Pakistani Christian accused of text message blasphemy
-28/05/06
A Pakistani Christian
Pakistani Christian accused of text message blasphemy
-28/05/06
A Pakistani Christian has been arrested over allegations that he sent text messages to Muslims from his mobile phone, news agencies and the BBC report.
Qamar David, a hospital canteen worker, was upset about attacks on churches in Pakistan, and sent complaints to others which caused offence, according to a local police chief.
Mr David has been charged with blasphemy and remanded in custody pending a further court appearance in the southern city of Karachi early in June 2006.
“He was sending blasphemous messages to Muslims and was causing panic,” Karachi police chief Niaz Ahmed Siddiqui told news agency Reuters. “He says he did this as he was upset with attacks on churches in the country.”
Police officer Imran Minhas said Mr David confessed to sending insulting messages about Islam and Prophet Muhammad.
Human rights groups say blasphemy the law in Pakistan is often misused to settle personal vendettas and arguments over property or money, particularly against minority communities.
“It’s an arbitrary law, which has been badly misused by extremists and should be abolished,” activist Asma Jehangir told the AFP agency.
On his recent trip to Pakistan, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams called for a reform of the law. His plea was heard with respect by the President. The government apologised for attacks on churches.
In a study by the Catholic Justice and Peace Commission of the 647 blasphemy cases reported in the Pakistani media since 1988, it was noted that nearly 90 cases were against Christians.
“As long as the blasphemy law remains in force, we will continue to suffer,” declared Dr Victor Azariah, general secretary of the National Council of Churches of Pakistan, which brings together four major Protestant denominations.
Churches of different traditions held a hunger strike in 2005 to protest against their treatment.
Christians account for less than three per cent of Pakistan’s estimated 162 million population – 95 per cent of whom are Muslim.
[Also on Ekklesia: New call to end Pakistan blasphemy law; Pakistani churches to fast and pray against blasphemy law; Pakistani Christian woman charged with blasphemy is bailed; Pakistan government apologises for attacks on churches; Archbishop of Canterbury calls for Pakistan blasphemy review; Quake-hit Pakistan desperate for food, heat, shelter; EU governments challenged over double standards on blasphemy; Archbishop of Canterbury to visit quake-hit Pakistan; Pakistan minority leaders condemn arson attacks on churches; Pakistani Christians join hunger strike for church building]
Pakistani Christian accused of text message blasphemy
-28/05/06
A Pakistani Christian has been arrested over allegations that he sent text messages to Muslims from his mobile phone, news agencies and the BBC report.
Qamar David, a hospital canteen worker, was upset about attacks on churches in Pakistan, and sent complaints to others which caused offence, according to a local police chief.
Mr David has been charged with blasphemy and remanded in custody pending a further court appearance in the southern city of Karachi early in June 2006.
“He was sending blasphemous messages to Muslims and was causing panic,” Karachi police chief Niaz Ahmed Siddiqui told news agency Reuters. “He says he did this as he was upset with attacks on churches in the country.”
Police officer Imran Minhas said Mr David confessed to sending insulting messages about Islam and Prophet Muhammad.
Human rights groups say blasphemy the law in Pakistan is often misused to settle personal vendettas and arguments over property or money, particularly against minority communities.
“It’s an arbitrary law, which has been badly misused by extremists and should be abolished,” activist Asma Jehangir told the AFP agency.
On his recent trip to Pakistan, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams called for a reform of the law. His plea was heard with respect by the President. The government apologised for attacks on churches.
In a study by the Catholic Justice and Peace Commission of the 647 blasphemy cases reported in the Pakistani media since 1988, it was noted that nearly 90 cases were against Christians.
“As long as the blasphemy law remains in force, we will continue to suffer,” declared Dr Victor Azariah, general secretary of the National Council of Churches of Pakistan, which brings together four major Protestant denominations.
Churches of different traditions held a hunger strike in 2005 to protest against their treatment.
Christians account for less than three per cent of Pakistan’s estimated 162 million population – 95 per cent of whom are Muslim.
[Also on Ekklesia: New call to end Pakistan blasphemy law; Pakistani churches to fast and pray against blasphemy law; Pakistani Christian woman charged with blasphemy is bailed; Pakistan government apologises for attacks on churches; Archbishop of Canterbury calls for Pakistan blasphemy review; Quake-hit Pakistan desperate for food, heat, shelter; EU governments challenged over double standards on blasphemy; Archbishop of Canterbury to visit quake-hit Pakistan; Pakistan minority leaders condemn arson attacks on churches; Pakistani Christians join hunger strike for church building]