Blasphemy: Christian sentenced to death in Joseph Colony case
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LAHORE: A court in Pakistan sentenced a Christian man to death for blasphemy Thursday, his lawyer said, over an incident that triggered a riot in the country's second-largest city.
Sawan Masih was convicted of insulting the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) during the course of a conversation with a Muslim friend in the Joseph Colony neighbourhood of Lahore in March last year.
More than 3,000 Muslims rampaged through Joseph Colony, torching some 100 Christian homes, after the allegations against Masih emerged.
Naeem Shakir, one of Masih's lawyers, told AFP: “The judge has announced the death sentence for Sawan Masih.
“We will appeal the sentence in the Lahore High Court.”Verdict and sentence were announced inside the jail where Masih was held, Shakir said.
The country has had a de facto moratorium on civilian hangings since 2008. Only one person has been executed since then, a soldier convicted by court martial.
Pakistan has extremely strict laws against defaming Islam, including the death penalty for insulting the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH), and rights campaigners say they are often used to settle personal disputes.
Masih has maintained his innocence and argued the real reason for the blasphemy allegation was a property dispute between him and his friend.
No one was killed in the rampage through Joseph Colony last year but the incident highlighted the sensitivity of blasphemy in Pakistan.
Some 97 per cent of the 180 million population are Muslim, and even unproven allegations can trigger a violent public response.
Earlier this month an angry mob set fire to a Hindu temple in the southern city of Larkana over the alleged desecration of a Quran.
A recent report from a US government advisory panel said Pakistan used blasphemy laws more than any other country in the world, listing 14 people on death row and 19 others serving life sentences for insulting Islam.
In January an elderly Briton was sentenced to death in Pakistan for blasphemy, though his lawyers said the court had failed to consider “overwhelming” evidence of his mental illness.
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Comments (65) Closed
Mar 27, 2014 10:30pm
What kind of creatures attack (either physically, or by this obscene "judicial process") helpless neighbors who happen to be of a different religion? These creatures belong not in human society but behind bars.
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Mar 27, 2014 10:48pm
@ahmed: These 'creatures' are called Pakistanis.
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Mar 27, 2014 11:36pm
These imbeciles are slowly but surely destroying Islam.
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Mar 27, 2014 11:36pm
@Salim:
Be precise, Muslims.
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Mar 27, 2014 11:40pm
ours is worst country where people are ready to kill others just because someone told them that someone insulted the prophet.
so how would be the conversation:
1. hey do you know someone in xyz colony has insulted prophet.
2. wow, lets burn some buildings and shops and beat few folks.
3. lets go and call others as well.
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Mar 27, 2014 11:43pm
Another sad day for Pakistan.
We are slipping into the deepest levels of insanity. All because of what we believe in.
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Mar 27, 2014 11:44pm
Don't brush an entire nation with the acts of a few rotten eggs who mislead a few more brainless idiots. Pakistan is a very tolerant society but the scourge of misguided religious fanatics are creating problems to gain prominence for themselves. Withdrawing this law will bring the extremists on the road so best to add that This law should ask for 3 to 4 witnesses. This will finish the allegations.
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Mar 27, 2014 11:49pm
Amazing insanity in name of religion!!! How does killing followers of other religions makes you feel?? does it make you happier? I am not sure from where does such idea emanate from? the entire region seems in grasp of such mindset.
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Mar 27, 2014 11:51pm
It's a shame that we Muslims have destroyed the name of Islam; a religion that teaches peace and tolerance its followers practice the exact opposite. No wonder the Muslims world wide are spit upon, perceived as intolerant fools and viewed with suspicion. I live in the US and have lived here all my life and let me tell you we are a very small minority in this this country and despite all the bad press against Muslims killing and destroying Christian communities we live among them in peace and with security. So I suppose we deserve everything bad that is happening to us and it will not change until we Muslims change our ways and truly follow the principles of Hadith and Quran.
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Mar 27, 2014 11:58pm
Mullahcracy also prevails in judiciary. Instead of punishing those who attacked Joseph colony the judge announced capital punishment to a Christian. What a justice. My head falls in shame when I hear or see minorities suffer in my own country.
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Mar 28, 2014 12:04am
what can the innocent minority citizens of pakistan expect from the peaceful islamic state of pakistan?
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Mar 28, 2014 12:12am
ashamed
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Mar 28, 2014 12:18am
If this man is really guilty then he should be punished, otherwise he should be set free.
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Mar 28, 2014 12:59am
If it was a one man show then why not only his house was burnt as people knew who the bad fish in the pond was. The fact that the entire neighbourhood was burnt to ashes is a clear indication that this was all about getting the people to abandon their homes so that the land mafia can take over their properties. I personally think that the poor man who is being sentenced to death is totally innocent and should be released immediately. The real culprits are still on the loose and they are land mafia.
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Mar 28, 2014 01:11am
Dr Ernest Zundel is in Jails of europe because he has research on holocaust which says that it is not possible to industrially incinerate a crowd of people without leaving ash, ferroferricyanide residue and so on. Every society has its taboos.
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Mar 28, 2014 01:20am
@Zak:tolerant society ha ha
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Mar 28, 2014 01:21am
Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) did not punish anybody who insulted him. He used to show tolerance and patients under all sorts of insulting and derogatory attacks against him (PBUH). Blasphemous law is in fact against all the principles of his (PBUH) teaching and should be abolished from all Muslim countries where such law still exists. Shame on Pakistan
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Mar 28, 2014 01:22am
And what punishment will the
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Mar 28, 2014 01:23am
I feel a part of Pakistan just died in me
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Mar 28, 2014 01:28am
@Zak:
Nice, 3-4 witnesses. It is really surprising that no one here speaks against the sheer logic of killing in the name of faith. So there was this great man who was the paradigm of virtue once upon a time. Speaking ill of him really deserves the death penalty? Imbeciles. It actually shows the man and the faith for what they really represent. Insecurity
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Mar 28, 2014 01:30am
Pity that no political party standing up for minorities' rights. Just because mullahs get ticked off, no one dare talk sense in this country. Salman Taseer tried being tough enough to face the problem but he end up being shot 27 bullets by his security guard who was provoked by Mufti Hanif Qureshi, but that wasn't enough punishment for a sane talker, soon his son got kidnapped by terrorists and is still hanging out there somewhere in the mountains (believing he is still alive, of course). Even PPP, the very political party Salman Taseer belonged to, banished him out of their thought, such is the fear of mullah.
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Mar 28, 2014 01:31am
The level of ignorance and illiteracy makes me wonder if, ever, will this country see prosperity. When people dance to the music of illiterate religious leaders, present in every nook and cranny of the country, with no knowledge of the true religion, the society needs awakening. Blasphemy Laws in Pakistan need to be revised and reformulated under the light of true teachings of Islam. Preach peace and humanity--for that is the true and supreme religion.
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Mar 28, 2014 01:35am
How come there are 2 set of rules for this kind of crime - one for Muslims and other for Mon-Muslims? This guy got death where as the mullah who did the same crime to falsely implicate a minor Christian girl is roaming free as a national hero.
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Mar 28, 2014 01:38am
@Zak:
The problem is that when a few bad eggs do this kind of thing and there is no one who voices concern against them, for sure we have no choice but to brush the entire nation with the same brush.
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Mar 28, 2014 01:57am
Living example of peaceful religion!!! I am ashamed of myself as a muslim....Nothing but shame, Shame, Shame...Where is Imran Khan? Where is Shahbaz Sharif? There is not a single statement from our so called leader's condemning this inhumane act, and this is the reason Pakistan is under the curse of Almighty God.
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Mar 28, 2014 02:14am
is it allowed to teach evolution in pakistani schools and colleges or is that also considered blasphemy?
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Mar 28, 2014 02:14am
I am ashamed of being a Pakistani! This is outrageous...
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Mar 28, 2014 02:17am
Blasphemy law may be reasonable ONLY if every religion was protected under this law so
that non-muslims could sue muslims for insulting their religion and seek death penalty.
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Mar 28, 2014 02:46am
sick mind...
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Mar 28, 2014 02:47am
@Zak:
Why not go one step ahead and make the law equal to all: anyone saying anything against any religion, will face death penalty. Islam does not allow any muslim to say anything against a non-muslim's religion anyways!
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Mar 28, 2014 02:59am
There is something fundamentally wrong with our Country. We need to seperate The State from the Religion.
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Mar 28, 2014 03:35am
@Zak:
I salute you for your courage to miss an elephant in the room. It is the court, not a rotten egg of your society, that has sentenced a man to death. These are your laws, not riots by fringe elements of the society, and a reflection of your character as a nation.The solution you are proposing is even more dangerous. How difficult it will be to arrange 3-4 witnesses ? Why the law itself is not being repealed ?
The intolerance towards minorities in Pakistan cannot be compared to other countries as the problem in Pakistan is systemic and not issue based and is sanctioned by the law of the land itself. No wonder the population of minorities is degrowing. In other countries such unfortunate incidents are exception but in Pakistan it is the rule.
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Mar 28, 2014 03:36am
@Salim:
Killing like this or destroying anyone's property or honor is absolutely wrong. No matter whoever does it.
For you comments about Pakistanis - Well, You can also find them in India, Burma, China and so many other countries.
Did people forget GUJRAT? Do you know how many people died and how? How about Burma? How about Palestine and Kashmir? All of them are persecuted because of different religion. Extremist elements are everywhere, they don't belong to a particular country, it is a mindset.
But if proven guilty this person should be punished according to the law. But if he is innocent then he should be honorably released.
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Mar 28, 2014 03:41am
Islam is a religion that can withstand such kinds of acts, not to mention that ours is a peaceful religion,that does not condone violence. I wonder how our beloved Prophet (PBUH) would have reacted? - definitely not the way we are! I am not sure if the alleged crime was even committed - but even if it was - we need to prove that we are above them and are more tolerant and understanding - in front of ignorance.
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Mar 28, 2014 04:27am
@ammar:
Feel the same way my friend. I feel ashamed to part of what this does to our minorities.
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Mar 28, 2014 04:33am
Blasphemy is a crime recognized in Jewish and Christian canon laws. Blasphemy carries a death penalty in Jewish and Christian canon law. Jewish courts convicted Jesus of blasphemy and sentenced him to death. Jesus did not dispute that the punishment for blasphemy is death, Jesus maintained he had not blasphemed. Christians and Jews cannot claim to be Christians or Jews and oppose the death penalty for blasphemy because that would contradict their own doctrine. The article is poorly written because it does not describe what Sawan said that is claimed to constitute blasphemy which leaves readers unable to form an informed opinion.
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Mar 28, 2014 04:59am
Sad especially this coming from court. How would it feel if all other countries have similar blasphemy laws on talking bad against Christianity ? Half the population will be sentenced to death.
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Mar 28, 2014 05:09am
Every country has its share of fanatics, but nowhere it is as plentiful as in Pakistan.
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Mar 28, 2014 05:58am
@Zak:
Sorry Zak, it is NOT a few rotten eggs. It is also your mob, your police, your court and your judge, in short, the entire Pakistani state and society. It is really hard to convince myself that this is a country of civilized human beings!
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Mar 28, 2014 06:24am
Height of Intolerance
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Mar 28, 2014 06:56am
Poor innocent is tried and sentenced to death based on a law which itself is controversial, why you need a law to safe guard Islam in a country created for Islam and 95% of population is Muslim, why you need to protect Islam from Muslims
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Mar 28, 2014 07:01am
I'm sure founders of Pakistan must be so proud of the behavior of the state they founded , after all they declared the murderer of a publisher as a hero and called the killer as ghazi !
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Mar 28, 2014 07:02am
@Imran Quraishi:
Even if this man is guilty, which I doubt, burning of his house cannot possibly be justified. What of his wife, children or other family members who share the house? They have done nothing wrong. If he has indeed committed a crime, he should be charged and brought before the court for judgement and punishment. For those who think criticizing another's religion to be a crime, think about whether you have ever criticized Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism etc
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Mar 28, 2014 07:14am
What must be kept sacrosanct at any cost or by any means, must be lacking essentially.
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Mar 28, 2014 08:05am
Very sad news. I think the liberal people should come out in open as such laws are bringing bad name to the religion. I remember an article by a prominent Indian Muslim scholar (from Deobandi sect) who commented that the Pakistan laws are not wrong as per their interpretation of Islam but based on the current social surroundings, they are not warranted. He gave an example that putting 'Jaziya tax' on non-Muslims is very much allowed in Islam but no country inc. Saudi/Iran/Pakistan practices it in today's world.
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Mar 28, 2014 08:17am
If the government were serious about protecting the minorities they could easily set up a federal anti-mob force. A hundred or so trained personnel with a few rapid transport choppers and armored carriers. Strategically placed at different spots in the country for quick deployment within 30 mins.
Wait, I just realized that these rabid mobs were PML (N) voters. Oh, well.
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Mar 28, 2014 10:46am
@ahmed:
Pakistan ka matlab kya? Ya Illaha Il Allah! Paistan was made for Musims and non-muslims have to follow our religious ways or go back to India. I respect our laws and constitution : Non-Muslims and blasphemers should be hanged according to our laws.
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Mar 28, 2014 10:51am
@Youth:
I think he is guilty. All non-Muslims are guilty.
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Mar 28, 2014 10:52am
@ammar:
Then go back to India
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Mar 28, 2014 10:58am
People do not sterotype any religion or race. Be it Chiristans Mislims Jews or anyone. KKK every now and then burn non white christians. There are Neo Nazi groups all over Europe. In every religion you have these groups which carry out inhumane acts all the while claiming to be righteous. It is just that Pakistan has more of them and barely any good news to counter bad news so you get to read stuff like this a lot.
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Mar 28, 2014 11:52am
@Salim:
Then those Pakistanis should be behind bars . . . and the key thrown away.
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Mar 28, 2014 11:53am
Then those Pakistanis should be behind bars . . . and the key thrown away.
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Mar 28, 2014 01:26pm
terrible - just terrible
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Mar 28, 2014 02:03pm
Shame of the Nation. Hanging minorities for something they allegedly said is a crime in itself.
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Mar 28, 2014 05:29pm
@Bilal Rana:
To be more precise, Pakistani Muslims... Sad indeed.
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Mar 29, 2014 01:47am
@Youth:
Wow. That is deep.
The youth of Pakistan hold the key to the future of Pakistan and reading the comment brings a sense of hope. Now all Pakistanis can sleep in peace knowing that their future is in great hands.
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Mar 29, 2014 01:49am
Only 3% left. Soon very soon......
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Mar 29, 2014 08:29am
It really makes you wonder if 97% of the population freely chose to follow Islam or if people are forced into it with the repercussions seen in this article to those who don't follow.
Even if the accused did say those things, who cares? Does it really affect your life in an adverse way? I can't understand why the religion is so highly insecure. If someone ridiculed something I strongly believe in then that's just their opinion. Take it on the chin and move on. It might actually help in character building instead of becoming ultra defensive at all costs.
97% of people believing in one religion in a country. What's that telling you? Others are being forced out and no one in their right mind would move from a Liberal and accepting culture to a backward Muslim one.
Fundamental change from a defensive mindset to an accepting and tolerate one is desperately in need. I hope you can do it. All the best.
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Mar 29, 2014 09:57am
Take money from minorities charge them with blasphemy law
And then you will get interest free loan.
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Mar 29, 2014 10:30am
@Ram:
Because some of these guys were and are a bunch of Idiots. Rather than being inclusive of society and religions, they are trying to segregate themselves, want to be superior to others.
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Mar 29, 2014 10:31am
The 97% is going to be 100%
That is what they want.
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Mar 29, 2014 10:55am
@Haider Ali:
r u serious? pakistan flag has white color too representing the non-muslim population. Quaid e azam didnt urge non-muslims to leave pakistan but he welcomed them in the same way. if pakistan is only for muslims then america europe is only for christains, y muslims r living there?
talk sense!
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Mar 29, 2014 11:29am
Pakistan needs to an open minded country where people should not be hanged for having different opinions. We need to learn tolerance.
We are in the 21st century
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Mar 29, 2014 12:06pm
A state responsibilitiy is to provide protection for all citizens irrespective of their race, religion etc. Such incidences are showing a constant failure on government behalf. This happen when it tries to manage something which it should not i.e. cannot be neutral to that subject such as religon. Such cases and the decisions are confirming what the world has learned from all the past experiences.
Please legislators re appeal these laws, they have no room to provide any justice to accuse who in the pakistan is guilty even before the trial - against commonlaw logic. Along with that the problem is where in that setup you will find a neutral judge who will extend that notion to the accuse.
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Mar 29, 2014 02:03pm
@Haider Ali:
why not Mr. Ali you can deport all minorities from you country. But dont you and your leaders feel ashamed of begging money from western countries for your survival. Does Islam permits begging from so called infidels.....and kill them same time.
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