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Pakistan: Illiterate Christian couple sentenced to die for “blasphemous” texts

May 31, 2014 5:50 am By Robert Spencer

pakistanblasphemyThe Pakistani blasphemy laws are a tool for the persecution of Christians and an ongoing human rights abuse. But the International “human rights community” is indifferent — after all, no “Islamophobia” is being committed, so all is well.

“Illiterate Christian Couple Sentenced to Death in Pakistan for ‘Blasphemous’ Texts,” by Leah Marianne Klett, Gospel Herald, May 30, 2014:

A Christian couple was sentenced to death in Pakistan for committing “blasphemy” via text messages. However, lawyers say this will appeal the ruling, as both the man and woman are illiterate.

“We are seriously concerned. Cases like these are common and cause great suffering. We continue to pray, while the issue remains unresolved,” Fr. Aloysius Roy, Superior of the Pakistani province of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, told Fides News Agency in a report on Monday.

“We express our solidarity, but Christians keep a low profile, because life is full of difficulties and dangers, and for us the first commandment is to survive. Christians are afraid and they move with extreme caution.”

Shafqat Emmanuel is reportedly disabled, and his wife, Shagufta Kausar works as a waitress and is unable to read. Both were arrested in July of last year and sentenced to death last month.

Fr. Roy stated, “From the government we expect respect for the law, the rule of law and freedom of worship provided for in the Constitution.”

The couple’s lawyer say that the Sim card from the phone containing the messages was not registered in the couples name. While the contents of the texts have not been released, lawyers argue that the couple could not possibly have sent the messages, as the couple is illiterate.

William Stark, International Christian Concern’s regional manager for South Asia, told the Christian Post that Pakistan’s harsh blasphemy laws make criticizing Islam punishable by death.

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“Since the blasphemy laws were enacted in 1986, Christians and other religious minorities have been disproportionately accused and convicted of blasphemy. In 2013, 36 individuals were accused of blasphemy in Pakistan,” he stated.

“Of that 36, 30 were religious minorities, 12 of which were Christians. Given that Christians only make up 2% of Pakistan’s population, the fact that one third of blasphemy accusations made in 2013 were leveled against Christians is telling.”

Humanitarian group World Vision in Progress said that it will look after the couple’s four minor children.

“If a bold step would not be taken from the Christian community soon then it would become impossible for them to live in Pakistan,” the organization has said….

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Filed Under: blasphemy, Muslim persecution of Christians, Pakistan Tagged With: featured


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Comments

  1. mortimer says

    May 31, 2014 at 5:58 am

    Repealing the blasphemy law would cause a civil war in Pakistan.

    • mortimer says

      May 31, 2014 at 6:11 am

      The statistic of 30% of all blasphemy complaints being made against Christians reflects a cultural bias of Muslims that it is Sunna to lie about and humiliate disbelievers. This is systemic persecution encouraged by the Pakistani legislators.

      • Kepha says

        May 31, 2014 at 7:15 am

        Mortimer: Islam knows neither the Commandment “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor” (Deuteronomy 5:20) nor the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30 ff.), which was given to answer the question “Who is my neighbor?” This is why Islamic societies are loaded with lying about their minorities, themselves, and life in general, and so freely and openly use their blasphemy laws as means of bullying and oppression.

        • Mirren10 says

          May 31, 2014 at 8:58 am

          Kepha, you say:

          ”This is why Islamic societies are loaded with lying about their minorities, themselves, and life in general, and so freely and openly use their blasphemy laws as means of bullying and oppression.”

          The *only* way in which blasphemy laws can be used, is as a means of bullying and oppression.

          Do you agree ?

          I asked you a question on the ”sign the petition against blasphemy laws” thread; perhaps you haven’t seen it.

          So I’ll ask you again, are you in *favour* of blasphemy laws ?

          If you are, it would be courageous to explain why, and what your reasons are.

          By the way, I don’t think that because millions of people were murdered by Communists and Fascists, in the name of ideology, and that ‘hate speech’ laws are in existence, preventing people from stating their opinions on homosexuality as a sin and an abomination, etc, etc, is a valid reason for being in favour of blasphemy laws, or, at the very least, to be ambiguous about them.

    • harbidoll says

      Jun 1, 2014 at 12:06 am

      sounds like a plan–

    • Kereru says

      Jun 1, 2014 at 12:08 am

      Getting into bed with the Taliban, their own corrupt SIS, playing with fire by harbouring Osama, being nuclear armed – and having billions of dollars poured into its economy by the West, presumably to keep it on side. What a farce. And yes, repealing the blasphemy law could be the touchpaper that sets it all off. No wonder the Pakistani government is equivocating – and why they couldn’t care less about the brutal persecution of minorities whom they see as inferior anyway.

  2. Charli Main says

    May 31, 2014 at 6:07 am

    “Christians are afraid and move about with extreme caution”
    While Muslims in Europe and elsewhere strut around protected by ” human rights ” and ” religious and racial discrimination” legislation.
    I wonder how long Christians, Hindus and Sikhs would last in Pakistan if they rampaged down the streets waving banners that read ” kill Muslims ” ” behead those that insult Jesus/Shiva etc, and Pakistan´s laws don´t apply to us.????
    Muslims are rampaging through Europe and elsewhere, raping, abusing and killing non Muslims—BECAUSE THEY ARE BEING ALLOWED TO DO IT.

    • Kepha says

      May 31, 2014 at 7:18 am

      When I was in the State Department, I recalled a meeting with a more senior colleague in which he described the subordinate position of Jewish lineages to Muslim ones in Yemen in a tone which suggested greater ethnological sensitivity, worldliness, and sophistication than possible in the rest of us common boors. I could not resist saying, “Hmmm. Wonderful to know there are still countries where minorities know their place”.

    • dlbrand says

      May 31, 2014 at 1:15 pm

      Yes, indeed, Charlie.

      As I have stated oftentimes, wherever Islam is practiced, Islam will be practiced.

    • shosh7154 says

      Jun 1, 2014 at 1:59 pm

      All the leaders of the countries suffering from the inherent violence of islam should hold a global conference and decide how to remove islam from their countries, even if it means physically removing muslim to another country and denying all muslim entry into their countries… And imposing strict laws regarding the practice of this religion with equally strict enforcement of the laws. NO ISLAM ALLOWED

      • dlbrand says

        Jun 1, 2014 at 3:43 pm

        Indeed.

        • dlbrand says

          Jun 1, 2014 at 3:54 pm

          Add to that, what you stated is precisely what needs doing; what’s more, until we find the gumption and the will to do just as you stated, Islam continues, a few speed bumps encountered notwithstanding, its Allah-promised advance to ascendancy.

  3. Walter Sieruk says

    May 31, 2014 at 11:38 am

    Of the many things that may be said about this tow things need to be stated most. First , all this so called “Islamophobia” in many cases is ,in reality, just Islamorealism. As in that some people clearly see the dangers and evils of Islam. Second, to have someone sentenced to death just for being acursed of keyboarding “blasphemous texts” is still further proof that the foundations and doctrines of Islam are so weak that this religion can’t hold up to or stand up to criticism.

    • Kereru says

      May 31, 2014 at 11:52 pm

      Walter Sieruk: to have someone sentenced to death just for being acursed of keyboarding “blasphemous texts” is still further proof that the foundations and doctrines of Islam are so weak that this religion can’t hold up to or stand up to criticism.

      Indeed, but everything hinges on the weakness of a so-called ‘deity’ who needs to be avenged on this earth by his minions. This noxious ideology cloaked as a religion is a counterfeit, but we have to know the genuine before seeing it for what it really is. Meanwhile, countless millions are blinded by it.

      I work with the persecuted – believe me, it’s enough simply to BE a non-Muslim in Pakistan. You don’t have to say anything or do anything, just to exist is an insult. No evidence is needed, or provided, that you sent text messages, tore or burned a page of the Qur’an, insulted Mohammed, or Islam. These accusations are simply a pretext for arresting you and sentencing you to death. There has even been an instance in which a rabid mob set upon a Christian family and burned them to death in their locked house. As usual, the police did nothing.

      The situation of Asia Bibi is a case in point. Already two men, one a Christian Minister for minorities, and a Muslim lawyer defending her, have been shot dead for trying to repeal the Blasphemy Law. If she is ever released she will be killed as soon as she steps out of the court as there is a high price on her head. Since 2009 she has been kept in solitary confinement in a small windowless room for her own safety. Meanwhile her family has to seek sanctuary in a safe house each night. Recently Asia was moved without warning in the middle of the night to another prison 600k away, which makes it even more difficult for her lawyer and husband to visit her. Hers is one case among many, and persecution against Christians is rising exponentially in our times, in both Islamic and Communist nations.

  4. gravenimage says

    May 31, 2014 at 8:49 pm

    Pakistan: Illiterate Christian couple sentenced to die for “blasphemous” texts
    ……………………………….

    This shows that as immoral as “blasphemy” laws are to begin with, they also make false charges easy. People have been falsely accused of “blasphemy” because the accuser wants the victims’ property or his daughter, because they are not popular, or simply because they are Infidels.

    More:

    “We express our solidarity, but Christians keep a low profile, because life is full of difficulties and dangers, and for us the first commandment is to survive. Christians are afraid and they move with extreme caution.”
    ……………………………….

    Yes—Christians and other Infidels are at risk not just for accusations of “blasphemy”, but also of rumors of such things as Infidel men speaking to Muslim women or Qur’an burning. Such rumors can not only be devastating for the accused, but often also lead to Muslims rioting, looting and burning churches, homes, and businesses.

    More:

    “Since the blasphemy laws were enacted in 1986, Christians and other religious minorities have been disproportionately accused and convicted of blasphemy. In 2013, 36 individuals were accused of blasphemy in Pakistan,” he stated.

    “Of that 36, 30 were religious minorities, 12 of which were Christians. Given that Christians only make up 2% of Pakistan’s population, the fact that one third of blasphemy accusations made in 2013 were leveled against Christians is telling.”
    ……………………………….

    Infidels in general make up just a little over 3% of the population, so most of the victims of blasphemy accusations are Christians, Hindus, Sikhs, and Ahmadi—who are considered non-Muslims in Pakistan.

    The main point of these laws, in fact, is for Muslim states to have yet another tool to use against the Kuffar. *Ugh*.

  5. Jay Boo says

    May 31, 2014 at 9:45 pm

    Obama says we must not mock Islam but is silent about this.
    Islam is of course, a political system posing as a religion.

    We fund their military. Why not fund India’s military instead?

    We import clothing manufactured in Pakistan. Yet, Obama insists on sanction on Russia.

  6. bill says

    Jun 1, 2014 at 2:25 am

    Living under balsphemy lawas like Pakistan’s is like living under the Gestapo and SS in Nazi Germany. If somebody did not like you they can denounce you for being anti Nazi or ‘unpatriotic’. So it is in Pakistan I cannot believe that living in constant fear of Islam in Pakistan any Christian would do the slightest thing to blasphme against it. All these cases are made up.

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