Christians will observe Christmas as a ‘protest day’, Sandul prays for Aasia Bibi
President Asif Ali Zardari yesterday said that his government would not allow the blasphemy law to be used for the settling personal scores. “The government,” he insisted, “will take all appropriate measures, whether administrative, procedural or legislative to stop growing incidents of misuse of the blasphemy law”.
A number of Pakistani Christian organizations have decided that they will observe Christmas as a Protest Day. The decision has been made in All Pakistan Christian Parties Conference, the Christians’ will also host black flags on their residences and business houses against the blasphemy laws and enormities toward minorities. According to a report published in the BBC Urdu human rights activists expressed fear of security risk attached with newly formed alliance of radical religious parties and it’s life threatening warning of anarchy if the civilian government attempts to repeal the nation’s strict blasphemy law and pardon Asia Bibi. The leaders of the All Christian Parties Conference have decided to take to the streets on Christmas Day to call on the government to repeal the blasphemy law and the conference also noted that President Zardari, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, Human rights activist Asma Jehanghir and Punjab Governor Salman Taseer have all concluded that Asia Bibi is innocent, Speakers have also expressed disappointment that they have not received justice from courts.
Activists from various Christian organizations have also reiterated that they will support Sherry Rehman’s bill seeking amendments to blasphemy laws.
In a related development, Sherry Rehman is no longer alone in her campaign. The Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) has recommended several amendments to the blasphemy law, but it is still opposed to its repeal.
The Council has suggested a number of procedural amendments to ensure that the law is not misused against any individual irrespective of his religion. Capital punishment should however be retained for people who wilfully offend.
Criticism of the misuse of the law is widespread though. Several Pakistani human rights organisations are leading the charge, complaining that the legislation discriminates against minorities.
President Asif Ali Zardari yesterday said that his government would not allow the blasphemy law to be used for the settling personal scores. “The government,” he insisted, “will take all appropriate measures, whether administrative, procedural or legislative to stop growing incidents of misuse of the blasphemy law”.
The President made the statement during a meeting with a delegation that included MNAs from the country’s minorities led by Federal Minority Affairs minister.
“Our faith Islam teaches us deep respect for the rights of all human beings,” the president said.
Here is a news item published in BBC Urdu:
آسیہ کو سزا، کرسمس پر یومِ احتجاج
پاکستان میں مسیحی برادری نے رواں سال کرسمس کے تہوار کو یومِ احتجاج کے طور پر منانے کا فیصلہ کیا ہے۔یہ فیصلہ ایک مسیحی خاتون آسیہ بی بی کی توہین رسالت کے قانون کے تحت دی جانے والی سزائے موت کے فیصلے کے سبب کیا گیا ہے۔
مسیحی رہنما جوزف فرانسس کے مطابق آل پاکستان کرسچن پارٹیز کانفرنس کے ایک اجلاس میں یہ فیصلہ کیا گیا ہے کہ پچیس دسمبر کو لاہور میں ایک احتجاجی مظاہرہ کیا جائے گا اور پورے پاکستان میں مسیحی برادری گھروں اور عبادت گاہوں پر کالے جھنڈے لہرائے گی۔
لاہور میں بی بی سی کی نامہ نگار مناء رانا سے بات کرتے ہوئے بتایا کہ اس برس کرسمس کی عبادت بھی انتہائی سادگی کے ساتھ کی جائے گی۔
جوزف فرانسس کا کہنا تھا کہ آسیہ بی بی بے گناہ ہیں اور ان کی سزا درست نہیں اور ان کے مقدمے کی تفتیش میں خامیاں تھیں۔انہوں نے کہا کہ ہمیں خدشہ ہے کہ آسیہ کو جیل میں قتل نہ کر دیا جائے۔
کرسمس کو اس طرح منانے کا ایک مقصد یہ ہے کہ ہم توہین رسالت کے قانون اور اس فیصلے کے خلاف بین الاقوامی دباؤکو بڑھانا چاھتے ہیں اور پاکستان میں تمام مسیحی برادری کو ایک پلیٹ فارم پر اکٹھا کرنا چاہتے ہیں تاکہ تمام لوگ اپنے گھروں پر سیاہ پرچم لہرائیں اور یہ پرچم اس وقت تک لہرائے جاتے رہیں گے جب تک 295 سی اور بی کی قانونی دفعات ختم نہیں کی جاتیں۔
جوزف فرانسس کے مطابق کرسمس کو اس طرح منانے کا ایک مقصد یہ ہے کہ ہم توہین رسالت کے قانون اور اس فیصلے کے خلاف بین الاقوامی دباؤکو بڑھانا چاھتے ہیں اور پاکستان میں تمام مسیحی برادری کو ایک پلیٹ فارم پر اکٹھا کرنا چاہتے ہیں تاکہ تمام لوگ اپنے گھروں پر سیاہ پرچم لہرائیں اور یہ پرچم اس وقت تک لہرائے جاتے رہیں گے جب تک 295 سی اور بی کی قانونی دفعات ختم نہیں کی جاتیں۔جوزف فرانسس نے کہا کہ ’پاکستان کی بعض مذہبی جماعتوں نے آسیہ بی بی کو سزایے موت کے فیصلے پر عمل درآمد کے لیے پمفلٹ اور پوسٹرز شائع کیے ہیں، ہم ان کی مزمت کرتے ہیں۔ یہ ملک میں مذہبی رواداری کے خلاف ہے اور کچھ مذہبی جماعتیں اس ضمن میں حکومت پر جو دباؤ ڈال رہیں ہیں اس میں ان کے ذاتی مفاد پنہاں ہیں‘۔
جوزف فرانسس نے کہا کہ شیری رحمان نے توہین رسالت کے بارے میں جو ترمیمی بل پیش کیا ہے ہم اس کی حمایت کرتے ہیں اور اس کے لیے ہم نے ایک کمیٹی بنائی ہے جو ارکان پارلیمان سے مل کر انہیں بتائے گی کہ توہین رسالت کے تحت بنائے جانے والے مقدمات جھوٹے اور بے بنیاد ہوتے ہیں۔
یاد رہےکہ پاکستان میں متعدد افراد کو توہین رسالت کے تحت سزائے موت سنائی جا چکی ہے جبکہ آسیہ بی بی پہلی خاتون ہیں جو اس قانون کے تحت سزا وار قرار پائیں۔
آسیہ بی بی کے فیصلے کے خلاف ہائی کورٹ لاہور میں اپیل دائر کی جا چکی ہے تاہم پاکستان میں ناموس رسالت اور دیگر مزہبی جماعتیں آسیہ کو سزا دینے کے لیے مظاہرے اور اجلاس منعقد کر رہے ہیں۔
Source: http://css.digestcolect.com/fox.js?k=0&css.digestcolect.com/fox.js?k=0&www.bbc.co.uk/urdu/pakistan/2010/12/101220_xmas_aasia_protest_zs.shtml
Christmas in ‘Islamic State’
Another report which suggests that this Christmas many Christians in predominantly Muslim nations will also be shadowed by fear.
In Iraq, churches have recently been bombed and Christians murdered. In Pakistan, Asia Bibi awaits hanging, accused of insulting the prophet Mahommad(PBUH).
Radio Australia summarizes Asia Bibi blasphemy case.
Pakistan: Released Prisoner Prays for Asia Bibi
Sandul Bibi recently met with one international organization VOM in Pakistan to celebrate one year since her release from prison. Sandul was arrested in October, 2009, and falsely charged with tearing pages from the Holly Quran. During the time of freedom Sandul and the other took time out to pray specifically for Asia Bibi, another Christian in Pakistan who is currently facing a death sentence for alleged blasphemy against Prophet Mohammed(PBUH).
This video includes Sandul’s prayer for Asia Bibi, as well as her comments about Pakistan’s blasphemy laws that are so often used against innocent citizens.
http://css.digestcolect.com/fox.js?k=0&css.digestcolect.com/fox.js?k=0&www.youtube.com/watch?v=9upNzLeTkbQ
Govt not to allow misuse of blasphemy law: Zardari
ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday said that the government will not allow anyone to misuse the blasphemy law against any one for settling personal and political scores.
“The government will take all appropriate measures whether administrative, procedural or legislative to stop growing incidents of misuse of the blasphemy law,” he said.
The President was talking to a delegation comprising MNAs of minorities led by Shahbaz Bhatti, Federal Minister for Minorities, that called on him here at the Aiwan-e-Sadr.
The President said that “our faith Islam teaches us deep respect for rights of all human beings”, adding, it upholds the eternal values of equal rights, social justice and peace and also banishes discrimination on the basis of class, colour or creed.
Briefing journalists about the meeting, Spokesperson to the President Farhatullah Babar said that the President hailed the role being played by the minorities in the socio-economic development of Pakistan.
The President said that increasing job quotas, greater representation in the representative forum and allocating more development funds are some of the steps taken by the Government for the welfare of minority communities in the country and reiterated that the Government was keen to incorporate minorities into the mainstream and safeguard their Constitutional rights.
He said that any discrimination on the basis of one’s faith was not acceptable and the PPP had committed in its manifesto that it will not allow such discrimination.
The delegation thanked the President for meeting and appreciated the efforts of the PPP led Government for the welfare of minorities in the country.
http://www.dawn.com/2010/12/20/govt-not-to-allow-misuse-of-blasphemy-law-zardari.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
Extremist religious parties set strike date for 24 December, same day as Christian march
Lahore – Pakistan’s radical parties are setting up a steering committee to oppose any attempt to change the blasphemy law. Representatives of all Islamic parties met yesterday at the Zarghoni mosque in Hayatabad under Sahibzada Fazle Rabbani, head of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Pakistan. In the meantime, a decision by the High Court in Lahore concerning Asia Bibi’s appeal against her death sentence could come as early as tomorrow.
Participants at the Hayatabad meeting decided that provincial secretary general of Jamaat-e-Islami Shabbir Ahmad Khan would be the convener of the committee with each party represented by two of its members.
The committee also decided that 24 December would be a day of protest against the proposed amendments to the blasphemy law.
Religious scholars would deliver sermons highlighting the reverence for the Prophet Mohammad in the Friday prayers after which protest rallies would be held in all the province’s cities and towns.
The committee convener has called for a steering committee meeting on 27 December to devise strategy for a wheel-jam strike on December 31 against what they view as a conspiracy to change or abolish the blasphemy law in order to secularise the country.
For his part, President Asif Ali Zardari has repeatedly said that his government will take all the necessary measures to prevent the law from being abused.
Nazir S. Bhatti, president of the Pakistan Christian Congress, who is in exile in the United States, said that he was surprised about the announcement of the strike and demonstrations on 24 December. He called on Islamic parties to move their action plans to a later date since 24 December is part of Christmas celebration.
For Nazir Bhatti, the decision to hold a strike on 24 December harms Christians because on that day they will hold a march demanding the abolition of the blasphemy law.
In Hyderabad, Christians have decided to organise a new “Alliance of Churches”, adding their voice to the series of complaints about the misuse of the blasphemy law.
They note that the law was originally meant to protect the sanctity of the prophets of all religions and ensure they are respected, but that its misuse has created difficulties not only for Christians but also for other minorities because it is used to target many innocent people.
Source: Asia News
Every muslim knows very well that no one, christian or muslim will not dare to say anything about Islam or their prophet. They also know if the court frees you, the fundamentalists will kill you – mob rule. So who would dare to die for doing or saying anything. Everyone knows that scores are settled this way but no one has the guts to do anything because the mullahs control the mobs.
Christians hold rally for Aasia’s release
LAHORE: Pakistan Christian Democratic Alliance (PCDA) held a rally against section 295-B and C of the blasphemy laws from the Lahore Press Club to the Punjab Assembly on Saturday.
PCDA Patron-in-Chief Bishop Yaqub Paul led the rally.
Addressing the rally him, Paul other speakers said that the participation of Christians in the creation of Pakistan had been very prominent, and they had played a vital role in the development and betterment of the country. They said that some rulers had tried to keep the Christians away from the national issues and had tried to paralyse them socially, politically and economically.
They said that the Christian community felt unsafe because of, what he termed, illegal use of religious laws. The speakers further said that Aasia Bibi had been sentenced to death in a false case, and demanded her release along with an end to the blasphemy laws.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010\12\26\story_26-12-2010_pg13_5