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Christian teens charged with blasphemy in Pakistan, could face death penalty
Pakistan — Babar Sandhu Masih was resting after lunch last Thursday afternoon when he heard a commotion outside his house in the Qurban Lines neighborhood of Lahore, Pakistan.
Masih went outside to find his neighbor, policeman Zahid Sohail, beating his son and another Christian boy. His son Adil, 18, and 14-year-old Simon Nadeem Masih, who lives nearby, had been engaged in light-hearted banter when Sohail accused them of committing blasphemy, he said.
“Sohail initially alleged that he was walking past the two boys when he overheard them ‘disrespecting’ prophet Muhammad and then laughing over it,” Masih said. “He started beating Simon, and when Adil tried to save him, Sohail attacked him too.”
Masih, a Catholic who paints cars at a local auto workshop, said neighbors soon gathered, and Sohail repeated his accusations.
“Both boys flatly denied Sohail’s allegation and said they had said nothing that involved a mention of the Muslim prophet,” Masih told Morning Star News. “When local elders of the neighborhood asked Sohail to substantiate his accusation, he failed to satisfy them and left.”
The father of four children, Adil being the youngest, said that Race Course police station officers raided his house later that evening and arrested Adil. They also took Simon into custody, saying that Sohail had registered a case against the two under blasphemy statutes.
“We were shocked to learn the contents of the First Information Report [FIR] in which Sohail alleged that Simon had called a puppy ‘Muhammad Ali,’ and both boys then joked about it,” Masih said.
They were charged with blaspheming Muhammad under Section 295-C of Pakistan’s blasphemy statutes, which calls for the death penalty. Muhammad Ali is a common name in Pakistan, the first name attributed to Islam’s prophet and the last to Hazrat Ali, Muhammad’s son-in-law and the fourth caliph.
Masih said the allegation was “completely baseless,” as Sohail had made no mention of a puppy when he first raised the issue.
“No one in our street has dogs, and neither was there a puppy in the street when this incident took place,” he said. “Sohail cooked up a false accusation against our children after failing to convince the locals about his earlier allegation.”
Masih said that his wife was a heart patient and also has suffered two strokes.
“She doesn’t know yet that Adil has been arrested on such a serious charge, and I don’t know how long I’ll be able to withhold this news from her,” he said on Thursday. “She’ll be devastated.”
Adil left school a few years ago and was training with him to become a car painter, he said.
“I was able to meet Adil briefly on Friday, when police brought him to the court for obtaining the boys’ judicial remand,” Masih told Morning Star News. “Both boys were in a state of shock and fear and are still unable to understand why Sohail had gotten them arrested.”
At least 500 Christian families live in the Qurban Lines neighborhood, and there had been no religious tension in the area in years, he said.
“Sohail does not have a good reputation in the locality, which is why many locals did not take his allegation seriously,” Masih said. “Our Muslim neighbors have known us for years, and they know we would never indulge in anything that could hurt their religious sentiments.”
Police should have investigated the veracity of the allegation before arresting Adil and Simon, he said.
“Now we don’t know how long our children will be made to suffer in prison due to this false charge — this is sheer injustice,” Masih said.
Napolean Qayyum of the Pakistan Center for Law and Justice said that they were helping the two families in arranging legal support for their children.
“The FIR registered by the complainant reeks of mala fide, yet the police showed traditional haste in arresting the two boys,” he said. “We are hoping that the boys will be released on bail soon.”
False accusations
Several people have been lynched over false accusations of blasphemy in Pakistan.
At least 57 cases of alleged blasphemy were reported in Pakistan between Jan. 1 and May 10, while four blasphemy suspects were lynched or extrajudicially killed during the same period, according to the Lahore-based Center for Social Justice and People’s Commission for Minorities Rights (PCMR).
The data shows that eight incidents occurred in January, a significant increase to 17 cases in February, seven cases in March, another surge to 19 cases in April, and six cases in May (up to the 10th), totaling 57 accused individuals.
The highest number of blasphemy cases, 28, were reported in Punjab Province, followed by Sindh Province with 16, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with eight, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir with five.
In response to these alarming figures, retired Justice Nasira Javaid Iqbal, the patron-in-chief of PCMR, urged the government to stop the misuse of the harsh laws.
“The blasphemy laws have been consistently misused to settle personal disputes, persecute minority groups, and incite mob violence and hatred,” she said in a press statement. “We demand prompt action and a collective effort by the government to address these human rights violations.”
Last week, a court released on bail a Christian woman charged with blasphemy after she and a Muslim co-worker were accused of intentionally burning papers containing Quranic verses.
Mussarat Bibi, 45, and Muhammad Sarmad worked at the Government Girls Higher Secondary School in 66-EB village, Arifwala tehsil of Pakpattan District. On April 15, both workers were told to clean the school’s storeroom filled with paper and other scrapped items. The duo reportedly gathered the wasted paper and other scraps in a corner of the school and set them on fire. Some students later noticed that the burnt items also contained holy pages.
They were charged under Section 295-B of the blasphemy statutes and sent to Pakpattan Jail on judicial remand. Section 295-B states, “Whoever willfully defiles, damages or desecrates a copy of the Quran or of an extract therefrom or uses it in any derogatory manner or for any unlawful purpose shall be punishable with imprisonment for life.”
They were released from prison on bail on May 13.
Pakistan ranked seventh on Open Doors’ 2023 World Watch List of the most difficult places to be a Christian, up from eighth the previous year.
Sources:Christian Post
world news
Muslim vigilantes colluding with authorities to entrap Christians in blasphemy charges
Pakistan — Muslim vigilante groups are working with federal authorities to lure young people into sharing blasphemous content on social media in order to put them behind bars, according to an investigation by Pakistan’s National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR).
A steep increase in blasphemy cases this year, many of them filed against Christians and other religious minorities, is tied to collusion between Muslim vigilantes and federal investigators, according to the NCHR report. Pakistan saw three times as many blasphemy cases in the first seven month of this year compared with all of last year, according to the NCHR investigation.
As of July 25, there were 767 people accused of blasphemy languishing in jails across Pakistan, whereas in 2023 there were 213 suspects incarcerated for blasphemy, 64 in 2022, nine in 2021 and 11 in 2020, according to the data gathered by the NCHR.
“Most of the blasphemy cases were registered with the Federal Investigation Agency’s Cybercrime Unit in collaboration with a private entity,” the NCHR noted, adding that young men were targeted through entrapment tactics involving females using pseudonyms to lure them into blasphemous activities online.
At least 594 blasphemy suspects were imprisoned in Punjab Province alone, followed by 120 in Sindh Province, 64 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, and two in Balochistan Province, the NCHR added.
The report follows a study by the Special Branch of the Punjab Police released in January, which for the first time revealed the presence of a “blasphemy business” that exploits the controversial blasphemy laws to entrap victims for extortion.
According to the Special Branch report, a majority of the cases were being brought to trial by private “vigilante groups” led by lawyers and supported by volunteers who scour the internet for offenders.
One such group was responsible for the conviction of 27 people who have been sentenced to life imprisonment or the death penalty over the past three years, the report revealed. It recommended the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) launch a thorough inquiry to determine the source of the vigilante groups’ funding, but the agency’s response was unknown.
The most active vigilante group is the Legal Commission on Blasphemy Pakistan, which is prosecuting more than 300 cases, led by Shiraz Ahmad Farooqi, the complainant in the blasphemy conviction of a 40-year-old Christian woman, Shagufta Kiran. Kiran was handed the death sentence by a special judge in Islamabad on Sept. 18.
The NCHR’s report called for “a comprehensive review” of the roles and accountability of both government and private entities. It also noted the inhumane conditions of blasphemy suspects in jails.
“Individuals accused of blasphemy are housed together in single, severely overcrowded barracks to protect them from potential harm by other inmates who may attack or threaten them,” the NCHR reported. “However, this arrangement results in inhumane living conditions, as the barracks lack adequate facilities and are grossly overcrowded.”
Detainees also face coercion, extortion and pressure from the vigilantes involved in their entrapment, “who sometimes encourage them to engage in further criminal activities within the prison,” according to the report.
The NCHR recommended engaging the highest levels of government and judiciary to address the FIA’s involvement with Muslim individuals and vigilante groups entrapping people. It also urged constituting a Joint Investigation Team comprising officials from the Special Branch of the Intelligence Bureau, the ministries of Law and the Interior, the FIA, and other relevant departments to investigate blasphemy cases.
Mere allegations of blasphemy in Muslim-majority Pakistan can ignite public outrage and sometimes result in mob violence. Hundreds of people have been accused and jailed for alleged blasphemy, and some were handed the death penalty, though none has been executed so far.
The United Nations Human Rights Committee on Oct. 17 observed that Pakistani authorities have failed to curb a range of human rights violations, including a sharp increase in blasphemy-related violence. Expressing serious concern over frequent attacks against religious minorities, including accusations of blasphemy, targeted killings, lynchings, mob violence, forced conversions, and desecration of places of worship, the committee stated that Pakistani society has become increasingly intolerant of religious diversity.
“Religious minorities are facing a constant threat of persecution and discrimination amid the rise of religious radicalism,” the committee stated.
Pakistan ranked seventh on Open Doors’ 2024 World Watch List of the most difficult places to be a Christian, as it was the previous year.
Sources:Christian Post
world news
Persecuted Christians in Nigeria Observe Global Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church
Nigeria — On the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church on Sunday, persecuted Christians in Nigeria gathered to pray for the church in their country and their persecuted brothers and sisters worldwide.
Pastor Gah Yohanna Sunday, a pastor with the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) and a dedicated leader from the Irigwe community in Bassa, Plateau state, shared his remarkable journey of faith and resilience.
He entered the ministry in 2005 after he became a Christian. Though he initially pursued a career in accounting, the pastor said God had other plans for him.
“I prayed for God to reveal my purpose and role in His kingdom,” Pastor Sunday said. “That’s when I understood my calling as a pastor.” Since that transformative moment, Sunday has committed himself to mentoring, evangelizing, and providing spiritual guidance in his community — all in the face of persecution.
Today, Pastor Sunday’s community faces significant challenges as Irigwe Christians have recently endured attacks.
“They killed four people recently, grazed cattle on our farms, and burned homes — including mine,” the pastor said.
This violence has forced many families to grapple with poverty, hunger, and trauma and has driven them from their homes. Despite all he’s lost, Pastor Sunday remains hopeful. He draws strength from Scripture, citing Romans 8:27-39, Philippians 4:12-13, and Ephesians 6:10-18, reassuring his congregation that their struggles are consistent with the challenges and persecution foretold in the Bible.
“God is good, even when I don’t fully understand,” he shared.
Pastor Sunday said the attacks appear systematic and aimed at Christians. With churches destroyed and access to resources severely affected, the community often relies on external support. Organizations like the Stefanos Foundation, the Red Cross, and the Norwegian Refugee Council are providing essential food, trauma care, and financial assistance. Unfortunately, the need far exceeds available resources.
In honor of the International Day of Prayer, the Stefanos Foundation organized a prayer session in Jos. 2 Chronicles 7:14 resonated deeply: “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray … I will hear from heaven …”
Pastor Sunday also prayed with 23 widows who lost their husbands to Islamic Fulani extremists, encouraging them to stay strong in their faith. He called on the international community to assist persecuted Christians in Nigeria and urged Christians worldwide to pray and advocate for persecuted Christians.
Despite the ongoing persecution, Pastor Sunday remains focused on his mission. “This attack will eventually end — whether in this life or the next,” he said. “I will continue to proclaim the gospel, regardless of the circumstances.”
Sources:persecution
world news
നോഹയുടെ പെട്ടകത്തിലേക്കുള്ള വഴി; 3000 വർഷം പഴക്കമുള്ള മാപ്പിന്റെ വിവരങ്ങൾ പ്രസിദ്ധപ്പെടുത്തി
ലോകത്തിലെ ഏറ്റവും പഴയ ഭൂപടത്തിന്റെ രഹസ്യങ്ങൾ വെളിപ്പെടുത്തി ശാസ്ത്രജ്ഞർ. ഇമാഗോ മുണ്ടി എന്നറിയപ്പെടുന്ന 3,000 വർഷം പഴക്കമുള്ള ഈ കളിമൺ ഫലകം നോഹയുടെ പെട്ടകത്തിന്റെ സ്ഥാനം സംബന്ധിച്ച വിവരങ്ങൾ നൽകുന്നതായി കരുതപ്പെടുന്നു.
വെഡ്ജ് ആകൃതിയിലുള്ള ചിഹ്നങ്ങൾ ഉപയോഗിച്ചുള്ള ഒരു ലിപിയായ ക്യൂണിഫോം ആലേഖനം ചെയ്ത പുരാതന ബാബിലോണിയൻ കരകൗശലവസ്തുക്കൾ നൂറ്റാണ്ടുകളായി പുരാവസ്തുഗവേഷകരെ ആശയക്കുഴപ്പത്തിലാക്കിയിട്ടുണ്ട്. 1882 ൽ, ഇന്നത്തെ ഇറാഖിൽ കണ്ടെത്തിയ ഈ ടാബ്ലെറ്റ് ബ്രിട്ടീഷ് മ്യൂസിയത്തിലാണ് ഇന്ന് സൂക്ഷിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നത്. അവിടെ ഇത് അതിന്റെ പ്രശസ്തമായ ശേഖരങ്ങളിലൊന്നാണ്.
ലോകസൃഷ്ടിയെക്കുറിച്ചുള്ള ആദ്യകാല ബാബിലോണിയൻ ആശയങ്ങൾ ചിത്രീകരിക്കുന്ന വൃത്താകൃതിയിലുള്ള ഒരു ലോകഭൂപടമാണ് ഇമാഗോ മുണ്ടി. ഈ ഭൂപടം അക്കാലത്ത്, അറിയപ്പെട്ടിരുന്ന ലോകത്തെ മുഴുവൻ കാണിക്കുമെന്ന് കരുതപ്പെടുന്നു. ഇതിൽ, താഴെ കേന്ദ്രഭാഗത്തായി മെസൊപ്പൊട്ടേമിയ കാണാൻ കഴിയും. അക്കാലത്ത് ലോകം മുഴുവൻ വ്യാപിച്ചുകിടന്നിരുന്നു എന്നു വിശ്വസിക്കപ്പെട്ടിരുന്ന ഒരു നദിയാൽ മെസപ്പൊട്ടോമിയ ചുറ്റപ്പെട്ടിരുന്നു.മാപ്പിന്റെ പിൻവശത്ത് ‘ഉറാർട്ടുവിലേക്കുള്ള’ പാതയും അവിടെ എങ്ങനെ എത്തിച്ചേരാമെന്നതിനെക്കുറിച്ചുള്ള നിർദിഷ്ട നിർദേശങ്ങളും ഉൾപ്പെടെ ഒരു യാത്രക്കാരൻ അവരുടെ യാത്രയിൽ എന്താണ് അഭിമുഖീകരിക്കേണ്ടതെന്നു വിവരിക്കുന്നു. ഈ വിവരണത്തിൽ ‘പാർസിക്ടു’ എന്ന പേടകത്തെക്കുറിച്ചും പറയുന്നുണ്ട്.
‘പാർസിക്ടു’ എന്ന പദം മറ്റ് പുരാതന ബാബിലോണിയൻ ഫലകങ്ങളിൽ കാണപ്പെടുന്നു. ഇത് ഐതിഹാസികമായ മഹാപ്രളയം നേരിടാൻ ഉദ്ദേശിച്ചുള്ള ഒരു കപ്പലിന്റെ അളവിനെ സൂചിപ്പിക്കുന്നു. അരരാത്ത് എന്നും അറിയപ്പെടുന്ന യുറാർട്ടു, നോഹയെപ്പോലെ 150 ദിവസത്തെ വെള്ളപ്പൊക്കത്തെത്തുടർന്ന് ജീവൻ സംരക്ഷിക്കുന്നതിനായി പേടകം തയ്യാറാക്കിയ ഒരു കുടുംബത്തിന്റെ കഥ പറയുന്ന മെസപ്പൊട്ടോമിയൻ കവിതയുമായി ബന്ധപ്പെട്ടിരിക്കുന്നു എന്ന് ഗവേഷകർ വിശ്വസിക്കുന്നു. വെള്ളപ്പൊക്കം അവസാനിച്ചപ്പോൾ, വെള്ളപ്പൊക്കത്തിനുശേഷം നോഹയുടെ പെട്ടകം വിശ്രമിച്ചതായി പറയപ്പെടുന്ന പർവതത്തിന്റെ ഹീബ്രു പദമായ ‘അരരാത്ത്’ എന്ന പദവുമായി യോജിക്കുന്ന ഉറാർട്ടുവിന്റെ കൊടുമുടികളിലൊന്നിൽ അവർ സുരക്ഷിതമായി നിലയുറപ്പിച്ചു എന്നും രേഖപ്പെടുത്തുന്നു.
മെസപ്പൊട്ടാമിയൻ കവിതയും ബൈബിളിലെ നോഹയുടെ പേടകത്തിന്റെ സംഭവവും ഒന്നുതന്നെയാണെന്ന് ബ്രിട്ടീഷ് മ്യൂസിയം ക്യൂറേറ്ററും ക്യൂണിഫോം വിദഗ്ദ്ധനുമായ ഡോ. ഇർവിംഗ് ഫിങ്കൽ വിശദീകരിച്ചു. ഒപ്പം ഈ വിശദാംശങ്ങൾക്കു പിന്നാലെ പോയാൽ ഈ ചരിത്രബോട്ടിന്റെ അവശിഷ്ടങ്ങൾ കണ്ടത്താൻ കഴിയുമെന്നും അദ്ദേഹം കൂട്ടിച്ചേർക്കുന്നു.ടാബ്ലെറ്റിന്റെ പിൻഭാഗത്തും മാപ്പ് ഡയഗ്രാമിന് മുകളിലും ക്യൂണിഫോമിന്റെ നിരവധി ഖണ്ഡികകളുണ്ട്. അത് ഭൂമിയുടെ സൃഷ്ടിയെക്കുറിച്ചും അതിനപ്പുറം നിലനിന്നിരുന്നതിനെക്കുറിച്ചും വിവരിക്കുന്നു. മാപ്പിന്റെ പിൻഭാഗം യാത്രക്കാർക്ക്, അവർ പോകുന്ന വഴിയും വഴിയിൽ എന്താണ് ശ്രദ്ധിക്കേണ്ടതെന്നും കാണിക്കുന്നതിനുള്ള രഹസ്യതാക്കോലായി പ്രവർത്തിക്കുന്നുവെന്ന് ഗവേഷകർ അവകാശപ്പെടുന്നു. ഈ ടാബ്ലെറ്റിൽ ഒരിക്കൽ എട്ട് ത്രികോണങ്ങൾ ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നു. അവ പിന്നിൽ വിവരണങ്ങളുമായി പൊരുത്തപ്പെടുന്ന പർവതങ്ങളെ സൂചിപ്പിക്കുന്നുവെന്ന് ഗവേഷകർ നിർണയിച്ചു.
Sources:azchavattomonline.com
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