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| Pakistani Christians accused of lynching 'offered acquittal' if they convert to Islam | Pakistani Christians accused of lynching 'offered acquittal' if they convert to Islam |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Christian defendants facing trial over an alleged lynching were reportedly promised acquittal by a public official if they converted to Islam. | Christian defendants facing trial over an alleged lynching were reportedly promised acquittal by a public official if they converted to Islam. |
| The 42 men were charged with killing two Muslims after the suicide bombing of two churches in Youhanabad, Lahore. | The 42 men were charged with killing two Muslims after the suicide bombing of two churches in Youhanabad, Lahore. |
| At least 15 people died in the 2015 attack, one of a number carried out by the Taliban on Pakistan’s minority Christian community. | At least 15 people died in the 2015 attack, one of a number carried out by the Taliban on Pakistan’s minority Christian community. |
| “Public Prosecutor Syed Anees Shah gathered the accused outside the courtroom and asked them to embrace Islam,” legal activist Joseph Franci told the Express Tribune. | “Public Prosecutor Syed Anees Shah gathered the accused outside the courtroom and asked them to embrace Islam,” legal activist Joseph Franci told the Express Tribune. |
| “He told them if they embraced Islam, he can guarantee them their acquittal in this case.” | “He told them if they embraced Islam, he can guarantee them their acquittal in this case.” |
| Earlier this month, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said Muslims were not allowed to force others into converting religion. | Earlier this month, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said Muslims were not allowed to force others into converting religion. |
| Mr Franci told the newspaper the accused did not answer and were surprised by the comment. But Mr Shah reportedly made the same offer six months ago. | Mr Franci told the newspaper the accused did not answer and were surprised by the comment. But Mr Shah reportedly made the same offer six months ago. |
| After an initial denial, Mr Shah admitted to the Tribune he offered the defendants the chance to convert. | After an initial denial, Mr Shah admitted to the Tribune he offered the defendants the chance to convert. |
| Nadia Rahman, Amnesty International’s Pakistan campaigner, condemned the prosecutor’s actions. | Nadia Rahman, Amnesty International’s Pakistan campaigner, condemned the prosecutor’s actions. |
| She told The Independent: “Just two weeks after the Prime Minister publicly called forced conversions a crime in Islam, this outrage shows that it is not enough to merely offer words. Action must be taken. | She told The Independent: “Just two weeks after the Prime Minister publicly called forced conversions a crime in Islam, this outrage shows that it is not enough to merely offer words. Action must be taken. |
| “The discrimination against religious minorities in Pakistan often flows from the state itself, or with the authorities looking on with indifference. | “The discrimination against religious minorities in Pakistan often flows from the state itself, or with the authorities looking on with indifference. |
| “It’s not enough to transfer this prosecutor from the case – there must immediately be an independent and effective investigation with a view to holding the perpetrators to account through fair trials without recourse to the death penalty.” | “It’s not enough to transfer this prosecutor from the case – there must immediately be an independent and effective investigation with a view to holding the perpetrators to account through fair trials without recourse to the death penalty.” |
| Highly conservative Islam is widespread in Pakistan and Christians, who make up around 1.6 per cent of the population, make up one of the most maligned sections of society. | Highly conservative Islam is widespread in Pakistan and Christians, who make up around 1.6 per cent of the population, make up one of the most maligned sections of society. |
| There have been numerous instances in recent years of Christians being targeted in bombings and also by mobs accusing them of blasphemy. | There have been numerous instances in recent years of Christians being targeted in bombings and also by mobs accusing them of blasphemy. |
| Pakistanis of no religion have also been victims of state blasphemy laws. Earlier in March, authorities charged three bloggers, including a man who used the pseudonym Allama Ayaz Nizami, who headed the Atheist and Agnostic Alliance Pakistan. | |
| The group’s website and Facebook page now appear to have been taken down. | The group’s website and Facebook page now appear to have been taken down. |
| Soon after the arrests, the hash tag #HangAyazNizami became one of the most trending in the country, as people called for his execution. | Soon after the arrests, the hash tag #HangAyazNizami became one of the most trending in the country, as people called for his execution. |
| Blasphemy is punishable by death in Pakistan. | Blasphemy is punishable by death in Pakistan. |
| Senior judges have called for restrictions on social media in order to stop the circulation of so-called blasphemous material. | Senior judges have called for restrictions on social media in order to stop the circulation of so-called blasphemous material. |
| But critics have said blasphemy laws are being used to silence people opposed to hard line conservatives. | But critics have said blasphemy laws are being used to silence people opposed to hard line conservatives. |