Who will be the next blasphemer?
-Illustration by Faraz Aamer Khan.
When Jinnah said that “religion and state should be kept separate”, he could not have more appropriately warned the people of present-day Pakistan where the constitutionally supported, man-made religious doctrines issued by fundamentalists continue, to ruin lives.
Persecution of religious minorities is not uncommon in Pakistan, however, year 2012 witnessed the height of injustices when a mentally unstable man was torched alive for alleged blasphemy and an 11-year-old girl suffering from Down Syndrome was arrested for alleged sacrilege.
Given the legal statuette and constitution of Pakistan, no one in his/her right mind would ever venture out to commit blasphemy publicly or otherwise which all the more proves that the aforementioned people were not in full possession of their faculties, when or even if they committed blasphemy.
Though President Asif Ali Zardari sought a report on the arrest of Rimsha, a minor girl, and took notice of the man killed by scavenging protestors — both accused of blasphemy — but no amount of investigation will ever bring back the man who died the most horrible of deaths. No amount of probing will secure Rimsha’s future. No amount of placatory words will reassure minorities that the blasphemy law will not be manoeuvred to hurt them in Pakistan. And no number of notices will ever empower minorities living an oppressed existence in our country.
There is only one solution to this ever-growing menace which lies in the amendment of the blasphemy law. Unfortunately most of our hopes were shattered when former Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani announced in 2011 that “the government has no plans of amending the blasphemy law.”
The fact that the crimes committed by a select group of religiously intolerant people fails to grab the attention of our honourable Chief Justice, who is known for his human rights activism, is most unfortunate for all of us.
It is also most disappointing that the current ruling government is fully able to pass a quick bill to support and protect political agents against Contempt of Court, however, fail to address the blatant violation of human and minorities’ rights.
Even more disappointing than the negligence of the government and judiciary is the apathy of the general masses, living in absolute denial with respect to the current state of affairs.
The fact that most of us try to justify the brutalities by asking why people focus on the plight of minorities when Shias are being killed with equal ferocity in Pakistan, is sheer bigotry. The question is how can one prioritise the killings of any human being? How are Christians, Hindus or Ahmadis any less important than Shias or vice versa? Shouldn’t the focus be on culminating this barbarism rather than debating with words that pacify no one anymore?
We all stayed quiet when scores of Shia Muslims were pulled off the bus and shot dead. We maintained the same calm when a day later, a bus carrying Shia students was attacked in Karachi. We were in hibernation when Salman Taseer was assassinated for voicing his views on the blasphemy law. We did not care when Ahmadis were restricted from offering Eid prayers at Ewan-e-Tauheed. And we continued to mince words when harassed Hindus migrated from Pakistan.
Yet, we congregated and protested greatly for the welfare and safety of Muslims living in Myanmar, Kashmir, Assam and Gujrat failing to realise that our country is in a state of civil war, where the situation drastically deteriorates with the passage of each day. We also protested publicly and demanded the authorities to penalise Rimsha by pushing her to the gallows. How are we, a mob that is so fervently bent on penalising a minor girl any different from the forces responsible for killing people in Myanmar and Gujrat? Why such hypocrisy? Do we not owe just a little bit more to our own minorities than the Muslims of other countries?
The Pakistani flag comprises two colours; one of them to specifically represent our minorities. However, looking at the reprehensible situation of the country, white should be replaced with black for the bleak future we offer to them as citizens of this state.
It is important to understand that all that happens around is not propaganda, a conspiracy or a plan conceived and executed by foreign elements. People, who hold an opinion over the deplorable situation are not anti-Islam or Pakistan in any way. In fact, they are equally, if not more, concerned about the well-being of Pakistan and everything that Jinnah stood for. It is people like us who are perpetrating these crimes by comparing the atrocities happening in Pakistan with scattered incidents of discrimination carried out against minorities in neighbouring and western countries in a futile hope to placate each other.
We must wake up from our deep slumber and realise that it is getting too late for all of us. There was a time when Christians, Parsis and Hindus were considered minorities. Then they were joined by Ahmadis and Shias. And no one knows who the next blasphemer or victim will be. However, the one, definite thing we should all be sure of is that with every incident of blasphemy in this country, it is the noose around our own necks that is tightening.
The writer is a Reporter at Dawn.com
no sense of commenting, as less than the 0.1% not able read in mail,but show must keep going, but thruths are bitter, find a solution, our generation to be left as free bird on their account beyount vail.
Hi All, our dear sister Fazia has been featured in Ibnlive program called Nobody’s Countrymen
Well reading all of the above, it seems that many are missing the point which is that we pakistani’s are taking the real charge against those that are blowing and killing our Pakistani’s by saying Allah O Akbar before they set themself up. It is really scary that we are blaming others when we ourselves are to be blamed when we allowed Islam to be hijacked by the Half Mullahs in the 80′s and early 90′s. It is our fault that we have allowed these people the power to decide who is a Muslim. Surely we cry and jump up and down when others kill us else where, we should first put our Home in order before we look around.
Love For All Hatred For None.
I live in Canada. I saw two children playing both were muslim, I asked one of them,who r u? He replied Indian. I asked the other one who r u? He replied Muslim ( he was from Pakistan). As Pakistani’s do we teach our children to be less patriotic and more religious ? Which should come first Patriotism or Religion?
Patriotism should come first.
The fact that the crimes committed by a select group of religiously intolerant people fails to grab the attention of our honourable Chief Justice, who is known for his human rights activism, is most unfortunate for all of us.
It is also most disappointing that the current ruling government is fully able to pass a quick bill to support and protect political agents against Contempt of Court, however, fail to address the blatant violation of human and minorities’ rights.
Oops, I think I just committed blasphemy. I formatted my hard drive which contained a full electronic version of the Quran and Hadith. Can our learned Ulema tell me if I am okay or do I have to prepare for a mob trying to hunt me down.
Pakistan is a sick society, I commended the writer. It is absolutely the rightful depiction of majority mind set in Pakistan. Secularism is the only pill for this disease.
PA
exactly….pakistan needs an attaturk
Secularism is the worst religion of all.those claiming to be secular are intact follow some other religion in their lives
So now it has been confrmed that the Imam of the local mosque Khalid Chisti has been arrested for planting the evidence! (and desecrating a Quran!) to help in getting Christians expelled from his area.
What punishment should we expect to see now?
I am not sure how this author and many others are trying to link lawlessness in the country with a law. Regardless if the law on blasphemy law is good or bad, it is the lack of respect to law that we suffer in the country. And who would respect the law in a country where it’s leaders are above the law. Nobody is safe here…. Even the majority
using a law in a wrong way is the biggest lawlessness.
Writer is trying to perform the role of “Shehenshah e Akbar” who spent whole her energy and life molding islam as per his societal and political needs – but in vain. Instead of wasting their energy, she should consider promoting something positive like Unity of Muslims and promotion of real islam values.
I think the author is just pointing out the path of intolerance and where it leads to. Its a cancer that eats itself. Finally, there will be only one “true” muslim left standing, as he will have eliminated the rest, as they did not live up to his “standard” of “being a muslim”
Is’nt unity of human beings better than unity of Muslims. We Muslims are already united against all non-muslims, (non-Sunnis). We are united against rationality, equality , progress, tolerance, science and all forms of human decency.
Congratulations !
Well it does appear that Pakistani’s and those hardline mullah’s everyone loves to hate are speaking up for Rimsha Masih. The All Pakistan Ulema Council, an umbrella group of Muslim clerics and scholars, which includes representatives from fundamentalist groups, joined hands with the Pakistan Interfaith League, which includes Christians, Sikhs and other religions, to call for justice for the girl. It also intresting to note that Khatm-e-Nubuwwat, a group accused by some of being behind anti Qadiani violence have rallied in support of Rimsha. Perhaps things are not as black and white as the article would lead us to believe.
You are soooo wrong. Please be a better human being and realize what is happening in Pakistan rather than always try to throw a rug on all the evils that is infested in the country. There is a reason Pakistan is at the bottom of every chain because our people chose to stay illetrate and belive everyone is spiing a web around them. Wake up call, US or any other country dont loose sleep over a failed country.
So now it has been confirmed that the Imam of the local mosque Khalid Chisti has been arrested for planting the evidence! (and desecrating a Quran!) to help in getting Christians expelled from his area.
What punishment should we expect to see now?
This well-staged Rimshah Mashi drama; which was precisely and timely broadcasted by world’s ‘rightous and truthful’ media and which is being trumpted at well-planned frequency by essentially God-less secular corners, would never be able to equate the 21 innocent civilians (mostly girls and children) killed in three consecutive drone strikes in Pakistan, the same day. Rimsha is still alive and inshallah, and those who fear Allah SWT would help that innocent kid get rid of this artifical custody imposed upon her ……… But what about those innocent girls ……… who were killed because they were best of the muslims? Can author highlight the causes of such double standards in her next article?
i shed a tear for those people.. i m gonna cry BUCKETS for ALL u lunatics in pakistan
The white in the Pakistani flag represents the colour of mourning, the green represents the Punjabi state. Everyone else is a minority and at the recieving end
I am not sure what you are trying to say, or if it is even relevant to the discussion.
Dont REDEFINE THE FLAG OF PAKISTAN YOU SELF RIGHTOUS FOOL….I can call you but a lot better names…stick to the topic
Its easy when people from different religions say horrid things about Islam and get away easily ,people support them in the name of freedom of speech .i urge such people to think how would they feel if the same was said for there religion !would they be able to tolerate it.
I am a person who believe that every religion is man-made and have their strengths and weaknesses, and hence should be open to criticism. For instance, the greatest strength of my faith (Hinduism) is its diversity, tolerance and above all, assimilation of contradicting beliefs and philosophies into its fold. However, its greatest weakness is that it has directly or indirectly created a social system (caste) that had oppressed a large section of its population for over three millenia. Similarly in my eyes, Islam has the advantage of greater emphasis on social justice and equality irrespective of ethnicity, but due to its strict injunctions the tolerance of ‘infidel’ beliefs leave a lot to be desired. Same goes for other faiths. Every faith should shed its sense of superiority over another, develop a culture of self-criticism and introspection, and strive to remedy its own weaknesses.
How true
SHK, when other people would say such offensive stuff regarding my faith I wouldnt even care, you know why ? Because its simply not worth it, I wont pull out a gun or a knife and try to kill that person. The reason is that I dont need to prove to the world that my ideology and faith are the best, when my actions are proving elsewise, and before you jump onto any conclusion, I myself am a muslim as well btw.
Yes there is criticism of my faith on a daily basis yet I won’t burn them, behead them or have them stoned to death. I love my faith because it has the ability to include dialogue and critical thinking while still having space for beautiful stories.
Nobody talks ill about any religion ……it is these incidents that defame any religion …. Good deeds make the religion famous ……hence it is our responsibility to condemn such incidents so that they get attributed to the people and not to the religion …..in the current situation ….imagine a minor girl suffering from Down syndrome who is around 11 years getting falsely charged to death sentence under blasphemy law ……Had those witnesses not come forward and the little girl was hanged to death …..who is to be blamed the religion or the religious system …..is this what GOD really wants ……it is time we start rationally thinking ….
Dear, none of the religion is man made. Religions are associated with eachother in ionic bonds of concise information about each other. For instance, Hindus book Geeta, mentions about Prophet Mohammad PBUH, Bible describes Prophet Mohammad PBUH, Quran describes of Torah and several old prophets etc. etc. Man made are the modifications that we have made in God’s religion. May Allah bestow you and me to the right path ……..
Sorry, I beg to differ. I do not think there is any concrete evidence to prove that any (or all) of the religions are of divine origin, except in the beliefs of their respective followers. I do agree that many religious systems (though not all) have the belief of a future savior or avatar who will come to restore the balance in the world. Jews await the Messiah, Christians and Muslims believe in the second-coming of Jesus, Hindus have Kalki, Buddhists have Maitreya. But to assume that they all refer to the same person is a kind of over-stretch. In fact, I think this belief in such a savior is merely the product of the human desire and hope for a perfect future, as he finds the present imperfect and trouble-prone.
Wow i could not have said it better myself. Kudos….
Agree SHK. But this is not just about saying things- it is about KILLING someone who is seen commiting blasphemy. Where is the love and forgiveness that every religion preaches?
That is not the point. The article is about how religious minorities live in Pakistan ansd as a Pakistani and as a Muslim I am nothing but hugely ashamed of what is happening in Pakistan. Religious intolerance has increased to levels unimaginable by most people in the world. For us Pakistanis, there is always an excuse a reason to explain as to why we are so intolerant. What a shame….
being in minority, we hear different blasphemous things about our religion everyday… and we prefer to stay quite then to start up a fight or do horrible things.
Dear SHK ,
I saw one of the program Pakistani program where Muslim youth were refering Hindu as Hindu Dushman.Zaid Hamid and many other intelligent people like speak openly against Hindu’ Christian, Sikh and Jews. on Pakistani TV channels . How many people you have heard (Not told by any maulvi) against Islam.
Just one of the many reasons why Pakistani’s (Sunni and Shia) mobilise and protest when Muslims’ are persecuted abroad (in the examples the author mentions) as oppose to domestic attacks on minorities. It is the severity and the sheer numbers of people who are being killed/displaced in these cases. Gujarat up to 1500 dead with police complicity as the state government looked on. Myanmar an entire community of 900,000 is denied citizenship and faces savage repression. Kashmir draws strong emotions because many Pakistani’s (including the large Kashmiri community) consider it be the unfinished business of independence in which the people have been denied their right to self determination and up to 70,000 have been killed. Note also the recent discovery of mass graves.
The attacks on minorities in Pakistan must be condemned and we should not loose sight of this in the midst of other issues. However there is no comparison between the above mentioned issues and the cases Faiza highlights in terms of severity and the sheer numbers killed/displaced.
So are you proposing that number of fatalities matter more than human lives?
Ms Faiza the more number cost more lives. why we always take opportunity to write any issue that take international attention and totally avoid the killing with in Pakistan by drone attacks all related activities. why not treat it equally. did you ever address any issue like innocent killed in Waziristan and cases like Aafia Siddique?.
Good suggestion but why Afia Siddiqui?
Yeah why Afia Siddiqui? How is she more a Pakistani than any of the people who were mentioned in this article? Just because she is in American custody? You need to set your priorities straight. Your comment reeks of discrimination.
I agree 100%. Dr. Afia is not being targeted for being Muslim or having said anything against Christianity.Why do people give irrelevant examples? Or are they simply desperate to side track the issue?
Mr. Rizwan Yousuf, like most ignorant people in Pakistan, you have missed the point completely. Please try to understand what is being said. Aren’t you ashamed to be a Pakistani?. I certainly am.
Please dont mislead the people. We know it and the entire world knows that Wazirstan is harbouring the most dangerous terrorits and people are protecting them. So please donot even try to throw a spin on this and get the fats straights. Why are the people not reporting terrorist activities which is destabilizing the coountry. U have no patriotism for Pakistan? You want to see the Country run over by these mindless savages? If that is your idea then may ALLAH protect us from our own people who are not loyal to our flag.
Exactly my sentiments! Anybody who even thinks of separation from Pakistan, is the true enemy. Why cant we love our nation, handle issues of growth, investments and progress than supporting some doctrine of twisted evil men whom failed to understand what Prophet Muhammed saw stood for?
You dont see jews killing each other, they may be diverse but they all love their country. You can learn from all nations of the world. First the love of watan and then Muslim or ethnic identity. It should make each of us unique with endless ressources. But instead ppl cling to their comfort zone and ignore the brutalities around them.
I know it can cost my life for going against the crowd but I won’t accept cruelty. It’s basic belief if mine to stand against evil in any shape or form. It’s the newer jihad of current era.
Unlike many, I do debate upon giving references but trust me even then most are few steps from loosing it.
No not necessarily. Of course all human life is of equal value. However a larger number of fatalities will always lead to a greater mobilisation of the public and the international community as a more grave crime has been committed in terms of scale.
Although in the case of Rimsha Masih it is being reported that in an unprecedented move the All Pakistan Ulema Council has come out in support of the girl and have said that those making false allegations be punished.
Gujrat riots were communal riots . People of both the faiths were killed,when you protest against the Gujrats Muslims then you should also protest for people died in Godhra train burning(58 killed, 25 women, 15 children) which actyally spaked the riots and 254 hindus died in that and 790 Muslims.So both the communities lost lives in those riots. 4000 Shia’s has been killed in Pakistan in last few years. number for other minorities can give you a very good number to protest against yourself.
When you talk about Kashmir.You should also talk about the Hindu’s and other communities of Kashmir who were either killed by terrorist or were forced to leave their home. You should also think that when till 1989 Kashmir was a peace full place how come things have changed suddenly.
India has seen lot fo protest against these riots not only by Muslims but hindus as well.
When you talk about numbers then never herard any protest against atrocities commited in Bangladesh or atricities commited by Idi Amin or atrocities killed by Saddam hussain’s baaz party against Shia Muslim
Nothing justifies the killing of human being when we protest we should protest for killing against any human being and not for the people of any particular community.
Once again. good point. thanks
you can protest for one more thing. more than 35000 people has been killed in terrorist attacks in Pakistan only. Way more than drone strikes.
Love you girl…Please keep safe but not silent…people like you will make the world better place to live one day. I almost started hating all pakistani’s specially after seeing treatment given to ” Mumtaz Qadri” but you make me think again..not all are same..some are still human in this country..God bless you. a
So miss faiza fatalities is not related to human life or when you say fatalities you mean mice fatalities.the numbers of human life loss is a bearing on news and definitely. Draw attention,if one human life is lost is grave then thousands of life is even graverr andthat is why ethnic cleansing is not equal to singler murder.I hope you understand now
Going by your logic, one wonders why Pakistanis are so quiet on Syria? Perhaps the number of people killed so far are not enough to illicit a response from our masses or perhaps the fact that a lot of the people killed are Shias?
Ziyad, I thought Syria is a Sunni majority country being ruled by a Shia ruling party. The uprising is more by the Sunnis against the Shia regime. Am I wrong?
Syria is Sunni population dominated but the ruling class is Shia. Therefore its the Shia’s thats killing the Sunni’s. Anyways it doenst matter. Things in Pakistan are getting worse by the day, the hatred, the prejudice, The cycle will not end, dont have the leadership to change course. The will of people was the only factor keeping this Jinnah’s utopia alive and is fading.
Lady to start with, I recommend that the flagpole should be stuck into the green part !
I was actually told that my ‘beloved’ Taliban killed 35,000 people. I wonder who are the US drones killing . Maybe the US Drones don’t even exist and I am just hallucinating them as I am not an enlightened Secularist !!!
Your beloved Taliban have probably killed more than 35,000……mostly innocents. But I guess in your eyes that is okay because the US has killed more!
My dear Rehan Sb
Assuming 100% of the drone victims were civilians, they are still a fraction of those killed by Taliban. One other fact people like you always overlook is the man behind the trigger. The final orders for drone targets are issued by a non muslim CIA operative sitting on a computer in USA relying purely on human intelligence and not so sharp video surveillance. On the other hand your beloved Taliban blow up men, women and children with eyes wide open at point blank range. Who is the greatest culprit? One who is accidently killing innocent civilians or the one doing so willfully as part of strategy to create chaos in the society and weaken the resolve of its citizens to resist Talibanization.
One doesn’t have to be enlightened or secularist. Just rational and logical.
Fabulous and brave piece of writing. Country where most of the people are living in a state of denial, acting like Ostriches by believing in the conspiracy theories and remaining few living in state of fear to speak anything against blasphemy law or against the atrocities on minorities, writing this piece suggests you still have people with solid spine and intellect.
Good luck to the writer and keep it up ! We like you writings ….
With Luv from the neighborhood !!
That’s so true, I don’t think we need any conspiracy theories . The Secularists are doing a great job than any external enemy could possible do ! …. And I was so blind to the fact that there is no such thing as US Drones …all that is propaganda too… I am sure a Secular Pakistan would take care of all issues ranging from terrorism to hunger once we address the “menace” of Islam and succeed in proving it as the root of all evil … keep it up Secularists !!
Secularism may not solve ‘all’ of Pakistan’s problems. But it would be definitely in a better position to solve them, as you would no longer need to depend on the interpretations of your religious law by so many sects to manage your day-to-day life. In India, no one asks what centuries-old Hindu law or Muslim law says about something while dealing with a general civil/criminal case. Personal laws are an exception though, as they are currently handled by individual religious law boards.
Dear Devil ,
Could you please tell me your nationality. Indian or Afganistani ? you have spoken the Truth.
I agree and support the idea of changing white into black color in Pakistan flag which depict the shameless faces of those who use blasphemous law to settle persons scores.
Ah well, a lot of the people here can’t digest the fact that Pakistan even exists …welcome to the club !!!
Majority of sunnis are appalled by what’s happening but dare not speak up against the few. Majority of Arabs were appalled by what Yazid was doing but dared not speak up against the few. Majority of Germans were appalled by what Hitler was doing but dared not speak up. The list goes on. Now you see why Islam has put such a strong emphasis on Jihad? Take up arms against tyranny, if you dare not fight than speak out against it, if you dare not speak out then show with your eyes, but never submit. It is not easy. But it wajib!
There is a ziarat called “ziarat-e-warisa” which shias ( all muslims should ) recite quite often. In that there are few lines which translate something like this. ” Laanat to the ummat that killed Imam Husain and his followrs, Laanat to the ummat that committed atrocities” But here is the most important line which you have suggested as well. ” laanat to the ummat that watched silently and let the atrocities happened”.
You should be punished for being a traitor.
Differing opinion or criticizing the majority view is treason? I hear the same from my Indian friends when I remark that India committed a mistake in annexing Kashmir. I guess ‘patriots’ are the same everywhere.
Agreed
India “annexed” Kashmir ? Gosh, all those atrocities in IHK must be “propaganda” too ..hahahaha
Please refer the first paragraph of the Wikipedia article on ‘Annexation’ – It is the incorporation of territory into another geo-political entity. “It can also imply a certain measure of coercion, expansionism or unilateralism on the part of the stronger of the merging entities.” – Did I miss something? I have intentionally used a relatively neutral term to describe this.
You are a brave Indian but unfortunately in a very microscopic minority as far as Kashmir issue is concerned. 99.9% Indians follow official narrative and those like Anuradha Roy are blasted for stepping out of line. Whereas we have far more liberal narratives and even considered acceptance of status quo with minor modifications at highest level. Refer all the working papers in Musharraf Era before madness consumed him in launching Kargil.
How intolerant a comment dear Salman. It sounds like a threat. What Wajib is saying is totally true. History is full of such examples. The silent majorities have always been subjugated by a fanatic few. That is exactly what is happening in Pakistan today. Majority of the people are peace loving and civilized. It is the fanatic few who who are spoiling the name of the religion and the country and slowing the path of progress.
agree ! if minorities have nothing to do except blasphemy , creating troubles in this hard times , so there future is dark by their own doings ~~ !
Lol. You are intolerant.
How ignorant is this comment. How ignorant….but this is the attitude that is taking Pakistan towards disaster