Christian charged with blasphemy over sending ‘offensive’ poem on WhatsApp

LAHORE: A Christian was booked for blasphemy on Monday in Sara-i-Alamgir area of Gujrat district after his friend alleged that he had sent him a poem on WhatsApp disrespecting Islamic holy figures.

“Yasir Bashir filed a complaint against his friend Nadeem James for sending a poem on WhatsApp that was derogatory about holy figures,” police sources said.

A First Information Report (FIR) was registered against Nadeem under the Blasphemy Law (clause 295-C and 298-A of the Pakistan Penal Code).

According to the police, Nadeem was on the run and his relatives were taken into “protective custody”.

There was increased security in Christian neighbourhoods in the town because of tension arising after Yasir’s complaint.

In the past, such allegations have often triggered beatings and mob violence in the country.

A Christian couple were lynched then burnt in a kiln in Punjab in 2014 after being falsely accused of desecrating the Holy Quran.

Rights campaigners say blasphemy laws are often used to settle personal disputes.

— Additional reporting by AFP

Pakistan

Imran Gabol is a Lahore-based reporter for Dawn with over a decade of experience in journalism. He covers politics, climate change, human rights, education, and metropolitan affairs. He can be found on X at @gabolizm.

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Farouq Omaro

Jul 11, 2016 08:58pm

Here we go again. Some friend!

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Mustafa

Jul 11, 2016 08:58pm

how can blasphemy law be applied to a person who merely forwarded a message, like millions of people do everyday?

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Ali Naqvi

Jul 11, 2016 09:01pm

Have we learned nothing from Edhi? Just let him go. Many Muslims have done the same but no harm comes to them.

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safenation

Jul 11, 2016 09:10pm

Does anyone know what was said?

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Muhammad

Jul 11, 2016 09:18pm

Time to do away with blasphemy law. It is being increasingly misused to settle personal enmity.

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Awan

Jul 11, 2016 09:22pm

So just imagine that if anyone will take my mobile and will send any blasphemous poem from it then It could land me in jail or even i could face a death penalty. Moreover in the aftermath my family will be hiding. Our country is crazy in terms of these blasphemy laws. Minorities are living in 24/7 fear.

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k k tiwari

Jul 11, 2016 09:20pm

But why James did all this? Knowingly of course . you can not hurt others feelings

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Where are we?

Jul 11, 2016 09:21pm

Instead of killing someone we must talk to these people and show them the real good picture of Islam. people like Yasir are making non-muslims anti muslims.

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Truth is bitter!!

Jul 11, 2016 09:28pm

This is called intolerance!!!

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khabar

Jul 11, 2016 09:33pm

So where is the poem?

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Najam

Jul 11, 2016 09:36pm

Here we go again. When will this stop.

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Shahid Naeem

Jul 11, 2016 09:42pm

Looks like we have lost every sense of tolerance, justice and decency. There's no place for minorities in Pakistan.

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Ahmad

Jul 11, 2016 09:46pm

Pak has no right to lecture other countries if they cannot protect their own minority.

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N_Saq

Jul 11, 2016 09:50pm

@Muhammad I agree. Time to stop this nonsense.

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Sunil

Jul 11, 2016 10:05pm

Must have created a fake account on Whatsapp and then sent offensive poem, to set a trap.

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Lahori Kid

Jul 11, 2016 10:08pm

This has got to stop, even if the guy did what his friend claims, who are WE to judge him, isn't it true we will all be judged one day for our actions? People claim all sorts of silly stuff, everyday, If I claim to be the Pope, does that mean I should be jailed? There are so many pressing issues we are faced with, yet we continue to show how our thinking remains so stone aged. Our laws need to be reconsidered in some shape or form, people have been burnt to death just because someone claimed something. I'm not by any means religious, but our faith does not allow us to play judge, Islam is forgiving, remember? Islam is very flexible, very understanding, we have turned our faith into something Islam is not.

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HEMANT KULKARNI

Jul 11, 2016 10:09pm

now here one more innocent person would be hanged in the name of religion

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HEMANT KULKARNI

Jul 11, 2016 10:11pm

@Where are we? i hope its a wishful thinking nothing else

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khan

Jul 11, 2016 10:13pm

And he will tried by Anti-terrorism court. nice.

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adnan

Jul 11, 2016 10:16pm

Pakistan has been doomed for decades. False dreams are being sold

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Alba

Jul 11, 2016 10:16pm

With friends like that he doesn't need enemies.

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Harry

Jul 11, 2016 10:23pm

@Shahid Naeem not lost. It was never there

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Pramod

Jul 11, 2016 10:28pm

most Tolerant and peace loving people.

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Pramod

Jul 11, 2016 10:28pm

He was a friend it seems.

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Myview

Jul 11, 2016 10:58pm

This blasphemy law must be ended.Too dangerous and completely out of sync with today's day and age.

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Sunil

Jul 11, 2016 11:09pm

Its a trap set through Whatsapp.

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Karim USA

Jul 11, 2016 11:38pm

Blasphemy laws do not belong in the law books of modern day democracy with the freedom of speech and expression. They are there to keep the so called mullahs in control of the legislatures. The Prophet (pbuh) did not whip, kick or kill anyone who spoke against the religion of Islam but in fact won them with his show of tolerance and humanity, and the country should learn how blasphemy should be handled.

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Abdulla Hussain

Jul 12, 2016 12:37am

Knowing fully well the strict law on blasphemy and the sensitivity attached to it why peoples do not desist from such act.

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Unshackle Pakistan

Jul 12, 2016 12:42am

My religion, God, and Prophet aren't diminished because of the words of some blasmphemous person. Let him go free.

Recommend 0

Jul 12, 2016 01:09am

when you have a friend like that you don't need an enemy

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Rizwan Hamid. USA

Jul 12, 2016 01:11am

When you admit the truth, you will realize no one ever commits blasphemy against Islam.

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Kashmir

Jul 12, 2016 01:44am

@Muhammad and how do you know that?, what is they did blasphem?

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Kashmir

Jul 12, 2016 01:46am

@Dervaish Khan agree they ate responsible for what they forward. I agree the case must be looked at properly to ensure not innocents are wrongly accused. But to those that do it, punishment.

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Kashmir

Jul 12, 2016 01:53am

If you want to practise your religion, earn a living for your family then do so, but respect pakistani law.

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Freeman

Jul 12, 2016 02:44am

@k k tiwari, I could understand the equation of killing a person on hurting someones feelings? You may be allowed to hurt his feelings in return. This would be tit for tat response. Killing a person on hurting (if at all) feelings in totally insane.

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NO MULLAIYAT

Jul 12, 2016 02:46am

@Abdulla Hussain are you sure people are actually doing it or falsely accused? You are assuming people are actually committing blasphemy.

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Harmony-1©

Jul 12, 2016 02:55am

@Safenation - "Does anyone know what was said?" Do want the sender to be in trouble or you want to be in trouble yourself?

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Hira

Jul 12, 2016 03:41am

@Dervaish Khan maybe we should do away with intolerance...

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Yankee Cricket Fan

Jul 12, 2016 04:02am

@Dervaish Khan How do you know the poem is offensive, did you actually read it?

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Mukul

Jul 12, 2016 05:34am

@Shahid Naeem Well said Shaid

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Sam J

Jul 12, 2016 05:46am

@Dervaish Khan Why your believe is so weak that it gets affected by any ones comment(s)?

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Avani

Jul 12, 2016 06:41am

@k k tiwari : So Khalid Khan Tiwari @ KK Tiwari, what do you suggest, the accused should be lynched if he has really done it, is it?

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Kamal2

Jul 12, 2016 08:01am

@khabar that's what i want to know..

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Sri1

Jul 12, 2016 10:15am

@k k tiwari "why James did all this? Knowingly of course . you can not hurt others feelings" And for that he needs to be killed off. Maybe it is the time for the world and its powers to hurt much more than the feelings of one nation.

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Syed Ali

Jul 12, 2016 08:46pm

High jacking of internet addresses is very common. I receive lot of emails from unknown persons. Suppose these email contains objectionable materials and by chance these are forwarded what be the consequences. Government and media should be careful in dealing with such cases.

Recommend 0

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