[photo: SCMP]
Consider:
"... hard-line Islamic groups in Pakistan have pushed back and some have even threatened officials in the past who suggested reforming or repealing the blasphemy law. These groups have significant power since politicians from the major parties rely on them for votes." [my emphasis]
There it is in one sentence: the difficulty "moderate Muslims" have in getting any reform of Islam. And remember: this is about KILLING a woman who got into an argument that started over a disputed water-bowl, for heaven's sake! Presumably she said a few things about "the prophet" in the exchange. And still, there's difficulty in getting any change in the blasphemy law: the Movement for Protection of the Prophet's Honour has vowed to "oppose any change in the blasphemy law". And the second point: the groups have "significant power". Of course, that's Pakistan. But the same is true in any Muslim community. Those that hew closely to the tenets of Islam -- and its inherent violence -- are the ones with "significant power". That's the case in the UK, in Europe, in the US, in Australia.
Hardliners seek Christian woman's death |
| Hard-line Muslims staged a demonstration in the central Pakistani city of Lahore warning the president not to pardon a Christian woman sentenced to death for insulting Islam. They also denounced any attempt to change Pakistan's blasphemy law, which critics say is often misused to persecute Christians like Asia Bibi and other minorities. Bibi's family is in hiding, and her husband said on Wednesday that there had been threats to kill her if she was released and a call from the mosque in their village to burn down their home - accusations denied by the local cleric who filed the original charge against Bibi. The death sentence against the mother of five has prompted outrage from human rights groups and a personal appeal from Pope Benedict XVI for her freedom. But hard-line Islamic groups in Pakistan have pushed back and some have even threatened officials in the past who suggested reforming or repealing the blasphemy law. These groups have significant power since politicians from the major parties rely on them for votes. "We are ready to sacrifice our life for the Prophet Muhammad," chanted 250 protesters in Lahore - many of whom were students from Islamic seminaries in the city. Wednesday's rally was organised by the Movement for Protection of the Prophet's Honour, a group of hard-line Sunni Muslims that was formed in 2001 to oppose changes in the blasphemy law. Bibi, a 45-year-old mother of five, has said she was falsely accused by a group of Muslim women angry at a dispute over whether they could drink from a water bowl filled by Bibi as a Christian. She has been jailed in the eastern province of Punjab since her initial arrest early last year. A court sentenced her November 8 to hang after convicting her of insulting the prophet. It is the first time a woman has been condemned to death under Pakistan's blasphemy law, often criticised as being abused to inflame religious extremism and settle personal grudges. Her lawyer has filed an appeal with a higher court in Lahore, but she could also be pardoned by the president. Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari has asked for a review of the facts of the case, raising the possibility of a presidential pardon. One of the strongest defenders of Bibi has been Salman Taseer, the governor of Punjab province, of which Lahore is the capital. Wednesday's protest took place in front of the governor's office and the demonstrators railed against him and others calling for Bibi's release. "We are here to tell them that we will not let it happen," said Masoodur Rehman, one of the leaders of the group that organised the rally. "Only the court should decide her fate." Bibi's husband, Ashiq Masih, said the family left their village after her arrest and his children haven't been to school in more than a year. He said the few supporters in his village have told him loudspeakers on the local mosque are blaring calls for his wife to be killed and their abandoned home burned down. "We are in great danger," he said. But the local cleric at the mosque who filed the original charge against Bibi, Mohammad Salim, denied the claims and said there have been no threats against the woman or her family. He also claimed that Bibi confessed to committing blasphemy after the quarrel with the Muslim women. Minister for Minority Affairs Shahbaz Bhatti has said he is convinced Bibi is innocent. Bhatti has long campaigned against the blasphemy law introduced by President Zia ul-Haq's military regime in the 1980s to win the support of Muslim hardliners. |
