Victimising Religious Minorities In Pakistan Under Blasphemy Laws
By Dr.Tahmina Rashid
10 June, 2007
Countercurrents.org
Recent upsurge of invoking blasphemy laws to incriminate Christians (PIMS nurses) reflects the inability of the state to protect religious minorities; increased public display of intolerance towards christens and amplified vulnerability of religious minorities in Pakistan. Hardly have we ever heard outcry from religious zealots that Muslims need to respect other religions and protect religious minorities. However, we hear mullahs rushing to every call of the mischief to witness blasphemy, incite hatred even punish the alleged. Be it conversion of an aged woman in comma, burning of our holy book to implicate a Christian under these laws; making a cross sign on water cooler where Quranic verses stickers are posted, we have become a mob of lunatics, obsessed with imposition of our version of religiosity upon people belonging to all faith.
Lal Masjid burqa clad religious mafia seems to be financed by money from orthodox quarters, have the covert support of establishment, running a stat within state, openly displaying arms, threatening suicide attacks against innocent citizens, claiming to have the armed power to deal with state machinery if needed. However, they are not to be singled out, they are a reflection of what has been happening across country with the connivance of mullahs and establishment and most of us share this burden of shameless attitude towards minorities.Our bias reflects through the attitude of the people who are willing to bash Christians on any call in the name of blasphemy, the manner in which police handles the situation, in judicial rush to punish Christian minorities and the limited support that Christians receive from civil society organizations, politicians and mother of all times enlightened liberation that keeps us
alarmed that how much Pakistanis need them to keep talibanisation out at
bay.We cry victim hood as Muslims all the time but unashamedly inflict social, economic, political and legal injustices to minorities. Our Tableehi brethrens remain freely engaged in global dawah, get special category visas to preach WEST, would never try to keep own house in order and demand equal rights to Christian minorities in Pakistan. One wonders when sane times will come and enable us to call a spade a spade and practice what we claim to preach.
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