation", continues their protected life from prying eyes, trusting in the work of the woman`s lawyers. Asia, in the meanwhile, has received in recent weeks, medicine to cure her chicken pox, and after the Lenten fast, she started eating again. Her psychological conditions oscillate between despair and the pain of an innocent life as a prisoner, and prayer that always leads her to trust in the providence of God. The initiative of the Special Day of prayer for her (see Fides 20/4/2011 ) has heartened and encouraged her, knowing that many people in the world are praying for her salvation.
Meanwhile, in the context of the general situation in Pakistan, public attention is focused on the political implications of "post-Bin Laden" and the case of Asia Bibi seems to have disappeared from the chronicles and the debates. This, sources of Fides observes, allow lawyers more leeway, legally, without suffering too much pressure from radical groups. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 05/07/2011)

 

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