KU Islamic Dean Dr. Shakeel Auj Shot dead: Apparently another “blasphemy” related issue.

It seems that this blasphemy thing has taken another precious life. This time Karachi University Dean of Islamic Studies Department was killed by some unknown gunmen.

Apparently, the issue is related to some blasphemy allegations on him for some academic opinion he gave.

According to The Express Tribune:

The tragic incident followed the killing of Dr Maulana Masood Baig, another teacher of the same faculty, who was targeted in a similar fashion in North Nazimabad a week earlier, said Gulshan-e-Iqbal Superintendent of Police, Abid Qaimkhani.

The story further says:

On November 6, 2012, Dr Auj had registered an FIR 460/12 in the Mobina Town police station, stating that a message, declaring him guilty of blasphemy, and thus liable to be killed, was circulated via a mobile phone number, 0303 273 8856.

The FIR, a copy of which is available with The Express Tribune, stated that the deceased professor wanted the police to take legal action against those responsible for circulating this message because the accusation of blasphemy with the explicit words ‘Dr Shakil Auj maloun ki saza, sar tan se juda [Beheading is the punishment of accursed Dr Shakeel Auj]‘ could get him killed.

Later, during police investigations, the names of four of Dr Auj’s colleagues, including a former dean of Islamic Studies Faculty, Dr Abdul Rasheed, surfaced for their alleged involvement in the circulation of these text messages.

We should strongly condemn this barbaric act in the name of some supposed blasphemy issue. Islam is against all kinds of injustices even with the enemy (let alone a respected professor):

“O ye who believe! Be steadfast witnesses for Allah in equity, and let not hatred of any people seduce you that ye deal not justly. Deal justly, that is nearer to your duty. Observe your duty to Allah. Lo! Allah is Informed of what ye do.” [Al-maeda ,8]

Religious extremism was always there in Pakistani society but in the past decade government especially army and military dictatorship of General Musharraf exploited sectarianism and such issues to forward war agenda. People like Tahir ul Qadri, Zaid Hamid, Faisal Raza Abidi etc were promoted in the media to spread venom against other sects and school of thoughts using concepts like blasphemy or some supposed historical concepts. Few years ago, Salman Taseer (Ex-Governor Punjab) was killed by Mumtaz Qadri (a police officer) on blasphemy issue where Salman Taseer merely criticized a man made law 295-C.

Even few days ago, a media channel Geo was targeted for some alleged blasphemy where an anchor used a sectarian song on some actress’s re-enactment of wedding. This was done with the backing of ISI and army who were settling their political scores against the channel. Even many so called liberal and progressive civil society members and political figures backed this insane allegation campaign.

Allah never allowed forceful following of religion and in Quran He clearly mentions that :

“There is no compulsion in religion. The right direction is henceforth distinct from error. “(Al-Baqarah, 256)

It’s time for us to start adopting reasoning and critical thinking in religious affairs instead of blindly following verdicts of clergy or state.  I hope someday principles of justice will prevail against prejudices and hatred.

 

 

Geo license suspended by PEMRA

According to latest media reports, Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has suspended the licenses of Geo News, Geo Entertainment and Geo Tez. This is another attack by establishment on freedom of media and must be condemned.

If the biggest media group of Pakistan (Geo) goes down like this then forget about smaller media groups and wait for the time when establishment will exercise their patriotic totalitarian madness over blogs, news websites, websites of political parties or even their speeches. Worst part of this madness is that a political party like PTI and a leader with great potential like Imran Khan were used like a toilet paper. The establishment did it with ease. All they needed to do was to exploit the right fault lines and play cards like religion, nationalism, blasphemy or some personal differences.

Geo did bad journalism on many occasions including in 2013 elections but we need to know that media freedom also includes bad or biased journalism. Giving up freedom to satisfy some personal hatred is a sign of slave and weak mind.

People need to learn that if you don’t like something use your TV remote. use the control in your own hand instead of giving it to PEMRA or Army. . I opposed Geo for their support of Swat operation or supporting army in this war or for 2013 election coverage but on Hamid Mir issue, they rightly stood up with the victim.

I hope sanity will prevail and this attack by establishment will fail.

Update: Next day government, after pressure from local and international circles, distanced itself from the decision and termed the meeting illegal. Still Geo is not available in many parts of the countries as cable operators are under pressure from military.

Rights advocate Rashid Rehman Khan gunned down in Multan (DAWN);Strongly condemn this mindless murder

source: http://www.dawn.com/news/1104788

MULTAN: Human Rights Advocate Rashid Rehman Khan was gunned down by unidentified attackers in Multan, DawnNews reported late on Wednesday night.

Initial reports suggest that Khan was targeted by two gunmen inside his office at Kachehri Chowk.

Sources told Dawn.com that two clean-shaven young men barged into Advocate Khan’s office and shot him dead. They also injured his two lawyer friends, identified as Nadeem Parwaz and Afzal.

Injured were taken to Nishtar Medical Center where Parwaz is said to be in a critical condition.

“Armed gunmen stormed the chamber of Rashid Rehman and started indiscriminate firing on Wednesday evening, injuring Rehman and two of his associates present there,” senior police official Zulfiqar Ali told AFP.

Advocate Rashid Rehman Khan was a coordinator for the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP). The senior lawyer was defending a university lecturer accused of blasphemy and had complained that he had been receiving threats on his life.

The HRCP had voiced serious concern over the threats extended to Khan.

The Supreme Court advocate had submitted an application with the District Bar Association president Sher Zaman Qureshi last month, saying he was threatened by two lawyers and two other persons who asked him not to appear in the case he was representing.

Rehman was representing Junaid Hafeez, a lecturer at Bahauddin Zakariya University.

Hafeez was known for his liberal views at the university and the case of blasphemy was registered after pressure from right-wing student groups, said a student, who wished not to be named.

Pakistan has strict laws against defaming Islam, including the death penalty for blasphemy, and rights campaigners say they are often used to settle personal disputes.

A recent report from a US government advisory panel said Pakistan used blasphemy laws more than any other country in the world, listing 14 people on death row and 19 others serving life sentences for insulting Islam.

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United4Justice:

I strongly condemn this mindless murder especially if it is done in the name of Islam which preaches justice and human rights.

It is clearly mentioned in Quran that their is no compulsion in religion and Quran also emphasizes strongly on rights of people, importance of protecting lives and justice.  I pray for the victim and his family, and also pray for justice for them.

 

Strongly condemn those morons in Lahore who were involved in attacks on our Christian friends

Strongly condemn those morons in Badami Bagh Lahore who were involved in attacks on our Christian friends. These people only bring disgrace to Islam and its followers.

People have the right to exercise their religion especially when Quran has given us clear directions about freedom of religion and justice.

“There is no compulsion in religion” (Al-baqarah, 256)

“O ye who believe! Be steadfast witnesses for Allah in equity, and let not hatred of any people seduce you that ye deal not justly. Deal justly, that is nearer to your duty. Observe your duty to Allah. Lo! Allah is Informed of what ye do.” [Al-maeda ,8]

It seems these mobs are often backed by land grabbers or other mafias who create such situation to drive away these poor people using blasphemy.On many occasions, Muslims become the victim of other Muslims accusing them of blasphemy to settle business, personal, sectarian or other rivalries.Those who use blasphemy thing for their political or economic favors should be charged with blasphemy. what bigger blasphemy can it be than using the name of Deen to benefit their Dukaan.

At least this moron should be punished easily

If they think they are serving Islam then the should think that non-Muslim citizens in an Islamic (at least by name Pakistan is Islamic) are protected minority and harming them is a serious crime and sin.

Bukhari :: Book 4 :: Volume 53 :: Hadith 391

Narrated ‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr:

The Prophet (S.A.W) said, “Whoever killed a person having a treaty with the Muslims, shall not smell the smell of Paradise though its smell is perceived from a distance of forty years.”

It seems all this anger is not just about a rubbish movie

It seems many people have found their way of releasing frustration, from this fake war, unemployment, electricity crisis, corruption and many many other issues, by damaging public and private property in the name of their love of Prophet (S.A.W). If these idiots want to show their anger on other issues then they should not use the name of Islam of Prophet (S.A.W) and if it is about Islam then this type of violence, attacks on embassies/diplomats and damage to civilian property is not taught by Islam.

Attacks on ambassadors and diplomats are not allowed. Even the ambassadors of worst enemies of Prophet (S.A.W) were not harmed by Prophet (S.A.W) or Sahaba (R.A). What sort of love of Prophet (S.A.W) that people are clearly violating his teachings in the name of the religion he preached. If people have issues with war or foreign policies then they shouldn’t do it at least in the name of religion or the love of Prophet (S.A.W). Even in the war case, Islam doesn’t allow attacks on diplomats.

It seems all this anger is not just about a rubbish movie but the movie has worked like a spark to ignite the fuel. We should not let these morons who made such films to do things which are against Islam and the teachings of Prophet (S.A.W) and that too in the name of Islam.

Recent reports of violence from all over the Muslims world and today in Pakistan on the day of Yaum e Ishq e Rasool (S.A.W) are not very helpful in spreading the right message of Islam. The way people are protesting, it seems they are more interested in looting and plundering the wealth of others than showing any love for the Prophet (S.A.W). I condemn such violence in the name of religion especially in the name of a religion which doesn’t allow such actions.

Some positive development in Rimshah Masih Case–> Pakistani religious leaders coming forward to support her

A good surprising situation has emerged out of the disturbing case of Rimshah Masih that finally religious leaders in Pakistan have come forward to support the poor girl in her case. Below is the news item from Guardian discussing the case:

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Pakistani Muslim leaders support Christian girl accused of blasphemy

Unprecedented move comes after 11-year-old thought to have Down’s syndrome charged with desecrating the Qur’an

Islamic leaders in Pakistan on Monday came out in support of a Christian girl with learning difficulties who is being held in prison, in an unprecedented public denunciation of the blasphemy law by hard-line mullahs.

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, Rimsha, who is accused of blasphemy. They also demanded that those making false allegations be punished.

Read complete

Think before its too late (again)

Ever wondered why Bengalis who played a leading role in the creation of Pakistan took a separate path? Try and see why the people of Waziristan who made Azad Kashmir possible are now fighting against the state or why Balochis who chose Pakistan are now feeling dissatisfaction with the country then you will find some answers. I believe an assessment without any prejudice or nationalism will reveal that its not them who were or are at the wrong end.

It seems that words like treason, blasphemy or crime itself are reserved for weak and oppressed. The ones who often don’t follow the herd become eligible of being called as deviants or misguided. It is a shame that those sitting in the highest echelons of power or so called highest levels of political or religious orders have attained the right to determine right and wrong with an absolute sense of being the bearer of truth despite selling their souls many times to their lust for power and wealth. People digest the destruction of several villages or towns just because someone from them said that he doesn’t accept the system which has enslaved them. But don’t bother to ask those who execute the punishment that how many times they have violated the oath they take to protect the constitution? How many times they have attacked our freedom? How many times they have allowed their land to be used as a base for invading others and our own country? Blind people still follow these so called men of power and honor and call their blind following as Nationalism, Patriotism or Loyalty to the Land or Nation. Many of those who don’t follow these rhetoric are victims of their sectarian and social class prejudices and yet they are known as liberals. So called pious and religious have considered the meanings of being religious as being invaders of others privacy and freedom. No doubt we are in a mess and going deeper into it daily.

Attitude towards the people of Pashtoon areas during Eid times is another classic example and then we expect them to be patriotic. People don’t accept their Eid (right or wrong, for me its not important than respecting their decision for their-selves), they are being killed because they don’t fit to international plans, drones are allowed to bomb them just because they are different in culture or customs or sects, many don’t want them as so called usual participants in the makeup of our societies then why the heck it is necessary to keep them forcefully as a part of our country when they are so undesirable. Let the separation be done for good. Borders or contracts or NICs are not important as compared to respect, freedom, justice and equal status as human beings.

Even the term terrorist has different meanings here in Pakistan. Term “terrorists”, in war on terror in Pakistan, expanded from Al-quaida members to Alqaida+Talibans, then it moved to tribesmen and later to Pashtoons. It then turned sectarian and their whole sects were termed terrorists and then anyone who opposed this war was labeled with this term either as terrorists or supporter of terrorism. A new dictionary meaning has been given to the term based on sect, ethnicity, customs or way of life. The interesting part is that those who were defining terrorism were involved, as executives or supporters, in the bombing of civilian population or violations of human rights.

Pakistan lost its eastern part just after 24 years of freedom and now it is again facing a critical situation. We need to think where we are and where we want to go ahead and how we want to go ahead before its too late (again).

We support Rimshah Masih and demand changing or repealing blasphemy laws in Pakistan which are a real insult to Islam

There are disturbing reports from Pakistan that an 11 years old Rimshah Masih, possibly suffering from Down syndrome is being accused of blasphemy. Blasphemy laws in Pakistan seem to have bring more insult to Islam than the people they wrongly or unreasonably accused for blasphemy.

They seem to be some criminal minded morons who accused an eleven years old Christian girl for a so called crime, she might not be aware off doing. A serious revision of these laws is required on the basis of Quran and Sunnah for revision or repealing these laws which have brought shame for Muslims.

Also those who are using this laws for their evil motives should be brought to justice as well.

People have the right to exercise their religion especially when Quran has given us clear directions about freedom of religion and justice.

“There is no compulsion in religion” (Al-baqarah, 256)

“O ye who believe! Be steadfast witnesses for Allah in equity, and let not hatred of any people seduce you that ye deal not justly. Deal justly, that is nearer to your duty. Observe your duty to Allah. Lo! Allah is Informed of what ye do.” [Al-maeda ,8]

But it seems emotions have taken over the teachings of Quran and Sunnah. Our Prophet (S.A.W) showed kindness to his worst enemies and even cared about the well being of an old lady who used to throw garbage at him.

We support Rimshah Masih and demand changing or repealing blasphemy laws in Pakistan.

Forced Conversion News–>Further Development

Few days ago I shared a news from UN website regarding forced conversion. Here is the other side of the story. Case is in Sind High Court, hopefully there will be a fair decision

Source :http://tribune.com.pk/story/347239/forced-conversion-teen-insists-she-converted-of-own-free-will/

‘Forced conversion’: Teen insists she converted of own free will‘

by Sarfaraz Memon (Express Tribune)

SUKKUR: Faryal Shah (Rinkle Kumari) appeared before the media on Thursday and made it clear that she had not been kidnapped and had not been forced to convert to Islam and marry Naveed Shah.

Faryal said that she had converted to Islam and had married Naveed Shah of her own free will, and that nobody had pressurised her into this. Reading out the Kalma-e-Tayyaba, Faryal said she was a Muslim girl and therefore had nothing to do with her parents.

Faryal (Rinkle Kumari) and her husband Naveed Shah were produced in front of the Sindh High Court (SHC) Sukker bench on Thursday morning amid tight security.

The couple was escorted by SSP Ghotki Pir Mohammad Shah along with a heavy contingent of police. Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) MNA Mian Abdul Haq of Bharchoondi Sharif, his son Mian Mohammad Aslam and a large number of their followers were also present.

The couple through their lawyer, Achar Gabole, had filed a constitutional petition stating that their lives were under threat from the relatives of the girl, who had been issuing threats of dire consequences.

Answering a question on threats to their lives, she said, “Our lives are under threat from my maternal uncle Raj Kumar”. She once again made it clear that she was a Muslim and wanted to live with her husband Naveed Shah.

Advocate Mohammad Murad Lund, who was representing Faryal’s grandfather Manohar Lal, told The Express Tribune that the single bench comprising of Justice Ahmed Ali Shaikh without recording the statement of the girl had ordered SSP Ghotki to provide protection to the couple and ensure that they are produced before the SHC chief justice in Karachi on March 12.

Advocate Mohammad Murad Lund kept on insisting that, the girl was under pressure due to the presence of a large number of Bharchoondi Sharif followers. He said everything will become “crystal clear” in Karachi, as the girl would be able to record her statement in a tension free atmosphere.

Mian Mohammad Aslam of Bharchoondi Sharif said that everyone had seen that Faryal was neither under pressure and had not said a word against the Pirs. “Rather she gave a statement against her own maternal uncle who is threatening to kill her.”

He said his father, PPP MNA Mian Abdul Haq had also come to the court because the girl’s parents had requested that they wanted to meet their daughter, but they didn’t come to see her.

Aslam said when the couple had come to Dargah Bharchoondi Sharif on February 24, Faryal had spoken to her parents on his instructions and had told them that she had come there to convert to Islam and marry Naveed Shah.

“I personally requested them to come over and meet their daughter to see for themselves that she was not under pressure, but they didn’t’ come,” Mian Aslam said.

He once again said that neither Islam nor the law of the land allowed forced conversion.

A disturbing news on forced conversion—>Sind girl forced to convert and marry the kidnapper

This seems really pathetic. there is no room for these type of actions neither in constitution nor in Islam. forceful conversion is not allowed and directly against Quran. I think human rights organizations especially some of rich or political class hindu community member can raise the issue in high court or supreme court or  even in Sharia Court as it is a direct violation of Islamic law as well. Only conversion allowed is voluntary conversion by heart. Also I believe Islamic organizations can help in this as it is a direct insult and misuse of Islam.

The incident is of Sind. I believe there are four major crimes on which Pakistan Civil Society and Courts should look at :

1) Abduction of a minor girl

2) Forced Conversion

3) Marriage and perhaps Forced Sex (Rape)

4) Misuse of Islam and damaging Islam’s image

I hope some action will be  taken by Civil Society, Religious  and Political Parties, Media and Courts.

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PAKISTAN: Abducted and forced into a Muslim marriage(IRIN ASIA)

Source : http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?reportid=94969#.T0wby1N0pvY.facebook

KARACHI, 27 February 2012 (IRIN) – Sixteen-year-old Ameena Ahmed*, now living in the town of Rahim Yar Khan in Pakistan’s Punjab Province, does not always respond when her mother-in-law calls out to her.
“Even after a year of `marriage’ I am not used to my new name. I was called Radha before,” she told IRIN on a rare occasion when she was allowed to go to the corner shop on her own to buy vegetables.
Ameena, or Radha as she still calls herself, was abducted from Karachi about 13 months ago by a group of young men who offered her ice-cream and a ride in their car. Before she knew what was happening, she was dragged into a larger van, and driven to an area she did not know.
She was then pressured into signing forms which she later found meant she was married to Ahmed Salim, 25; she was converted to a Muslim after being asked to recite some verses in front of a cleric. She was obliged to wear a veil. Seven months ago, Ameena, who has not seen her parents or three siblings since then and “misses them a lot”, moved with her new family to southern Punjab.
“The abduction and kidnapping of Hindu girls is becoming more and more common,” Amarnath Motumal, a lawyer and leader of Karachi’s Hindu community, told IRIN. “This trend has been growing over the past four or five years, and it is getting worse day by day.”
He said there were at least 15-20 forced abductions and conversions of young girls from Karachi each month, mainly from the multi-ethnic Lyari area. The fact that more and more people were moving to Karachi from the interior of Sindh Province added to the dangers, as there were now more Hindus in Karachi, he said.
“They come to search for better schooling, for work and to escape growing extremism,” said Motumal who believes Muslim religious schools are involved in the conversion business.
“Hindus are non-believers. They believe in many gods, not one, and are heretics. So they should be converted,” said Abdul Mannan, 20, a Muslim student. He said he would be willing to marry a Hindu girl, if asked to by his teachers, “because conversions brought big rewards from Allah [God]. But later I will marry a `real’ Muslim girl as my second wife,” he said.
According to local law, a Muslim man can take more than one wife, but rights activists argue that the law infringes the rights of women and needs to be altered.
Motumal says Hindu organizations are concerned only with the “forced conversion” of girls under 18. “Adult women are of course free to choose,” he said.

“Lured away”
Sunil Sushmt, 40, who lives in a village close to the city of Mirpurkhas in central Sindh Province, said his 14-year-old daughter was “lured away” by an older neighbour and, her parents believe, forcibly converted after marriage to a Muslim. “She was a child. What choice did she have?” her father asked. He said her mother still cries for her “almost daily” a year after the event.

Sushmat is also concerned about how his daughter is being treated. “We know many converts are treated like slaves, not wives,” he said.
According to official figures, Hindus based mainly in Sindh make up 2 percent of Pakistan’s total population of 165 million. “We believe this figure could be higher,” Motumal said.

According to media reports, a growing number of Hindus have been fleeing Pakistan, mainly for neighbouring India. The kidnapping of girls and other forms of persecution is a factor in this, according to those who have decided not to stay in the country any longer.
“My family has lived in Sindh for generations,” Parvati Devi, 70, told IRIN. “But now I worry for the future of my granddaughters and their children. Maybe we too should leave,” she said. “The entire family is seriously considering this.”
*not her real name