Religious Liberty Prayer List – No. 130 – Tue 21 Aug 2001

PAKISTAN: AYUB MASIH’S FINAL COURT HOPE SPOTLIGHTS BLASPHEMY LAW

Pakistan had a multi-faith blasphemy law dating back to 1927 aimed at guaranteeing a general respect for all religious beliefs in Pakistan. However, in the 1980s, General Zia-ul Haq amended it to respect Islam alone. In 1986, Section 295C was added to the Pakistan Penal Code, making blasphemy against the prophet Mohammed a criminal offence. In 1990, the Federal Sharia Court ruled that the penalty for this offence would be death.

This law is vague and easily misused. Section 295C states, “Whoever by words, either spoken or written, or by visible representation, or by imputation, innuendo, or insinuation, directly or indirectly defiles the sacred name of the Holy Prophet Mohammed…shall be punished with death and shall be liable to a fine.”

The very existence of the blasphemy law promotes hostility against Christians. Human Rights Watch has referred to it as a “tool of religious persecution”. At a government-convened minority rights conference in Islamabad in April 2000, General Pervez Musharraf

declared that his regime was determined to stop misuse of the blasphemy law and he ordered that it be amended. However, after protest rallies led by Muslim clerics, he retracted his amendments.

A person can be charged with blasphemy on testimony alone, and be immediately and arbitrarily detained without opportunity for bail. The political and societal clout of Islamic extremists and clerics makes it unsafe for lawyers to represent the accused and for courts to acquit them.

There are at least seven Christians currently in prison on blasphemy charges. The longest serving prisoner is Ayub Masih (35) who was charged in October 1996, then convicted and placed on death row in April 1998. He has survived several attempts on his life. Amnesty International considers Ayub Masih to be a prisoner of conscience, held solely for his religious beliefs, and has repeatedly urged the government of Pakistan to release him immediately and unconditionally and abolish the blasphemy law.

In a letter from prison Ayub Masih wrote: “I am thankful that you are concerned about me. I am a very humble servant of God who is now in jail. I am sick with various diseases and have not been allowed any medicines – my conditions are getting worse all the time. Being a prisoner charged with blasphemy, I have been kept alone in a darkened cell where there is no light, no toilet, and no fan to cool me from the heat. I have to tell other prisoners I am here for theft or I would be beaten for being a Christian. I have been tortured many times.”

On 25 July 2001, the Multan High Court rejected Ayub Masih’s appeal, upholding a lower court verdict to execute him for alleged blasphemy against the prophet Mohammed. Unless he can mount a successful final appeal to the Supreme Court by Friday 24 August, he will be hanged. Protestors have threatened to kill Ayub and his lawyer, Syed Sajjad Haider Zaidi, if Ayub is acquitted.

PLEASE PRAY SPECIFICALLY FOR:

* Ayub Masih’s health and spirit; for his final appeal to the Supreme Court, for his acquittal and release, and for the subsequent safety of Ayub, his family and his lawyer.

* Christians suffering in Pakistani prisons on charges of blasphemy to be protected from despair and harm as they endure appalling and hostile conditions. “And surely I will be with you always, to the very end of the age.” Jesus, Matthew 28:20b

* concerted and persistent international advocacy and diplomatic pressure to help achieve removal of the blasphemy law from Pakistan’s penal code. “Many seek an audience with a ruler, but it is from the Lord that man gets justice.” Proverbs 29:26

SUMMARY TO USE IN BULLETINS UNABLE TO RUN THE WHOLE ARTICLE: ——————————————————————- PAKISTAN: AYUB MASIH’S FINAL COURT HOPE SPOTLIGHTS BLASPHEMY LAW

Ayub Masih has been incarcerated in a small concrete prison cell since October 1996 when he was charged allegedly with blaspheming Mohammed. He has been on death row since his April 1998 conviction. He has survived attempts on his life, is wracked with illness and has been regularly tortured. Human Rights bodies all agree that Ayub is a prisoner of conscience and that Pakistan’s blasphemy law is simply a tool of religious oppression. At least seven Pakistani Christians on blasphemy charges are suffering appalling and hostile prison conditions. On 25 July, the Multan High Court rejected Ayub Masih’s appeal, upholding a lower court’s death sentence. Unless he can mount a successful final appeal to the Supreme Court by 24 August, he will be hanged. Hardline Muslims have threatened to kill Ayub and his lawyer, Zaidi, if he is acquitted. Please pray.

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