Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Pakistani Christians Sentenced to Life Imprisonment for Defiling Qur'ans

Can any Muslim point out a pure Christian government that imprisons Muslims for handling the Bible incorrectly.

In Islamic countries (such as Pakistan) Muslims imply such harshness toward Christians:

Munir Masih and Ruqqiya Bibi are convicted on the basis of the blasphemy law. In January, they were released on bail; now they are in two separate prison facilities. Extremist fringe put pressure, and perhaps corrupted police to find the right evidence to justify the conviction.

Islamabad (AsiaNews) – A court in Kasur district, Punjab, convicted a Christian couple, Munir Masih and Ruqqiya Bibi, to 25 years in prison. According to the Centre for Legal Aid Assistance and Settlement (CLAAS), judge Ajmal Hussein convicted the couple for touching the Qur‘an without washing their hands.

Munir Masih and Ruqqiya Bibi were released on bail last January, but were re-arrested after the judge ruled against them. The husband was locked up in Kasur’s district prison; the wife was sent to the women’s prison in Multan. Both have started serving 25 years behind bars.

CLAAS, an association that fights for the rights of the poor and marginalised, said that the couple was accused of “contaminating” the Qur‘an when they touched it “without washing their hands”.

The incident, which dates back to December 2008, unleashed the fury of Muslim extremists who put pressure on police. Unconfirmed reports suggest that extremists paid off police agents to discover “new evidence” to justify the sentence.

At the end of the police investigation, husband and wife were charged with blasphemy.

The blasphemy law is the harshest tool for religious repression available in Pakistan. It was adopted in 1986 by then dictator Zia ul-Haq to protect Islam and its prophet, Muhammad, from attacks and insults.

In fact, it is actually comprised of sections 295-B and 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code, which respectively punish with life in prison anyone who defiles, damages or desecrates a copy of the Holy Qur‘an, and imposes the death penalty on anyone who defiles the name of the Prophet Muhammad.

In the last two months, there were two more convictions against Christians in Pakistan.

On 11 January, a court in Faisalabad sentenced Imran Masih, a 26-year-old Christian man, to life imprisonment for insulting and desecrating the Koran. He was accused of deliberately burning Qur‘anic verses and an Arabic book in order “foment interfaith hatred and hurt the feelings of Muslims.”

On 25 February, a court in Karachi sentenced Qamar David, also a Christian, to life imprisonment for hurting the religious feelings of Muslims when he sent blasphemous SMS.

CLAAS announced that it was filing an appeal with the High Court in Lahore to have the 25-year sentence against Munir Masih and Ruqqiya Bibi overturned.

http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Punjab:-Christian-couple-touches-Qur%E2%80%98an-with-dirty-hands,-gets-25-years-in-prison-17778.html

Does anyone have a clue to the extent of torture and pain these two will have to undergo at the moment and will suffer for the next 25 years? One of my Pakistani friends who sat in a Pakistani jail for a few months due to his faith and being accused of uttering his opinion was beaten continually, burned with hot iron, held in ice cold water for hours, finally the maulvies opened this belly.

If a Muslim was held in jail by a Western goverment for defiling the Bible try to imagine the media reaction and the all the Muslims rioting against Western suppression and islamophobia.

12 comments:

hugh watt said...

Reminds me of Daniel Scott, a Pakistani Christian who was the first person to have a case registered against him under Section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code, a section which deals with the crime of "defiling" the name of Muhammad. This section had been added to the Pakistan Penal Code in 1986, at which time the punishment specified was life imprisonment or death, as well as a fine. Now there is a mandatory death sentence. All his life Daniel has been courageously outspoken about his faith, which often antagonised the Muslims around him when he lived in Pakistan. In 1986 the council of the college where he taught called him before them and asked him to give up preaching Christianity and become a Muslim. Not unlike what happened to the early church. Daniel refused to reject his Savior Jesus Christ and in the course of discussions he argued that Muhammad could not save him, supporting his assertion with quotes from the Bible, the Quran and other Islamic sources. As a result a case was filed against him in Sept' 1986 under Section 295-C. He fled and went to anther country where he and anther Christian Danny Nalliah were found guilty under the Racial and Religious Tolerance Act just for holding a seminar they ran for Christians on the subject of Islam!
These incidents are becoming all to frequent, and not just in Pakistan

IslamSINS said...

Our adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. He is feasting on the souls of Muslims, having great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time.

minoria said...

Completely disgusted by such evil.But I have faith Islam will soon collapse.If Ali Sina is right these violent outbursts are the last dying gasps of the system.Intelligent people in the Muslim world are losing their faith more and more each day.

ned said...

Well thats a sorry news but in that part of the world that's the reality under which minorities especially christians live in. In the west where muslims come and live and are given opportunities to dwell, actually belong to this kind of horrible backgrounds. The blasphemy cases are 99.9% false and are just outcome of some other evil motives. Judiciary, law enforcement and politics are one in crushing christians to the extent that they would not care for the innocent. I say this cause if it is otherwise then why dont they dismiss 295-C.
Christian in that part of the world can never dare to blaspheme but are always threatened. Here muslims act as ring leaders of peace and tolerance which actually is absent cause quran does not give them that spirit. The come and play with the westren values to gain space before they bring out their real agenda of persecution and intolerance.
I pray for all christians who suffer for the name of Jesus, indeed they are blessed. No matter how stringent muslims act they should know that every knee shall bow down before the name of Jesus. Not the Jesus they claim but the real one Who dies for the sins of the world and Who is The Light and The Way.
I pray to God in Jesus name to rise up and support the cause of the oppressed in this case and all others who suffer like this.

Ned

Sepher Shalom said...

"Pakistani Christians Sentenced to Life Imprisonment for Defiling Qur'ans"

I'm more worried about the Quran defiling the minds of Pakistani Muslims.

May our Savior and Messiah strengthen and protect our brothers and sisters in Pakistan.

Anonymous said...

Touching a Koran with unwashed hands is blasphemy? My God! Pakistan seriously needs to move towards some semblance of secular government sometime soon otherwise such persecution of Christians under the guise of "blasphemy laws" will continue.

hugh watt said...

Ned, Amen to that.

FUNDAmental SKILLS said...

I am new to his site and blog, and would really like to know what the Muslim explanation for the continuous harassment and false accusations against Christians in Pakistan is. I visit Pakistan regularly, work with Pakistanis where I am, and know that these are no trumped-up stories.
What could possibly justify the spiteful, primitive use of the same lame accusation against people who cannot defend themselves because of the social system? And why will Muslims not take responsibility for the actions of other Muslims? I have yet to see someone condemn those actions online. The response would probably be: "I cannot remark on the pain of those people but happy to respond on other topics"?

hugh watt said...

Hello Heidi. Sadly Muslims in Pakistan will side with the zealots otherwise they may be targeted themselves. In non-Islamic countries they often evade the subject and would rather talk about what's happening to Muslims elsewhere. The 'blasphemy law' is so evil and can easily be abused. The authorities have a big problem to deal with, if they try to change it too much the Islamist groups may turn on them.

koe61831 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
whome2249 said...

The Quran, with its profound teachings, serves as a source of inspiration, promoting compassion, peace, and moral guidance. Its eloquent verses encourage reflection, fostering a deep connection with spirituality and humanity. The timeless wisdom within the Quran resonates with people worldwide, fostering understanding and unity.

SkyeSweet1276 said...

Hello everyone, I came across a fantastic resource that beautifully captures the diversity within Muslim communities. The Depositphotos leads to a collection of images showcasing the rich tapestry of Muslim life (muslim man images). In light of our discussion on Pakistani Christians, it's essential to appreciate the varied perspectives within the Muslim world. These images reflect the daily lives of Muslim individuals, emphasizing the importance of understanding and embracing diversity. Let's strive for a world where discussions like ours promote unity and respect for all communities. Feel free to explore the images and share your thoughts on the multifaceted nature of Muslim culture.