Persecution Index 10: Pakistan

Some extremists in Pakistan are calling for a Christian doctor to be hanged publicly for blasphemy, according to a news story on Persecution.org. Dr Robin Sarder was charged ten days ago with violating Pakistan's blasphemy laws. A Muslim who he had been friends with for many years, but who according to the story became jealous of his professional success, told police he had made derogatory comments about the Prophet Mohammed's beard and about the Koran. After the complaint was lodged against him, a crowd of 200 Muslims wearing green turbans, a sign of orthodoxy, attacked his clinic and home. Observers say that if the police hat not intervened, he would have been killed. He is currently being held in jail. The Roman Catholic Church, through its organisation the National Commission for Justice and Peace, has taken up his case. You can email the embassy here on his behalf. Fifteen people have been accused of blasphemy in Pakistan so far this year. Dr Sardar is the only Christian to be so accused. In 1998, Bishop John Joseph , the Catholic bishop of Faisalabad, committed suicide in a protest against Pakistan's draconian blasphemy laws, introduced in 1986. The pic here comes from a BBC report of Christians demonstrating against the laws.

Comments

[Rick Beekman]

Kate;
Thank you for your kind support. Actually I could care less what the Muslims think or being "politicly correct". Christians better take a stand for their beleifs as Muslims do.
We serve The real God..Not the Moon God..Allah.

The Bible teaches; "If God be for us..who can be against us"? That's good enough for me!

[jan]

I wonder if there's any chance you could check this out Ruth on your persecution index.
I'm sure your Charles Bremner could help with any translation needed!
http://www.lefigaro.fr/international/2008/05/21/01003-20080521ARTFIG00017-une-offensive-antichretienneen-algerie.php

Le tribunal correctionnel de Tiaret a abrité, mardi, un procès surréaliste. L'accusée, Habiba Kouider, une chrétienne de 37 ans, est éducatrice dans une crèche. Elle comparaît pour détention de livres religieux, un délit passible de ­prison depuis l'adoption, en février 2006, de la loi qui régle­mente «les cultes non musulmans».

Depuis janvier 2008, les procès pour «délit de chrétienté» se sont multipliés

[Kate]

Syed Muhammad Shahbaz - Your comments illustrate perfectly the irrational nature of your religion: supercilious absolutism hedged around by paranoia.

Rick Beekman - I applaud the rationality of your argument BUT, you know as well as I, Islam allows no dissent, no logic, no validity to the beliefs of Infidels or Jews.

[Rick Beekman]

Syed;
Ms. Gledhill provides a great service for us. She does her job well and we learn things here we normally do not see in the Mainstream Media. If your so sensitive then so be it
The rest of us enjoy it.

[Rick Beekman]

Syed Muhammed Shahbaz;

Let me pose a Few more Thoughts.

Jesus May be a "Prophet" to the Muslims but To Christians He Is God Almighty.
John 1 V 1 & 14; "In The beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word Was God." v 14 "And the Word was made Flesh (Jesus) and dwelt among us and we beheld his Glory..."

1 Timothy 3 V 16; "And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness; God was manifest IN THE FLESH Justified in the Spirit seen of angels preached unto the Gentiles believed on in the world..received up into Glory."

So Syed unless "Allah" did the exact same thing as you just read he could not possibly be God.

Syed Please Remember Your Muslim Religion Started Centuries After Jesus Christ (God Incarnate) Died On The Cross For Everyone's Sins And Went back to heaven. God The Spirit Never died since you cannot kill a Spirit..The Only Human Flesh of God Died That Day.

So When The Muslim Community Claims They Were Blasphemied by some situation..Remember Syed Everytime you call Jesus a Mere "Prophet" You folks Blaspheme Christians worldwide.

Do You See Christians Screaming For Revenge About You Folks Calling Jesus Just A Prophet?

Here is What Apostle Paul Stated; Galatians 1 V 8; "But though we..or an angel from heaven..preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you..let him be accursed".

Remember this the next time The Muslims get upset about "Blasphemy" Syed. Have a Great Day..Remember Jesus Still Loves You...

[Syed Muhammad Shahbaz]

Ms. Ruth Gledhill,

What would you do if I start swearing everyone here or may be just you? I am sure you will find it quiet unpleasant and may be you will take some actions against me. The same thing is happening in the above case. The accused doctor abused a religious personality, which hurt many Muslims. As a result, they took certain actions. The point is who has given you the right to abuse some other religion's personalities? We Muslims never abused Prophet Jesus PBUH. We respect him just as we respect Prophet Muhammad PBUH because he is also a messenger of Allah and Prophet Muhammad PBUH has told us to respect all the messengers of Allah.
As far as blasphemy law in Pakistan is concerned, every country has its laws and Pakistan being an Islamic state has this blasphemy law. Every resident of Pakistan, no matter of what religion, must abide by the laws prevailing in Pakistan.

Regards,

Syed Muhammad Shahbaz

[Dr. Irene Lancaster FRSA]

This is my latest blog on a morning spent with the BBC, discussing the celebrations due to be held in Manchester on June 29th (in tandem with similar ones in London).

Their taxi driver, who told me that he was a 'peaceful' Shiite, had some very interesting views on Jews, as you can see:

http://irenelancaster.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/05/a-thursday-morn.html

[Stuart Hartill]

The law is ridiculous but I think you have to look deeper here.
There seems to be a regular pattern when Pakistani professionals are accused that a rival encourages an unwise comment, then reports him and waits for the kneejerk reaction to do the rest. It's also happened with several academics in recent years.
More of a case of a system where it's easy to rouse a lynch mob but the courts and police have little power to defuse things. With Pakistan's judiciary still in a mess from before the election, sadly not something which can change overnight and possibly not solved by concentrating on a minority religion's rights rather than professional jealousies and an underequipped legal system which would be as blameworthy whatever the faith of either accuser, accused (or judge for that matter).

[Rick Beekman]

Ruth;

Does anyone here have any doubt the Muslim Religion is highly Militant?
Jesus was also brought up before Pilate for Blasphemy charges by The Jewish religious leaders. And just for telling them the truth..healing many people He was put to death so they could shut him up and keep their religious Self-Righteousness going...nothing has changed..

[Abdul KB]

Whilst ignorant of Pak blasphemy laws, Christians can not be held to Shari'ats.
It is this type of ridiculous action that tarnishes Islam. Thankfully, the large majority of the 1.1 billion strong Ummah is not so prone to idiocy and misinterpretation of their own book.