This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/01/world/asia/blasphemy-arrest-exposes-tensions-in-islamabad-slum.html
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Blasphemy Arrest Highlights Tensions in Pakistan | Blasphemy Arrest Highlights Tensions in Pakistan |
| (12 days later) | |
| ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — The cleric, Muhammad Khalid Chishti, 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. Chishti 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 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. | 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 girl at the center of this conflict, remained in jail on Friday. Ms. Masih had been imprisoned last month after Mr. Chishti charged that she burned pages of the Noorani Qaida, a religious book used to teach the Koran to children. | |
| A Saturday hearing in the case was adjourned until Monday after Rao Abdul Rahim, a lawyer representing Malik Ammad, the complainant, objected to one of the lawyers who claimed to be representing Ms. Masih. | A Saturday hearing in the case was adjourned until Monday after Rao Abdul Rahim, a lawyer representing Malik Ammad, the complainant, objected to one of the lawyers who claimed to be representing Ms. Masih. |
| The judge, Azam Khan, asked police officials to ask Ms. Masih and her parents whether Riaz Anjum, who had earlier filed a bail application on behalf of Ms. Masih, had their consent or not. | The judge, Azam Khan, asked police officials to ask Ms. Masih and her parents whether Riaz Anjum, who had earlier filed a bail application on behalf of Ms. Masih, had their consent or not. |
| “They are using delaying tactics,” said Tahir Naveed Chaudhry, another lawyer who also represents Ms. Masih, referring to the complainants. | “They are using delaying tactics,” said Tahir Naveed Chaudhry, another lawyer who also represents Ms. Masih, referring to the complainants. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| “I am under a lot of pressure,” said Mr. Chishti, 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. | 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. | “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, 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. | 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 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 nearby, in the area where Muslims live, several conservative Muslim men complained about how 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 Mr. Ammad, 22, the neighbor of Ms. Masih who had first told others about the burned pages. | 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 Mr. Ammad, 22, the neighbor of Ms. Masih who had first told others about the burned pages. |
| 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. |