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HR 200: Written evidence submitted by CLAAS
On behalf of CLAAS
Sadly caught between the war on terror on
one side and the Taliban finding refuge in
Harassment, threatening, intimidation, persecution, attacks and killing of Christians are increasingly frequent. Major attacks usually follow a pattern: A Muslim person accuses his Christian rival of desecration of the Holy Qu'ran often to settle private scores. The local cleric is informed and calls for a mob of men to attack the Christian communities. When the police intervene, the accused is briefly interrogated by the Police, if found guilty (which is often the case!) put in jail immediately where he spends weeks, months or years there before appearing before a Court. Since the beginning of 2009 four large scale attacks have taken place and numerous of sporadic incidents. The most shocking to date took place on l" August 2009 in Korian and Gojra. Following alleged accusations of blasphemy committed by a small group of children, the local cleric call for the mob to be gathered and led it a large scale attacks on the Christian communities. Over 100 houses were looted and set on fire and 8 persons were killed among whom a child of 7.
Since then the Pakistani government has taken some steps towards reconstruction and rehabilitation of the victims in the areas where home and property were destroyed and has also organised for some financial compensation for the victims. Prime Minister Gilani also announced a few weeks ago that a committee was to be set up to review and improve "laws detrimental to religious harmony". Although this is a great improvement, the declaration did not specify the blasphemy law as such and is as a result likely to have a reduced impact.
However, in spite of these positive efforts, tensions in the region is still rising and the situation is far from returning to normal. Christians are still frightened and many have fled the area. Some have been dismissed from their jobs because of their religion and a few Christian kids had to change schools.
The feeling of insecurity has also been compounded by the attitude of the police. Too commonly, attacks or killing of Christians do not lead to arrests, leaving perpetrators to act with complete impunity. In the Gojra attack, the police failed to combine enough evidence to allow a judge to press charges against perpetrators leading to the release of four of them. On the contrary the Police arrested some of the Christians who had lodged FIR (First Inquiry Rapport) against the culprits. 29 Christians so far have been arrested.
Such behaviour has grave ramifications. First whilst in jail Christians are more likely to be attacked by their mates or by prison officers themselves especially when charged with fabricated allegation of blasphemy. On 15th September Fanish Mashif who was in prison for alleged blasphemy charges, was, we believe, murdered by his jailors but his death was disguised as suicide. Secondly, such biased attitude by the local police makes extremist Muslims either directly involved in committing the attacks or those who call for them, feel exempt from the law of the land and only submitted to Allah's judgment. This needs to be seriously addressed.
As a result and with the view to bringing back interfaith harmony, we believe that the Pakistani government need to repeal or drastically change any discriminatory laws and particularly the blasphemy laws. These laws are too vaguely drawn and arbitrarily enforced by the police and the judiciary sometimes due to threats by extremist groups. However, since the blasphemy laws carry the death penalty, they reinforce a mob's fallacious right to attack and kill.
Other measures should include a systematic and thorough investigation of all incidents; an immediate and judiciary enquiry before any arrest on charges of blasphemy. All complaisance by the Police should be severely sanctioned too. The government should emphasise its willingness to treat every citizen equally and therefore apply the rule of law with fairness and consistency regardless of religion, ethnicity, social class or otherwise.
It is therefore paramount that the
international community and the particular maintain their effort on raising the issue and monitoring development but also on adopting a pro-active approach for example by submitting UK's aid granted to Pakistan to the improvement of specific Human rights records, freedom of religion and belief and freedom of speech being two of them.
Should you want to get more information on this issue, please get in touch with us. CLASS also intend to organise a meeting with the Members of Parliament interested in these issues, therefore please let us know whether you would be interested in taking part.
21 September 2009 |