Pakistani Christian Accused of 'Blasphemy' After Billiards Dispute

[CaptainJackSparrow]

Pakistani Christian Accused of 'Blasphemy' After Billiards Dispute
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LAHORE, Pakistan – Police in Pakistan have charged a young Christian man with "blasphemy" after he had an argument with Muslims over a billiards game in Punjab Province's Sheikhupura district, his cousin said.

Farooqabad Police arrested Sajid Inayat, 20, on Friday (May 18) and charged him with desecrating the Quran under the country's controversial blasphemy laws after area young men accused him of setting on fire "holy pages" placed in a box on an electricity pole, Irfan Manzoor said.

Inayat was charged under Section 295-B, which makes willful desecration of the Quran or use of an extract in a derogatory manner punishable with life imprisonment.

Manzoor told Compass by telephone that his cousin had been falsely accused because he had had an argument with some local Muslim boys over a billiards game just two days before the alleged incident.

"Sajid was heading to his shop [of construction material and scrap] on Friday morning when he came across the Muslim boys with whom he had a squabble the other day," Manzoor said. "The boys accused Sajid of setting fire to a box fixed on a nearby pole … He asked them why he would do such a thing, but on their constant prodding, he dared them to do whatever they wanted and walked away."

As soon as Inayat left, the boys raised a clamor, and a mob gathered at the scene, Manzoor said.

"Panic among Christians spread, and several people left their houses anticipating violence," he said.

Family members informed local Muslim leaders about the conflict between Inayat and the Muslims, and the leaders said they would consider the matter that evening, Manzoor said. But at about 5 p.m., police took Inayat into custody, registering a case against him (First Information Report No. 297/12) on a complaint from Muhammad Sharullah Zaman, Manzoor said.

"The situation was tense on Friday and Saturday, and several people had moved to other places, but now the chief of a local Islamist organization, Karwaan-e-Islam, has assured us that no Christian would be harmed," he said, adding that around 20-25 Christian families lived in the area.

There are no witnesses to the charges made against Inayat, he said.

"The allegation leveled against him is baseless and stems from a personal grudge," he said.

Sheikhupura District Police Officer Haider Ashraf said that authorities had sent Inayat to jail on judicial remand.

Ashraf said the matter was serious and that police were investigating from all angles.

"An inquiry is being conducted by a Superintendent of Police-rank official, and justice would be administered on merit," he added.

Ashraf said that tensions were high the day of the incident, "but now things are under control, and there is no imminent threat to Christian families settled there."

Pakistani Christian Accused of 'Blasphemy' After Billiards Dispute

 

[Omar1984]

From the same source:

Christian Persecution on the Rise in India; Grim Outlook for 2012

Watchdog groups are sounding the alarm on increasing acts of violence against Christians in India at the hands of the country's Hindu community.

India is one of the regions closely monitored by human rights groups, due to many cases of religious persecution taking place in its recent history. The biggest act of violence against Christians took place in 2008, in a remote eastern region of India, during an event referred to as the "Orissa massacre," in which an estimated 100 Christians were killed and some 5,600 displaced by a mob of Hindu extremists.

Local observers see a bleak outlook for 2012, given the mood in the country, as signs of renewed enmity become more and more apparent.

On Dec.18, 2011, some 2,500 protesters rallying under the banner of the Hindu nationalist movement expressed hostile attitude towards the idea of Christians celebrating Christmas, reported Mission Network News.

Violence did reportedly breakout in Karnataka, a state near Orissa, where a group of 15 Christians were attacked during Christmas celebrations at a private house by a mob of around 300 members of a Hindu nationalist organization, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). The Christians were brutalized, windows smashed and furniture damaged, according to Mission Network News (MNN).

Dave Stravers of a Michigan-based mission to India told the publication that police arrested all the Christians after they were beaten. They were then thrown in jail, he reportedly said, for a week while no action was taken against the attackers.

"This illustrates the justice problem," Stravers told MNN. “Someone comes to beat you up, and then the police come and arrest you and accuse you of inciting that other person to violence!”

According to statistics gathered by Christians living in Orissa, local police only registered 827 cases of more than 3,500 reports of violence that took place during the "Orissa massacre." The cases that went to court that ended with a sentence were only 68, and 412 offenders received a minimum punishment. In addition, 1,009 people were acquitted, and 304 cases are still reportedly awaiting trial.

"Justice is still a huge problem for some 56,000 Christians for whom life has changed dramatically since August 2008," John Dayal, All India Christian Council's (AICC) Executive Secretary, said in a recent statement, as quoted by Spero News . "Aggressors asked them to convert to Hinduism and burn a Bible as a sign. They did not do it and chose to escape. In 400 villages the Christian presence was completely cancelled, more than 5,600 homes and about 295 churches were burned, hundreds of deaths, some women, including at least one nun, were raped."

Leading up to Christmas, more threats of attacks were made in this region, and religious leaders across the globe called for prayer for the safety of the Christian community in India (among other "dangerous" countries).

On Christmas Day 2011, an angry Hindu mob of 20 persons raided a home where several believers gathered for dinner, including a pastor, Bos News reported. The mob reportedly threatened to "kill the Christians," according to residents.

Hindu militants twice attacked evangelical Christians around the holidays in India's southern state of Karnataka, injuring several believers, including women and children, local Christians told BosNewsLife. Police were reportedly again reluctant to investigate the case, asking injured Christians what motivated them to convert to Christianity and reportedly siding with the attackers, according to witnesses.

In a separate incident on Dec. 28, about 10 suspected Hindu militants allegedly stormed the Hebron Full Gospel Assembly Church in the southwestern town of Haleyangadi, reportedly shouting threats and saying they would "not let the church continue at the place."

All India Christian Council has been pressuring the Indian government since December to pass a bill meant to curb "communal violence which has plagued this country after Independence in 1947, and bring justice to the victims." The proposed legislation is entitled the "Prevention of Communal and Targeted Violence" bill, according to the organization's website. The council is also launching a nation-wide advocacy and prayer campaign in favor of the bill, AICC said on Dec. 12.

The proposed bill seeks to secure justice for victims and bring guilty parties to justice. It maintains that minorities are denied justice because of the communal behavior of a section of religious and political extremists, and the apathy or involvement of government administrators. The legislation also aims to curb hate speech and similar actions.

Hindus are an overwhelming majority in India, where Christians are a minority at 2.3 percent. Muslims constitute 13.4 percent of the population, while Sikhs make up 1.9 percent.

Christian Persecution on the Rise in India; Grim Outlook for 2012

 

[CaptainJackSparrow]

^^ lol typical Pakistani response.

Omar, you're just so predictable.

 

[OrionHunter]

Aw shucks! Here we go again. Pakistan Vs India.

Guys, let's not behave like juvenile delinquents. We need to grow up!!

 

[E Pencho]

Its their mistake. Their families should have moved to India at the time of partition. Everybody knew that paks was made just for Muslims. Now they can't blame the paks.