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| Pakistani Blasphemy Case Shifts as Cleric Is Arrested | Pakistani Blasphemy Case Shifts as Cleric Is Arrested |
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| ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — The Muslim cleric at the forefront of a campaign to prosecute a Christian girl for blasphemy has suddenly found himself at risk of facing the same charges, after one of his colleagues went to the authorities and accused him of falsifying evidence of burned holy papers. | |
| The surprise arrest might change the direction of a case that has brought the world’s attention to Pakistan’s controversial blasphemy laws, which critics say are regularly used to exploit and intimidate minorities. And it bolstered the possibility of a speedy release for Rimsha Masih, the girl awaiting trial in prison on charges she burned Muslim sacred documents; her bail hearing is scheduled to resume Monday. | The surprise arrest might change the direction of a case that has brought the world’s attention to Pakistan’s controversial blasphemy laws, which critics say are regularly used to exploit and intimidate minorities. And it bolstered the possibility of a speedy release for Rimsha Masih, the girl awaiting trial in prison on charges she burned Muslim sacred documents; her bail hearing is scheduled to resume Monday. |
| The cleric, Mohammad Khalid Chisti, 30, who leads a mosque in the impoverished Mehr Jaffer neighborhood on Islamabad’s outskirts, was arrested by a contingent of police officers late Saturday, presented before a judicial magistrate Sunday morning, and taken into police custody for 14 days. | The cleric, Mohammad Khalid Chisti, 30, who leads a mosque in the impoverished Mehr Jaffer neighborhood on Islamabad’s outskirts, was arrested by a contingent of police officers late Saturday, presented before a judicial magistrate Sunday morning, and taken into police custody for 14 days. |
| Until his arrest, Mr. Chisti had cast himself as a holy man who was incensed at a desecration and had passionately exhorted local residents to protest and demand the harshest of punishments for the accused girl, who family members and police officials say is a developmentally disabled minor. The demonstrations sent hundreds of Christian families fleeing the neighborhood after threats were reported. | Until his arrest, Mr. Chisti had cast himself as a holy man who was incensed at a desecration and had passionately exhorted local residents to protest and demand the harshest of punishments for the accused girl, who family members and police officials say is a developmentally disabled minor. The demonstrations sent hundreds of Christian families fleeing the neighborhood after threats were reported. |
| Mr. Chisti, 30, said in an interview Friday that he had been appointed as a lead cleric in Mehr Jaffer almost 10 months ago. During a fiery sermon at Friday Prayer, he angrily defended himself and urged people from the neighborhood to stand by him. | Mr. Chisti, 30, said in an interview Friday that he had been appointed as a lead cleric in Mehr Jaffer almost 10 months ago. During a fiery sermon at Friday Prayer, he angrily defended himself and urged people from the neighborhood to stand by him. |
| “As long as people are with me, no one can force me to leave this neighborhood,” he said in the sermon. He also said that several religious leaders were in contact with him, urging him to make peace with the neighborhood’s Christian residents. He denied that he was trying to provoke locals. | “As long as people are with me, no one can force me to leave this neighborhood,” he said in the sermon. He also said that several religious leaders were in contact with him, urging him to make peace with the neighborhood’s Christian residents. He denied that he was trying to provoke locals. |
| Mehr Jaffer remained peaceful and no protests broke out Sunday after the arrest of Mr. Chisti, residents said. But there were signs of palpable anger as local residents said they were unhappy over the arrest of their religious leader. | Mehr Jaffer remained peaceful and no protests broke out Sunday after the arrest of Mr. Chisti, residents said. But there were signs of palpable anger as local residents said they were unhappy over the arrest of their religious leader. |
| “After evening prayers today, around 200 people of the neighborhood committee sat down for deliberations,” said Mohammad Zaheer, a resident. “They have decided that they will show solidarity with Khalid Chisti and distance themselves from Zubair,” he said, referring to the man who has testified against the cleric. | “After evening prayers today, around 200 people of the neighborhood committee sat down for deliberations,” said Mohammad Zaheer, a resident. “They have decided that they will show solidarity with Khalid Chisti and distance themselves from Zubair,” he said, referring to the man who has testified against the cleric. |
| Mr. Chisti found his fortunes reversing late Saturday when Hafiz Mohammad Zubair, a muezzin, or prayer caller, at his mosque appeared before a magistrate and said that the cleric had added two pages of the Koran to a heap of burned pages of the Noorani Qaida, a holy text used to teach the Koran to children, that was seized from Ms. Masih. | Mr. Chisti found his fortunes reversing late Saturday when Hafiz Mohammad Zubair, a muezzin, or prayer caller, at his mosque appeared before a magistrate and said that the cleric had added two pages of the Koran to a heap of burned pages of the Noorani Qaida, a holy text used to teach the Koran to children, that was seized from Ms. Masih. |
| “I tried to stop him, but he said that this would strengthen our case,” Mr. Zubair was quoted by police officials as saying. | “I tried to stop him, but he said that this would strengthen our case,” Mr. Zubair was quoted by police officials as saying. |
| No immediate reason was given for Mr. Zubair’s testimony. Such accusations about Mr. Chisti are not new, however; some neighbors had accused the cleric of being a troublemaker and of instigating locals as details of the case surfaced last month. | No immediate reason was given for Mr. Zubair’s testimony. Such accusations about Mr. Chisti are not new, however; some neighbors had accused the cleric of being a troublemaker and of instigating locals as details of the case surfaced last month. |
| But the kind of testimony given by Mr. Zubair is rare in incidents of accused blasphemy, where much of the details are murky or disputed, as people are generally afraid of inviting the wrath of religious figures and leaders who use their pulpits to whip up a storm of public anger, often leading to violent protests and riots. Indeed, even if charges are dropped against Ms. Masih, some neighbors believe she will never be safe. At times, even just the rumor of blasphemous acts in Pakistan have led to lynchings or other violence, particularly against minorities. | But the kind of testimony given by Mr. Zubair is rare in incidents of accused blasphemy, where much of the details are murky or disputed, as people are generally afraid of inviting the wrath of religious figures and leaders who use their pulpits to whip up a storm of public anger, often leading to violent protests and riots. Indeed, even if charges are dropped against Ms. Masih, some neighbors believe she will never be safe. At times, even just the rumor of blasphemous acts in Pakistan have led to lynchings or other violence, particularly against minorities. |
| Late last month, a group of influential Islamic clerics urged the police to investigate the charges against Ms. Masih and prosecute her accusers if the charges proved to be fabricated. | Late last month, a group of influential Islamic clerics urged the police to investigate the charges against Ms. Masih and prosecute her accusers if the charges proved to be fabricated. |
| On Sunday, Mr. Chisti was brought before a magistrate blindfolded and with his hands tied, surrounded by police officers and commandos. “I have done nothing wrong,” he said during brief comments to reporters. | On Sunday, Mr. Chisti was brought before a magistrate blindfolded and with his hands tied, surrounded by police officers and commandos. “I have done nothing wrong,” he said during brief comments to reporters. |