The fight over blasphemy
continues unabated in Pakistan as appeals and initiatives on behalf of
Asia Bibi, a jailed Christian woman sentenced to death, continue around
the world.
Next week, the High Court in Lahore is expected to set the
date for her appeal.
However, the most extremist Islamic parties and
organisations have launched a campaign in favour of Pakistan’s blasphemy
legislation, announcing street actions and strikes over the coming
weeks.
Maulana Fazl ur Rehman, head of the Jamiat
Ulema-e-Islma Fazl party, launched the campaign at a press conference.
He said that the campaign would unfold in three stages: demonstrations
on 24 December after Friday prayers, a general strike on 31 December,
and a great rally on 9 January 2011 in Karachi.
Maulana Fazl said that religious parties are united on
the issue. He insisted that he would oppose any attempt by the
government to change the blasphemy law.
Yesterday, President Asif Ali
Zardari had said that he wanted to modify the law (see Jibran Khan,
“Pakistani President Zardari wants to amend blasphemy law,” in AsiaNews, 15 December 2010).
At a seminar titled ‘Protection of the blasphemy law
and its importance’, Justice (r) Mian Nazeer Akhtar said Punjab Governor
Salmaan Taseer was also a blasphemer for he was protecting those who
indulged in blasphemy.
“Section 295C was included in the Criminal Procedure
of Pakistan in 1986, and a handful of people cannot be allowed to damage
it,” he explained. At the same time, he accused the Federal government
of allowing dubious debates on television channels.
During Asia Bibi’s trial, her attorney called the
charges a "fanciful drama" by a Muslim majority arrayed against a
Christian minority.
When Asia Bibi offered her fellow farm workers water,
they refused because as a Christian she had made it impure.
Both sides
firmly defended their faiths, but Asia Bibi was charged with blasphemy.
The Rev Samson Dilawar, a parish priest who was
wounded by gunmen in 1997 and saw his Catholic church burned to the
ground in 2005, has been threatened by anonymous callers for assisting
Asia Bibi.
He said that Bibi is not safe in prison.
The murder
last year of a young Christian man accused of blasphemy in nearby
Sialkot is a cautionary tale.
“That boy was killed in the jail. She can also be murdered in the jail as well. She can be killed anytime. So anything can happen," Rev Dilawar said.
Meanwhile, the AsiaNews campaign continues.
Please write to salviamoasiabibi@asianews.com
SIC: AN/INT'L