Christian Boy Accused of Blasphemy and Killed

 

By Michael E. Sanchez
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

Sialkot, Pakistan– Emotions are ran high on Wednesday while Pakistani Christians clashed with security forces during the funeral of a Christian teenager who police say hung himself while being held on accusations that he committed Blasphemy by defiling the Qur’an, the Muslim holy book.  Christian leaders and Human rights group in Pakistan believe he was murdered.

Fanish Masih was jailed after allegedly throwing a chapter of the Qur’an down a drain last week in the village of Jatheki.  Masih was found dead in his cell on Tuesday.  Jail superintendent Farooq Lodhi stated that Masih hung himself using the string from his pants.  Witnesses have stated the contrary however, stating that there were no strangulation marks on his neck, and his body was littered with injuries which were indicative of torture.  The National Commission of Justice and Peace, a Catholic advocacy group in Pakistan, called the death an “extra-judicial murder”, and demanded an investigation into the events.

Of Pakistan’s 175 million people, non-Muslims make up less than 5 percent of the population.  As a result these non-Muslims are particularly vulnerable to the anti-blasphemy on the books which carry the death penalty for derogatory remarks or any other actions against Islam, the Qur’an or the prophet Mohammad.  Under this system anyone can make an accusation, and often these rules are used to settle personal scores and vendettas.  According to sources, the claim of blasphemy against Masih was only made as a pretext to arrest him, who allegedly was in a romantic relationship with a Muslim girl, which was opposed by the girl’s family and religious radicals within the community.

According to the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), this latest case of violence against a non-Muslim demonstrates the recklessness and confidence of the religious leaders in their own impunity, along with how powerless law enforcement agencies have become before influential social groups.  This case is also an example of the extreme vulnerability which religious minorities in Pakistan suffer from.

For more information, please see:

Asian Human Rights Commission-Witnesses killed within prison walls: a Christian boy is accused of blasphemy and murdered– 16 September 2009

MSNBC- Christian’s death in jail sparks Pakistan unrest 16 September 2009

Pakistan Christian Post- Christian MNA Akram Masi Gill arrested in Sialkot -16 September 2009

Author: Impunity Watch Archive