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Blasphemy Arrest Spotlights Tensions in Islamabad Slum Blasphemy Arrest Highlights Tensions in Pakistan
(about 3 hours later)
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — The cleric, Mohammad Khalid Chisti, spoke with a self-righteous rage, leading Friday Prayer in this tense neighborhood and insisting that he will never back down in demanding a harsh punishment for a Christian girl accused of burning pages of a religious text. ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — The cleric, Mohammad Khalid Chisti, spoke with a self-righteous rage, leading Friday Prayer in this tense neighborhood and insisting that he would never back down in demanding a harsh punishment for a Christian girl accused of burning pages of a religious text.
“I can be chopped into pieces, but I will not bow,” Mr. Chisti said in a strong, emotional voice to a gathering of like-minded local residents. “My self-respect and my life is for the Koran. I will fight for it till my last breath.”“I can be chopped into pieces, but I will not bow,” Mr. Chisti said in a strong, emotional voice to a gathering of like-minded local residents. “My self-respect and my life is for the Koran. I will fight for it till my last breath.”
Here in Mehr Jaffer, a slum also known as Mehr Abadi, on the outskirts of this city, the Muslim majority lived peacefully beside a Christian minority for years, in a neighborhood where people focused on matters of sustenance, of getting through their days. Homes do not have natural gas for cooking, and the stink of sewage fills the air. Now suddenly this community finds itself in a global spotlight that has focused attention on Pakistan’s rigid blasphemy laws and on the state’s diminished ability to protect religious minorities. Here in Mehr Jaffer, a slum also known as Mehr Abadi, on the outskirts of this city, the Muslim majority lived peacefully beside a Christian minority for years, in a neighborhood where people focused on matters of sustenance, of getting through their days. Homes do not have natural gas for cooking, and the stink of sewage fills the air. Now this community finds itself in a global spotlight that has focused attention on Pakistan’s rigid blasphemy laws and its diminished ability to protect religious minorities.
Rimsha Masih, the young girl at the center of this conflict, remained in jail on Friday. She was scheduled to appear before a judge on Saturday, who was expected to release her on bail, according to her lawyer, Tahir Naveed Chaudhry. Ms. Masih had been imprisoned last month after Mr. Chisti charged that she burned pages of the Noorani Qaida, a religious textbook used to teach the Koran to children. Rimsha Masih, the girl at the center of this conflict, remained in jail on Friday. She was to appear before a judge on Saturday, who was expected to release her on bail, according to her lawyer, Tahir Naveed Chaudhry. Ms. Masih had been imprisoned last month after Mr. Chisti charged that she burned pages of the Noorani Qaida, a religious book used to teach the Koran to children.
The case quickly escalated when tempers flared and neighbors surrounded the police station where the girl was held. The Christian residents fled, fearing violence. But by Friday, the neighborhood had settled into an uneasy calm, as about half the Christian families returned, and Muslims complained they were under intense pressure to back off their demands that the girl be punished. Pakistan’s colonial-era blasphemy laws have been vulnerable to abuse since the 1980s, since the legislation was amended to make blasphemy a capital crime. But in recent years the issue has bubbled to the surface as religious zealots have abused the law to persecute religious minorities or to pursue grudges against fellow Muslims.
One of the points of dispute was the girl’s age and mental fitness, with her accusers saying she was 16 years old and fit to understand her actions, and others saying she was 11, with Down syndrome. The case escalated when tempers flared and neighbors surrounded the police station where the girl was held. Christian residents fled, fearing violence. But by Friday, the neighborhood had settled into an uneasy calm, as about half the Christian families returned, and Muslims complained they were under intense pressure to back off their demands that the girl be punished.
“I am under a lot of pressure,” said Mr. Chisti, 30, a tall bearded man with a pimpled nose, who was surrounded by dozens of approving neighbors. “Police officials keep visiting me. Religious scholars are also in contact. They are saying that we should live with unity with Christians. But I am just asking for punishment of breaking the law.” One point of dispute was the girl’s age and mental fitness, with her accusers saying she was 16 years old and fit to understand her actions, and others saying she was 11, with Down syndrome.
Abdul Khaliq, 78, an elder of the union council, a local government body, said locals handed the girl to the police instead of harming her. “People were very infuriated. But we did not let anyone break the law. No one tortured the family or burned their house,” he said. “I am under a lot of pressure,” said Mr. Chisti, 30, a tall bearded man, who was surrounded by dozens of approving neighbors. “Police officials keep visiting me. Religious scholars are also in contact. They are saying that we should live with unity with Christians. But I am just asking for punishment of breaking the law.”
Abdul Khaliq, 78, an elder of a local government body, said locals handed the girl to the police instead of harming her. “People were very infuriated. But we did not let anyone break the law. No one tortured the family or burned their house,” he said.
While the residents see their actions as being rather restrained, panic still rippled through the 400 or so Christian families in the area.While the residents see their actions as being rather restrained, panic still rippled through the 400 or so Christian families in the area.
“We are afraid. We are not satisfied with the situation,” Ijaz Ghori, 20, said, as he sat inside a barbershop along with five other men. All wore jeans and shirts in contrast to Muslim residents, who mostly wear the traditional shalwar qameez. “We are afraid. We are not satisfied with the situation,” Ijaz Ghori, 20, said, as he sat inside a barbershop along with five other men.
Naeem Ajmal, 20, who owned the barbershop, said most of the Christian men had returned to their homes and that women would too once things seemed back to normal. Naeem Ajmal, 20, the barbershop owner, said that most of the Christian men had returned to their homes and that women would too once things seemed back to normal.
Christians had been living side by side with the Muslims more than 12 years in the locality, the men in the barbershop said. There had been no overt religious tensions earlier, but Christians said they felt pressured not to perform their religious duties openly. Christians had been living side by side with the Muslims more than 12 years in the locality, the men in the barbershop said. There had been no overt tensions earlier, but Christians said they felt pressured not to perform their religious duties openly.
“We pray inside our houses,” Mr. Ghori said. “There is no sense of freedom.”“We pray inside our houses,” Mr. Ghori said. “There is no sense of freedom.”
But across a few lanes, in the area where Muslims live, several conservative Muslim men complained about how the Christians lived. But nearby, in the area where Muslims live, several conservative Muslim men complained about how Christians lived.
Nadeem Haider, 20, a Muslim shopkeeper, said he was repelled by the sight of Christian women, who mingled freely with men. “They spread vulgarity,” he said and added that liquor, which is banned by Islam, is available in the Christian neighborhood.Nadeem Haider, 20, a Muslim shopkeeper, said he was repelled by the sight of Christian women, who mingled freely with men. “They spread vulgarity,” he said and added that liquor, which is banned by Islam, is available in the Christian neighborhood.
The street where Ms. Masih’s family lived was mostly deserted before Friday Prayer. But as the sound of prayer blared through a loudspeaker, men began trickling out, making way to the mosque. Among them was Malik Ammad, 22, the neighbor of Ms. Masih who had first told others about the burned pages from the Islamic book. The street where Ms. Masih’s family lived was mostly deserted before Friday Prayer. But as the sound of prayer blared through a loudspeaker, men began trickling out, making way to the mosque. Among them was Malik Ammad, 22, the neighbor of Ms. Masih who had first told others about the burned pages.
“I was sitting outside my house when I saw Rimsha carrying burned papers to throw in a heap of trash. I saw they included some pages of Noorani Qaida,” said Mr. Ammad, a lean man with a beard. “I inquired what was she doing, but she ran inside her house and locked the door.”“I was sitting outside my house when I saw Rimsha carrying burned papers to throw in a heap of trash. I saw they included some pages of Noorani Qaida,” said Mr. Ammad, a lean man with a beard. “I inquired what was she doing, but she ran inside her house and locked the door.”
He said he informed Mr. Chisti, the cleric, and as word spread in the neighborhood, a large crowd gathered and tempers rose.He said he informed Mr. Chisti, the cleric, and as word spread in the neighborhood, a large crowd gathered and tempers rose.
It was not clear what the girl’s motive in burning the text might have been, assuming she had even done so. It was not clear what the girl’s motive in burning the text might have been, assuming she had even done so. Mr. Ammad said he did not see the girl burning the pages. “I am not leveling any accusation,” he said. “I want the police to investigate.”
Mr. Ammad said he did not see the girl burning the pages. “I am not leveling any accusation,” he said. “I want the police to investigate.”
But even if the police investigation clears Ms. Masih, her neighbors said it would not be possible for her family to return.But even if the police investigation clears Ms. Masih, her neighbors said it would not be possible for her family to return.
“We cannot ensure their safety,” said Mr. Khaliq, the elder.“We cannot ensure their safety,” said Mr. Khaliq, the elder.