Epilogue
There should be no compulsion in religion. Surely, right has become distinct from wrong; so whosoever refuses to be led by those who transgress, and believes in Allah, has surely grasped a strong handle which knows no breaking. And Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing. (Al Quran 2:257)
![Attempts to reform or scrap the country's blasphemy laws have led to mass street protests [GALLO/GETTY]](https://i0.wp.com/www.themuslimtimes.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/BLASPHEMY.jpg)
Attempts to reform or scrap the country’s blasphemy laws have led to mass street protests [GALLO/GETTY]
Source: Aljazeera
British man of Pakistani origin was arrested in 2010 after writing letters claiming to be a prophet.
A 65-year-old British national faces the death penalty in Pakistan after a court in Rawalpindi found him guilty of blasphemy.
Mohammed Asghar, who was sentenced on Friday, was arrested in Sadiqabad in 2010 for writing letters claiming to be a prophet.
Asghar, a British national of Pakistani origin, has a history of mental illness according to his lawyers.
| There was a trial but we are unclear as to what happened. |
He was charged under section 295-C of the Pakistani Penal Code. It states: “Whoever by words, either spoken or written, or by visible representation or by any imputation, innuendo, or insinuation, directly or indirectly, defiles the sacred name of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), shall be punished with death or imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable to fine.”
Asghar’s legal team said it was effectively prevented from representing him after the judge appointed state lawyers. It will file an appeal against the sentence.
A spokesman from the Justice Pakistan Project, which represents him, said: “There was a trial but we are unclear as to what happened. Blasphemy cases are heard in prison because it is too unsafe for them to be heard in open court. It is a security concern. We are not happy with the way the case proceeded. We didn’t back out of the case.”
The spokesman did not confirm whether it had contacted Asghar’s family in Scotland. Nor would it give details on Asghar’s mental illness, although it said there was documentary evidence of it.
The British High Commission told Al Jazeera: “We can’t give any information, other than we are aware of the case.”
The special court inside Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail, where Asghar is being held, rejected the defence team’s claims that the 65-year-old suffered mental health problems.
Pakistani media reported that the public prosecutor, Javed Gul, produced a copy of the letters Asghar wrote and that four police officials gave evidence against him. Handwriting experts also gave evidence, saying the letters had been written by him.
Rights body, Amnesty International, has called for Asghar’s “immediate and unconditional release”.
“Mohammad Asghar is now facing the gallows simply for writing a series of letters. He does not deserve punishment…,” said Polly Truscott, Amnesty International’s Deputy Asia Pacific Director.
The UK travel advisory for Britons travelling to Pakistan does not mention the blasphemy law; it only says visitors should remember that “laws reflect the fact that Pakistan is a Muslim country. You should respect local customs and sensitivities at all times, especially during the holy month of Ramadan or if you intend to visit religious areas.”
The maximum penalty for breaking the country’s blasphemy laws is death.
However, there has been an unofficial moratorium on civilian hangings since 2008 and only one person has been executed since then – a soldier convicted by court martial.
“The blasphemy laws undermine the rule of law, and people facing charges risk death and other harm in detention. Pakistan must immediately release Mohammed Ashgar and reform its blasphemy laws to ensure that this will not happen again,” said Truscott.
A second British national, 72-year-old Masood Ahmed, was jailed in November on blasphemy charges after he was secretly filmed reading the Quran.
Ahmad belongs to the minority Ahmadiyya sect, considered to be heretics in Pakistan. They were declared non-Muslim in 1974 by the Pakistan government and have severely restricted religious practices, including a ban on quoting from the Quran.
Categories: Asia, Pakistan, Pakistan Inter-Faith
In Surah Haqqah Allah promises to make sure that a false claimant to Prophethood will be duly punished. In Chapter 2 Allah also gives people the freedom of conscience.
Musailima claimed prophethood during the life time of the Holy Prophet(pbuh) but met his untimely death during battle in the time of the first Khalifah-e-Rasheedeen(ra). The Prophet did not order death penalty for Musailimah.
One thing is sure though. A true claimant to Prophethood will always have the protection of Allah.
Prophet Jesus(as) died a natural death (or will eventually die a natural death according to the majority of sunni muslims)despite the fact that all the jews believe that they were successful in murdering him.
Prophet Mohammad (pbuh)died a natural death despite the fact that a very small segmment of shia muslims believe that he was poisoned to death (Anouzoubillah).Ref: lecture by Shaikh Yasser Al-Habib
The promised messiah, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad(as) died a natural and timely death after claiming to be a subordinate prophet within Islam as promised by Allah.
I do not think that the state has a right to sentence somebody to death for claimimg prophethood because this was not done by the Holy Prophet(pbuh) in the case of Musailimah.
In Pakistan there is an additional problem. None of the witnesses are reliable and this complicates matters when death penalty is involved.
We have made a collection of posts, to show the realities of our global village and pressing need for separation of Mosque-Church and State:
The Muslim Times’ Response
This is shocking news. First, if Asgar was s British citizen then what right or jurisduction does Pakistan have over him. It is not clear where did Asgar first make his declaration. If it was done in Britain then the original jurusdiction is there as such the British rule aplies where there are no such law as we have a grossly mistaken law in Pakistan.
Second, mental status as a legal maxim and affords a defense in crimiminal charge where it is important for the prosection to prove that the accused the mental capacity to form in intent.
When sucha defense is raied it is important for the trial court to hearfull evidence.
But is c lear Pakistan has regard to these internally accepted principles and the Blasphamy law of Pakistan cuts atthe root of democracy as well as rule of law as it relates to justice in the
e secular and Islamic sense.
This is mind shattering that a judge, despite knowing the mental condition of the defendant, being unstable decided a death penalty. There is no doubt that the Prophet Mohammad (sa) was a great and respectful person. And through his example and teachings of Islam we come to know that a person with a mental disorder is not responsible of its deeds and actions. In the Holy Quran [4:44], it is mentioned that a person who is not in full possession of his senses, should not observe prayer until he knows what he says . This lead us to believe that praying while being unaware of what you are exactly doing has no value. Similarly, an individual with mental sickness or unaware of his/her actions cannot be held accountable, i.e. Sleep walking!
Moreover, in Chapter 2 verse 287 : “Allah burdens not any soul beyond its capacity. It shall have the reward it earns, and it shall get the punishment it incurs.” Thus, if a person is mentally-ill; he is not responsible of his deeds.
There is no punishment mentioned in the Quran for blasphemy. Only some Hadith mentions it. Hadith cannot overtake Quran. Also death is a capital punishment. Capital punishment cannot be awarded only on the basis of Hadith. Proof must come from the Quran. This is written by maudoodi sahib in his books “rasaail o masaail”. How come the Jama’at Islami people are protesting in favor of death penalty for blasphemy!
Also, Unity is only for Allah Almighty. It is not for the prophet s.a.w.s. In fact all Muslims are advised to emulate the prophet s.a.w.s. even though they can never do so. But they are advised to adopt the ways of the prophet s.a.w.s. and try to copy him and become like Muhammad s.a.w.s. There is no sin in that.
It is useless to teach or preach or present anything to the so-called Muslims in Pakistan because they are in the grip of ignorant, insolent leaders (Imams).
There is a case of blasphemy so serious that it is recorded in the Holy Quran itself, which speaks of Abdullah bin Ubayy bin Salul, known in the history of Islam as the Chief of Hypocrites.Once returning from an expedition, Abdullah bin Ubayy declared in the company of others that the moment they returned to Medina, the noblest would expel the meanest among the Medinities. Everyone understood the implied insult to the Holy Prophet(pbuh).They were seething with indignation and rage to the extent that,if permitted they would have most certainly put Abdullah bin Ubayy to the sword.It is reported authentically that tempers were running so high at this incident that no less a person than the son of Abdullah bin Ubayy himself approached the Holy Founder of Islam seeking permission to kill his father with his own hands. But the Holy Prophet(pbuh) refused to grant his request nor did he permit anyone else from among his companions to punish the hupocrite Abdullah bin Ubayy. And he continued to live in peace until his death. This is a fitting rebuttal to those who are crying themselves hoarse in demanding death for the blasphemer who dares to insult the Holy Founder of Islam and nothing but death.