Category: Pakistan
Pakistan Christian in Hiding from Extremist Death Threats for “Blasphemy”
CDN reports: “Pakistani Christian on Run from Taliban Death Threat”
— “extremist sermonizing leads to altercation at barbershop in South Waziristan”
— “A young Christian man is in hiding in Pakistan from Taliban militants who seek to kill him for ‘blasphemy’ because he defended his faith.”
— “In February Jehanzaib Asher, 22, was working in a barbershop his family jointly owns with his cousin in Wana, South Waziristan – a Taliban stronghold in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas in Pakistan’s northwest – when the Islamic militants showed up to try to convert him to Islam.”
— “It was not the first time the Taliban’s Noor Hassan had delivered strident sermons to him and his relatives, and this time Asher decided not to listen silently. He defended Christianity by citing verses from the Bible, and Hassan and another Islamic militant viciously beat him – breaking his left leg and some ribs and leaving his left hand non-functional.”
— “He told Compass that he only defended Christianity and did not comment on Islam.”
— “Nearby Muslims helped him and two cousins ward off the attack. Soon the Taliban militants began spreading the word to local residents that Asher and his cousin Christopher Masih had blasphemed Muhammad, the prophet of Islam.”
— “Before the Pakistani military’s recent offensive against the Taliban stronghold in South Waziristan, Asher said, his picture was posted at check-points in an attempt to help the Taliban and other Islamists identify and kill him.”
— “Asher’s cousin, Zaib Masih, managed to get Asher and Christopher Masih (Zaib Masih’s brother) into a vehicle, and they fled the market area where their two barbershops are located. As barbers they were targeted for the Islamic sermonizing and attack due to the Taliban’s opposition to shaving of beards, he said.”
Pakistan: Man booked for throwing acid on ex-wife
Pakistan Militants Bomb CD Shop For Selling “Jesus Film”
Pakistan: Horrific Violence Against Women Continues – 4,514 Cases in First Half of 2009 – “Honor Killings,” Acid Attacks, Other Violence Rampant
— The News: “4,514 incidents come to light in first half of 2009”
— “Presenting the report findings, Arifa Mazhar said among the total violence cases, 691 were cases of murder, 293 cases of honour killing, 1,046 cases of abduction, 332 cases of domestic violence, 388 cases of suicide and 466 cases of rape and gang rape. There were 1,086 cases of miscellaneous nature, which included ‘vanni’, ‘swara’, custodial violence, torture, trafficking, child marriages, incest, threat to violence, attempted murder, and sexual harassment.”
— “Indicating that the tradition is still alive in our society, the list also includes 37 most horrific cases of stove burning. Research shows that major motives behind stove burning are demand of dowry and divorce and other domestic conflicts. Around 27 cases of acid throwing were also reported in the first half of the year, with 21 of them occurring in Punjab.”
— “Arifa said out of the total 3,067 incidents of violence in Punjab, there were 901 cases of abduction and kidnapping, 393 of murder, 119 of honour killing, 412 of rape and gang rape, 253 of suicide, 129 of sexual assault, 24 of stove burning, and 21 cases of acid throwing.”
— “In Sindh, out of the total 835 incidents, there were 132 cases of honour killing, 135 of murder, 79 of abduction and kidnapping, 103 of suicide, 19 of rape and gang rape, 75 of domestic violence, 18 of sexual assault, eight of stove burning and six cases of acid throwing.”
Pakistan: Report warns of Pakistan’s younger generation losing faith in democracy
Pakistan: Report warns of Pakistan’s younger generation losing faith in democracy
— “Only a third believe democracy is the best system of governance, one third support sharia law, while 7% think dictatorship is a good idea.”
— British Council – Pakistan web site — Download “Pakistan – The Next Generation” report
— Pakistan wasting demographic dividend: British Council report
Pakistan a leading player in imposing blasphemy law on globe through UNHRC: Nazir Bhatti
Pakistan a leading player in imposing blasphemy law on globe through UNHRC: Nazir Bhatti
— Pakistan Christian Post reports: “Dr. Nazir S Bhatti, President of Pakistan Christian Congress PCC expressed reservations on UNHRC Resolution A/HRC/12/L.14/Rev.1 subject to “Religion Defamation” presented by Zamir Akram, a Pakistani representative of Organization of Islamic Conference OIC on behalf of Egypt and USA, the cosponsors of resolution because it will promote blasphemy law around globe.”
See also:
Pakistan: 59 Christians Released from Jail Due to Petition Efforts of “Life for All”
— Assist News Service reports – “Some 59 Christians Are Released From Jails in Pakistan”
— “There are still more than 2,500 Christians in jails all over Pakistan who cannot afford the legal assistance for their release”
— “On Friday, November 13, 2009, the sun came up with new hopes in the lives of 59 Christians in Pakistan after the Pakistani-based Christian organization, “Life for All,” had made a determined effort to give these people their lives back.”
— “The imprisoned Christians, who have been in various jails in Pakistan, got the welcome news of their freedom after hard work made by Mr. Rizwan Paul, President “Life for All,” who had presented a petition to Mr. Asif Ali Zardari, President of Pakistan, for the pardon of these Christians who he stated had been ‘falsely accused of minor crimes.’ ”
— “The President reviewed the petition and approved the release of the prisoners who had been accused of minor crimes, and he vowed to review the release of other prisoners after reviewing the nature of their crimes.”
— August 13, 2009: ” ‘Life for All’ demands repeal of Blasphemy laws in Black Day protest”
Pakistan: Asia News Report on Pakistan Blasphemy Law
Pakistan: Asia News Report on Pakistan Blasphemy Law
— R.E.A.L. reports on blasphemy law
— See Also: Peshawar High Court to hear petition against Non-Shariah sections of Nizam -e-Adl
— “The Peshawar High Court Divisional Bench would be reviewing the petition of local government association against the non-Shariah section 7 of Nizam-e-Adl”
Pakistan: Taliban kill two female teachers in Bajaur
Pakistan: Taliban kill two female teachers in Bajaur
— Pakistan Daily Times: “Two female schoolteachers were killed on Wednesday when the Taliban ambushed their car in Shandai Mor, two kilometres from Khar in Bajaur Agency. Shazia Begum and Shamim Bibi, teachers at the Communal Girls School, were travelling from the school when terrorists fired on the vehicle, killing the two and injuring two others.”