Pakistani Christians suspect police murdered blasphemy-accused young man

ASSIST News Service (ANS)
www.assistnews.net
Saturday, September 19, 2009

Pakistani Christians suspect police murdered blasphemy-accused young man

By Dan Wooding and Sheraz Khurram Khan
Special to ASSIST News Service

SIALKOT, PAKISTAN (ANS) -- Several Pakistani Christians, including clergymen, social workers and human rights activists, have alleged that 22-year-old Robert Masih, also known as Robert Danish, nicknamed "Fanish" or "Falish" by friends, a young Christian man who died in police custody on Tuesday, September 15, was murdered.
According to police, the deceased committed suicide in the police cell, whereas human rights activists have termed Christian man's death as an "extrajudicial killing."
The police said that the man accused of blasphemy had hung himself with the cord he pulled out from his Shalwar (clothing).
"They (the police) insisted that Robert committed suicide. His head was down and there was a noose around his neck while the other end of the cord was attached to the iron bar of the cell's gate. He was about 5 inches above from the ground," Pastor Maskeen Nisari, who visited the Sialkot District Jail, told ANS
Professor Anjum James Paul, Director of Social Harmony and Development of Women (SHADOW), who visited the native village of Robert on Friday, September, 18 along with Piyara Joseph and Zafar Iqbal Daniel, told ANS that the church that was attacked on September 12 had not yet been re-opened.
"I haven't been able to go to Bible school which was being run by the church," James quoted Siama Salamat, a Christian female student as saying.
The church in Jathikay has not been re-opened since September 12 attack
Mr. Paul told ANS that the church was locked and the police stood guard outside the church. He disclosed that Muslim women and children congregated in the school where Hina, the Muslim girl, who had a fling with Robert, studied.
In what professor termed as a detrimental trend for minorities, he said the women and children pelted stones at Christians' houses, forcing the already scared Christians to shut themselves in their houses.
Asif Masih, the owner of "Bright Future Middle School," told Professor Anjum that he had not re-opened his school, fearing further trouble from Muslims.
Talking to Professor Anjum James Paul, he alleged that the police guards murdered Robert. He said Robert's photos reveal "barbarism by the police."
He went on to say, "There can be no improvement in society when the guardians of law become avengers."
He recalled that some time back police allegedly had killed a Muslim blasphemy-accused who he said had converted to Christianity. He demanded that all those involved in the alleged murder of Robert should be handed capital punishment.
"These people would continue to bring bad name to country if they were not meted out punishments according to law," he said.
He said one could not imagine national unity until the culture of tolerance, peace and harmony took its roots in Pakistan. He urged the Ministry of Education of Pakistan to eliminate pejorative, hateful, biased and discriminatory content from Pakistani text books.
"The textbooks instead should promote love, tolerance and human values," he went on to say, adding that incidents of extreme injustice and intolerance against the minorities were "the outcome of biased and prejudiced content in the text books against minorities."
Lieutenant Commander (retd) Frank Joseph and director of Bethania Christian Hospital in Sialkot told ANS that Robert was "murdered" while he was held in police custody.
"Robert was wearing a shirt and trousers when he was arrested but he was wearing Shalwar Qameez (Pakistani dress) when he was found dead in his cell. This makes me suspect that he was murdered," he said.
Catholic Priest, Fr. Nathanial Bhatti of the Order of Franciscans, said the photos of the deceased that he viewed revealed marks of injures that made him suspect that Robert was murdered. He urged Pakistani Christians to remain peaceful.
Pastor Ishaq Masih of of Presbyterian Church Sialkot termed the death of Robert as a "tragic incident."
He said the death of Robert reveals the low status minorities have got in Pakistan.
"One can get true victory after going through trial and tribulations," he said. "The Christians should stay firm in faith because Jesus had said you would be persecuted in my name."
The minister of religion said the Christian community of Sialkot rallied after Christians were burnt alive in Gojra and demanded a repeal of Pakistan's blasphemy laws.
"The killing of Robert reflects lawlessness in Pakistan," he alleged. "The guardians of law have killed Robert."
Pastor Maskeen Nisari of Holy Trinity Cathedral, Sialkot expressed concern on the soaring incidents of Christian persecution in Pakistan. He emphasized the need for repeal of Pakistan blasphemy laws. He said "no Christian would commit sacrilege of Quran or any other religious book."
Humyun A. Gill, a former Councilor of Sialkot, alleged that Robert was murdered hence justice should be served to the Christians.
Humyun Khalid, district Councilor of Sialkot said the killing of Robert was an "inhuman" act.
Piyari Joseph, a social worker of Sialkot said that rising persecution of Christians in Pakistan was "eroding values of harmony and tolerance." The Christians had to undergo major persecution four times in last four months, he pointed out.
Fr. Francis Nadeem, The Chairman of the National Council for Inter-faith Dialogue, urged Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, the Chief Justice of Pakistan, to take 'Suo Motto' action regarding Robert's death in police custody. He hailed the Governor of Punjab, Salman Taseer's demand for repeal of Pakistan blasphemy laws. He said it was about time that the "infamous laws of the country were abolished."
Fr. Nasir Gulfam, also with the Franciscans, said that Robert's death was a result of alleged torture. He said various parts of Robert's body had injury marks including nails, arms, thighs, legs, palm and forehead. He demanded the government of Pakistan to make public the finding of the judicial inquiry into the death of the Christian man.
Referring to the police First Information Report no. 721, he said no action has been taken against the people who desecrated Bible and attacked a church in Jathikay on September 12.
"The culprits responsible for attacking the church haven't been arrested," he regretted.
He said the miscreants who misused the blasphemy laws should be meted out capital punishment
Rana Asad Mehboob, a Minority Member of Provincial assembly of Pakistan (of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz), said that the incident of death of Robert should not have taken place. He told ANS that the Chief Minister Punjab, Mian Nawaz Sharif, had assured that the Christians would get justice.
Dr. Nelson Azeem, minority member of National Assembly of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz said that the Chief Minister said he would side with people who have been wronged.
Kamran Michael, the Provincial Minister for Minorities and Human Rights said that the Christians were being targeted in the country. He told ANS that a delegation of Christians, including Dr. Tariq of Bethania Christian Hospital, Sialkot, were meeting the Chief Minister Punjab after Eid, the Muslim festival that marks end of fasting month of Ramadan. He urged minority leaders to "rise above party politics and forge unity to raise minority issues."