International
Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that two Christian nurses in
Pakistan have been formally accused of committing blasphemy against
Islam. According to local sources, the Christians were accused by a
Muslim coworker of desecrating wall hangings that contained Quranic
verses.
On April 9, Mariyum Lal and Newsh Arooj, two Christian
nurses working at Civil Hospital in Faisalabad, were falsely accused of
committing blasphemy. Local sources report that Lal was directed to
remove old wall hangings and stickers from a wall by Rukhsana, a senior
nurse at the hospital. Following Rukhsana’s instructions, Lal removed
the wall-hangings and stickers.
Rukhsana, who reportedly holds
a grudge against Lal, provoked other Muslim staffers at Civil Hospital
by claiming Lal desecrated wall hangings that contained Quranic verses.
In response, a Muslim staffer at the hospital’s pharmacy, named Waqas,
attacked Lal with a knife as she was attending a patient in the
hospital’s medical ward. Lal received several injuries to her arm but
survived the attack.
The false blasphemy allegation against
Lal soon spread to the broader community and a mob of enraged Muslims
staged a protest outside of Civil Hospital. Members of the mob demanded
Lal be arrested and hanged for committing blasphemy.
“This is an alarming situation for the weaker segments of society,” Asif Munawar, a member of the Ministry of Human Rights and Minority Affairs Punjab, told ICC. “This is the second case within three months where a nurse is being accused of committing blasphemy.”
“The authorities must take notice of these practices,” Munawar continued. “Mariyum Lal must be protected in police custody for a fair investigation to take place.”
Police registered a First Information Report (FIR # 347/21) in
connection with the blasphemy allegation. According to the FIR, Mariyum
Lal and Newsh Arooj are both accused of violating Pakistan’s blasphemy
laws under Section 295-B.
In Pakistan, false accusations of
blasphemy are widespread and often motivated by personal vendettas or
religious hatred. Accusations are highly inflammatory and have the
potential to spark mob lynchings, vigilante murders, and mass protests.
Since Pakistan added Section 295-B and 295-C to the country’s blasphemy
laws in 1987, the number of blasphemy accusations have skyrocketed.
Between 1987 and 2017, 1,534 individuals in Pakistan have been accused
of blasphemy. Out of that 1,534, 829 accusations (54%), were made
against religious minorities. With Christians only making up 1.6% of
Pakistan’s total population, the 238 accusations (15.5%) made against
Christians is highly disproportionate.
ICC’s Regional Manager, William Stark, said, “We
here at International Christian Concern condemn the false blasphemy
accusation that has been leveled against Mariyum Lal and Newsh Arooj. In
Pakistan, blasphemy allegations ruin the lives of the accused, even if
proved to be false. We call on Pakistani authorities to thoroughly and
fairly investigate this false allegation and bring the false accuser to
justice. Pakistan’s blasphemy laws must no longer be allowed to settle
personal scores or incite religious hatred. Too often these laws have
been a tool in the hands of extremists seeking to stir up religiously
motivated violence against minorities.”
For interviews please contact Alison Garcia: press@persecution.org
International Christian Concern is a non-partisan, 501(c)(3) charitable organization focused on human rights, religious freedom and assisting the persecuted Christian Church around the world.
Media Contact
Alison Garcia, Communications Fellow
E-mail: press@persecution.org
Phone: (301)358-2373
International Christian Concern
2020 Pennsylvania Ave. NW #941, Washington, D.C. 20006
www.persecution.org | E-mail: icc@persecution.org
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