13 April 2006
Christian woman nailed with Muslim blasphemy charge for defending cross
|
| ||
| Kasur (AsiaNews/ANS) | ||
Naseem Bibi is in solitary confinement: at the peak of enraged Muslim protests against the Muhammad cartoons, she fought with demonstrators for desecrating Christianity.Christian woman is languishing in prison for defending the cross from desecration. Naseem Bibi is in solitary confinement, charged with having offended an image of the Kabah, the most sacred shrine of Islam in Saudi Arabia. On 7 April, judges refused to release her on bail. Meanwhile, her husband and their three sons have been forced to flee their home and to go into hiding out of fear of retaliation by Muslim extremists.
The woman’s family said she protested against a group of Muslims who were drawing a cross on top of a rubbish heap. The prison authorities have not allowed members of the Sharing Life Ministry Pakistan (SLMP), a Protestant organization, to visit the detainee. The SLMP has disseminated a statement by Gulzar Masih, the woman’s husband, narrating Naseem’s story.
Everything started on 3 March when many Muslims were protesting the blasphemous cartoons of Muhammad near Naseem’s house in Kasur. “They were raising slogans against the US president George W. Bush, abusing him and Christianity too,” said Gulzar. “Naseem saw the protesters draw a cross on top of a rubbish help and so she went out to protest the desecrating gesture.” The woman told the demonstrators they were violating a sacred symbol of Christianity while protesting about exactly the same offence against their own faith.
According to her husband’s account, Naseem was beaten and stripped. The group of Muslims then left only to return after a few hours with an image of the Kabah soiled with excrement. The men accused Naseem of blasphemy and the police, who came to the spot, took her away to the local police station. Gulzar admitted that he did not intervene to help his wife because he was afraid.
The SMLP said a blasphemy case has been opened against the woman and her husband has been unable to visit her after more than a month.
The so-called blasphemy law (article 295 b & c of the Pakistani penal code) carries life sentences for offences against the Koran and the death penalty or life imprisonment for defamatory actions against the prophet Muhammad. The Catholic Church and human rights groups have long been calling for a total abrogation of the law. So far, the government has only introduced weak amendments.
09:23 Posted in PAKISTAN | Permalink | Comments (5) | 
Facebook |
Comments
well this is what happens with religion, jews killing muslims, muslims killing christians, christains killing jews, etc... funn that it's all the same god.
Posted by: andrew smith | 14 April 2006
Andrew smith presents the typical argument made by a westerner, who fails to understand he dynamics of the middle east, or the history for that matter. Keep on thinking that way, it's overly simplistic but some people need to see life that way ... the complexity of religions might overwhelm them
Posted by: mg | 15 April 2006
I agree with mg. It is NOT the same god in a way, shape,or form. The God of Christians is not named allah. The God of the Christians urges mercy. The god of muslims urges murder and deception.
I hate islam. That is one butt-ugly religion.
I'll now say a prayer for the copts.
Posted by: Greg | 16 April 2006
Just as light on light produces darkness, hate on hate produces injustice.
By hating and insulting Muslims, we do not make ourselves better and it does not further our faith in any way.
We don't agree with their faith, and are in utmost sorrow and agony that they kill, mutilate, and persecute our friends, family, brothers and sisters, but vicious words do not change anything.
We must be slow to anger and hard to sway. Increase in spirituality and take a stand through peaceful protests, through discussions with those from all walks of life, through informing everyone of what is going on, through our actions more that our words, but most importantly, through our prayers to God. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (1 Phil. 4:13)
That is probably the best way to go. I have faith that things will one day turn around. Christianity has been a stronghold for over 2 millenia, and not persecution, nor hypocricy, nor controversy (i.e. fiction novels or incorrectly theorized history) will knock us down. It may rattle the cage, but the bird will not escape.
No matter your age, gender, or ethnicity, inform others of the unjust persecution occuring all around the world, ("Don't let others look down on you because you are young"--another Bible verse)
But above all teach peace.
Glory be to God forever. Amen.
Agape.
Posted by: Mary | 16 April 2006
Lets go liberate her..
Posted by: Luke | 09 May 2006
The comments are closed.