8th grade Christian girl accused of blasphemy over a typo in Punjab

[ANG]

Girl accused of blasphemy for a spelling error – The Express Tribune

Girl accused of blasphemy for a spelling error
By Muhammad Sadaqat
Published: September 25, 2011

Eighth-grader expelled from school; mother forced to move from city.
ABBOTTABAD:
It may have been a mere misplaced dot that led to accusations of blasphemy against a Christian eighth-grader, whose miniscule error led to her expulsion from school and uproar amongst local religious leaders.

Faryal Bhatti, a student at the Sir Syed Girls High School in Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF) colony Havelian, erroneously misspelt a word in an Urdu exam while answering a question on a poem written in praise of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). The word in question was ‘laanat’ instead of ‘naat’ – an easy error for a child to make, as the written versions of the words are similar.

According to the school administration and religious leaders who took great exception to the hapless student’s mistake, the error is ‘serious’ enough to fall within the realm of blasphemy, Saturday.

Spelling out her punishment
On Thursday, Faryal’s Urdu teacher was collecting the answer sheets from her students when she noticed the apparently offensive word on her pupil’s sheet. The teacher, Fareeda Bibi, reportedly summoned the Christian girl, scolded her and beat her. Her punishment, however, did not end here. When Faryal’s class fellows learnt of the alleged blasphemy, the teacher brought the principal’s notice to the matter, who further informed the school management.

In the meanwhile, the news spread throughout the colony. The next day, male students of the POF colony school as well as certain religious elements took out a rally, demanding the registration of a criminal case against the eighth-grader and her expulsion from the area.

Prayer leaders within the community also condemned the incident in their Friday sermons, asking the colony’s administration to not only take action against Faryal but her entire family. In the wake of the increasing tensions, Managing Director POF Colony Havelian Asif Siddiki called a meeting of colony-based ulemas and school teachers to discuss the situation. The girl and her mother were asked to appear before the meeting, where they explained that it was a mere error, caused by a resemblance between the two words. The two immediately apologised, adding that Faryal had no malicious intentions.

In a move that was apparently meant to pacify the religious elements clamouring for action against the teenage ‘blasphemer’, the POF administration expelled her from the school on Saturday. Faryal was not the only one who got in trouble for her spelling error, however, as her mother, Sarafeen Bhatti, who was a staff nurse at the POF Hospital Havelian for several years, was immediately transferred to POF Wah Cantonment Hospital.

Decision applauded
While talking to The Express Tribune, Maulana Alla Dita Khateeb of Gol Masjid praised the decision of the POF colony administration, claiming that he had personally seen the answer sheet in question. He further went on to say that he had met the girl himself, who had apologised for the word used in error. Asked whether the incident still fell within the realm of blasphemy and whether Faryal deserved expulsion when she had misspelt the word unintentionally, Khateeb said that although he was unclear about the intentions of the girl, the word she had used was sacrilegious.

The managing director of POF Colony was not available for comment.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 25th, 2011.

 

[Don Jaguar]

I don't think the girl of this age even know the meaning of blasphemy and the word naat نعت and laanat لعنت are also quite similar in urdu writing!!!

 

[muse]

Soon there will be a clamor for changing the name of this thread , then our islamicans and their friends in the admin will argue that this has nothing to do with their Islam and that intolerance is not institutionalized in Pakistan, soon other stooges will argue that Pakistanis are extremely tolerant, and as proof they will point to how well the religious parties d in elections (the very same people will also suggest that those who did well in elections did so as a result of vote rigging - though it had nothing to do with the votes the religious parties got -- then when others point out that Pakistan Ordinance Factory and the close relationship between it and the Pakistan military and the fact that the Pakistani armed forces are infected by the Islamist malice - then a storm will be unleashed -

Then there is the One Of" argument -- all manner of denial will follow.

After a while the Indians will pick up on the story and then all hell will break lose - Can't have those indians know the truth about our newly arabizedm Islamized selves and the love and affection we shower on those who mis-spell, especially if they are not Muslims and eigth graders, well, not sunni muslims anyway, well, OK, not Barelvi, wait or is that Deobandi, or is that Ahle something arabic?

In the wake of the increasing tensions, Managing Director POF Colony Havelian Asif Siddiki called a meeting of colony-based ulemas and school teachers to discuss the situation. The girl and her mother were asked to appear before the meeting, where they explained that it was a mere error, caused by a resemblance between the two words. The two immediately apologised, adding that Faryal had no malicious intentions.

In a move that was apparently meant to pacify the religious elements clamouring for action against the teenage ‘blasphemer’, the POF administration expelled her from the school on Saturday. Faryal was not the only one who got in trouble for her spelling error, however, as her mother, Sarafeen Bhatti, who was a staff nurse at the POF Hospital Havelian for several years, was immediately transferred to POF Wah Cantonment Hospital

.

Those Damned Zionists and those Horrible Hindus.

 

[Don Jaguar]

Soon there will be a clamor for changing the name of this thread , then our islamicans and their friends in the admin will argue that this has nothing to do with their Islam and that intolerance is not institutionalized in Pakistan, soon other stooges will argue that Pakistanis are extremely tolerant, and as proof they will point to how well the religious parties d in elections (the very same people will also suggest that those who did well in elections did so as a result of vote rigging - though it had nothing to do with the votes the religious parties got -- then when others point out that Pakistan Ordinance Factory and the close relationship between it and the Pakistan military and the fact that the Pakistani armed forces are infected by the Islamist malice - then a storm will be unleashed -

Then there is the One Of" argument -- all manner of denial will follow.

After a while the Indians will pick up on the story and then all hell will break lose - Can't have those indians know the truth about our newly arabizedm Islamized selves and the love and affection we shower on those who mis-spell, especially if they are not Muslims and eigth graders, well, not sunni muslims anyway, well, OK, not Barelvi, wait or is that Deobandi, or is that Ahle something arabic?

Lol, this is what we call experience of defence.pk!!!

 

[Awesome]

Soon there will be a clamor for changing the name of this thread , then our islamicans and their friends in the admin will argue that this has nothing to do with their Islam and that intolerance is not institutionalized in Pakistan, soon other stooges will argue that Pakistanis are extremely tolerant, and as proof they will point to how well the religious parties d in elections (the very same people will also suggest that those who did well in elections did so as a result of vote rigging - though it had nothing to do with the votes the religious parties got -- then when others point out that Pakistan Ordinance Factory and the close relationship between it and the Pakistan military and the fact that the Pakistani armed forces are infected by the Islamist malice - then a storm will be unleashed -

Then there is the One Of" argument -- all manner of denial will follow.

After a while the Indians will pick up on the story and then all hell will break lose - Can't have those indians know the truth about our newly arabizedm Islamized selves and the love and affection we shower on those who mis-spell, especially if they are not Muslims and eigth graders, well, not sunni muslims anyway, well, OK, not Barelvi, wait or is that Deobandi, or is that Ahle something arabic?

.

Those Damned Zionists and those Horrible Hindus.

Case closed, we know how everything will play out now

 

[Awesome]

I would like to see this "sacrilegious" mistake myself. Quite a stretch to mis-spell this.

 

[muse]

Lol, this is what we call experience of defence.pk!!!

Unfortunately it's true - it's not the place to see leadership

 

[Leader]

8th grader is not a child...

what is this nonsense ?? she is not support to read religious stuff of Muslims in the first place, unless her own choice...

secondly, even if she has deliberately done, so what???????, who asked you to put a religious text in the exam or class in the first place??

childish and too sensitive to the non issues,

Is this what Jinnah wanted a modern Islamic democracy? is this what Islam taught us ?


IDIOTS !!

 

[notsuperstitious]

I would like to see this "sacrilegious" mistake myself. Quite a stretch to mis-spell this.

Ya I can make some scurrilous mistakes, but only if you won't ban me

 

[muse]

I don't think the issue is your or anybody's handwriting or spelling -- It is the kind of society Pakistan is under islamization, consider:

erroneously misspelt a word in an Urdu exam while answering a question on a poem written in praise of the Holy Prophet (PBUH).

Praise or idol worship, choose your poison, the point is the institutional nature of this culture war imposed by the Pakistani state on it's own citizens -- look at the response of her instructor:

The teacher, Fareeda Bibi, reportedly summoned the Christian girl, scolded her and beat her. Her punishment, however, did not end here. When Faryal’s class fellows learnt of the alleged blasphemy, the teacher brought the principal’s notice to the matter, who further informed the school management.

Now as for the kind of offense seeking (read Enemy Seeking) and offense taking (Read Enemy Making) Islamized society, Pakistan has constructed:

In the meanwhile, the news spread throughout the colony. The next day, male students of the POF colony school as well as certain religious elements took out a rally, demanding the registration of a criminal case against the eighth-grader and her expulsion from the area.

Prayer leaders within the community also condemned the incident in their Friday sermons, asking the colony’s administration to not only take action against Faryal but her entire family

.

Teach that 14 year old Christian (rhymes with witch) and her family a lesson that only the niggardly can teach.

Tau Phir?

Tawajuh:

The girl and her mother were asked to appear before the meeting, where they explained that it was a mere error, caused by a resemblance between the two words. The two immediately apologised, adding that Faryal had no malicious intentions.

In a move that was apparently meant to pacify the religious elements clamouring for action against the teenage ‘blasphemer’, the POF administration expelled her from the school on Saturday. Faryal was not the only one who got in trouble for her spelling error, however, as her mother, Sarafeen Bhatti, who was a staff nurse at the POF Hospital Havelian for several years, was immediately transferred to POF Wah Cantonment Hospital.

Honestly what is fair and brave real Muzloum to do? Can he or she really stand up for sense and justice? How can they when the very state itself oppresses it's citizens who are not Muslims of the kind the state prefers to create??

Asked whether the incident still fell within the realm of blasphemy and whether Faryal deserved expulsion when she had misspelt the word unintentionally, Khateeb said that although he was unclear about the intentions of the girl, the word she had used was sacrilegious.

The Khateeb as prosecutor, judge and jury -and of course much as this forum admin itself, consumed by notions of sacrilage

 

[DaRk WaVe]

I don't know about God but the Arab-ized Muslims of Pakistan are one hell of Grammar Nazis, sick!

 

[Ahmad]

A huge number of years, money and off course "Will" is needed to reverse this poisonous attitude and extremism not only in Pakistan but in the region.

 

[Urbanized Greyhound]

The teacher should have stopped the matter from going out of hand. Too bad instead of reprimanding the girl or rebuking her in private , she chose to inform the management.

The Girl should have been more careful while writing on such sensitive matters.

 

[DaRk WaVe]

The teacher should have stopped the matter from going out of hand. Too bad instead of reprimanding the girl or rebuking her in private , she chose to inform the management.

The Girl should have been more careful while writing on such sensitive matters.

its just a spelling mistake for goodness sake *rolling eyes*

 

[Ahmad]

The teacher should have stopped the matter from going out of hand. Too bad instead of reprimanding the girl or rebuking her in private , she chose to inform the management.

The Girl should have been more careful while writing on such sensitive matters.

buddy, what do you expect from an 8year old kid? how many of us used to be careful about silly things in that age? and it is usleless to criticize the teacher, perhaps he was a fundo wierdo himself.