Blasphemy charges: Out of fear, Ahmadi family on the run
Blasphemy allegations continue to haunt minorities in Pakistan.
Aalmi Majlis Tahafuz Khatm-e-Nabuwat (AMTKN) activists alleged that 16-year-old Sajeel committed blasphemy by making derogatory remarks against the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and his father, Rana Hakim Jameel, had done the same by portraying Sajeel as a Muslim in his school admission form.
Denying that he ever put down Islam as Sajeel’s religion and all other allegations levelled against his son, Jameel’s was a different tale.
According to him, the allegations stemmed from a school fight.
The school principal overheard some students abusing Sajeel and beat them up. The students later accused Sajeel of telling on them and beat him up. When Sajeel actually went to the principal to complain, he learnt that the students had “made up a story, telling the principal they had attacked him because he had made blasphemous remarks”.
Later, Haji Aslam, the school principal, expelled Sajeel.
Fearing their safety, the two have been on the run ever since the charges emerged.
While the police have yet to register an FIR against the accused, they have already started conducting raids for their arrests.
A member of the accused family, Rana Asfandyar, 18, was arrested by the police, who allegedly pressurised the young student to reveal his brother’s whereabouts, Asfandyar’s older brother, Rana Mujahid told The Express Tribune.
At local mosques, various religious scholars were fuelling a hate campaign against Ahmadis, Mujahid alleged, adding that evoking such hatred among the public could prove dire for his family.
However, Khushab police station SHO Raja Arshad told The Express Tribune that since the family refused to tell them about Sajeel’s whereabouts, the police had brought Asfandyar in to record his statement at the DPO’s office. Arshad denied that they had detained the boy.
Mujahid alleged that religious scholars Qari Saeed and Waqas Ahmed were producing “false witnesses” before the police.
SHO Arshad said that they were still in the process of recording the statements of witnesses, and hence, were unable to conclude their investigations.
Meanwhile, Jameel alleged that a property dispute could also be a reason behind the accusations.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 15th, 2011.
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@Mohinder singh: It stands for 'Sallallaho alaihi wasallam' (SAW), which means in English 'Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him' (PBUH).
@Solomon: Becuase they dont. Blasphemy law can be used to twist any action of yours as an insult to the prophet. e.g a muslim saying that jesus is not son of God is ok, however a christian or Ahmadi saying that Hazrat Mohammad was not the last prophet is blasphemy. It is acceptable for muslims to say that Mr. Mirza Ghulam Ahmad was a false prophet, but dare say that about Hazrat Mohammad and you will wish they take you to jail under blasphemy law before some one kills you on the street.
@siddiqa: No you are not alone, but your are certainly amongst the very few who do.
our fath is Holy Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa S.A.W.W is the last prophet of ALLAH and we r the real Ghualm of Hazoor S.A.W.W.......................
where has our nation come to? everybody roams around with a fatwa stamp in their pockets! and do they love branding anyone they find appropriate as kafir! can't they find something do with their lives! on the contrary looking at the allegations what is the relation between a property dispute adn a school fight.there is something going on that i just cant grasp!
Mullahs are destroying the country. This is just another fine example of it. Before they were after a 8th-grader christian girl for misspelling, then it was Aasia Bibi, now after Ahmadis. Where does this ignorance and hatred for everything different ends?
Section of Pakistani religious interpreters are narrow minded, bigoted, hateful, very violent and followers of official narratives. Either you follow them or you will be a heretic, ironically they are themselves a recent phenomena.
@solomon WOW!! would you like to go through the fear of your life, imprisonment for you and your family, persecution and insult just to move to a first world nation? This is an explanation it self! This is the difference between our faith and yours. We are stead fast and persistent. we BELIEVE with our whole hearts, bear what ever God makes us go through believing he will bring us through it himself! We just ask to be left alone in peace. Ask the freedom to believe! There is not even a little doubt in my mind that that boy is innocent! we are all bear such allegations sometime during our student life or career and still love our country and people! because Allah tells us to be loyal to the country we will in!!
@Solomon:
If your comment was meant be sarcastic, I can understand. Otherwise, you are a sick man!
@Solomon: Let us live in peace in Pakistan and watch how we all flock back to our motherland. Not a day goes by when we Ahmadi muslims wish to go back to our loved ones still in Pakistan .. back to our homes and our friends .. our people! My ancestors sacrificed their lives for creation of Pakistan, we've fought for Kashmir, we've given our lives to the armed forces and have stood for Pakistan where ever we've been.
Sanctity of our religious sentiments has been dismissed already, don't question our patriotism!!
In good in disguise, Qadianiz would be happy that they get fast track immigration in First World nations and they should be happy that Muslims of this country help them get the best of the world which entire Pakistan yearns to get.
@Observer "I agree with the principles you state. But, how is that possible in a country that is established as an Islamic state? Islam does encompass every aspect of life and law, doesn’t it? You can’t have it both ways- Islamic state and freedom from religion."
Those were the principles on what state was found, But there have never been a majority voting on either shariah law or blasphemy law. As it is an Islamic republic state, it's also a democratic country REMEMBER!
@asif amjad:
"this is what happens when a society allows religion to interfere in every aspect of life,from the laws,to what can be spoken,to what can be talked about on tv.Religion and law don’t mix,religion and politics don’t mix but we’ve done both,made laws based on religion,allowed religion to dictate how anyone thinks,talks and acts.Freedom of religion includes freedom from religion also."
I agree with the principles you state. But, how is that possible in a country that is established as an Islamic state? Islam does encompass every aspect of life and law, doesn't it? You can't have it both ways- Islamic state and freedom from religion.
Sham Shame Shame Shame! ... I had to make a new passport in a foreign country and on the application form I had to declare Ahmadis as non-Muslims. If the Government of Pakistan cannot protect the minorities they should at least make their way out easier. Anyone can blame anyone with blasphemy and no one can prove you innocent!
I know Ahmadi Muslims very well and their beliefs. Ahmadis would never utter a blasphemy against the Prophet Muhammad (saw). Ahmadi Muslims love and respect the Holy Prophet (saw).
What's happened in this case is a terrible tragedy and injustice. I personally know this young man and his family and am certain disrespecting the Holy Prophet of Islam is something they would never do.
This is a falsehood created to further persecute Ahmadi Muslims in Pakistan and this behavior is against the true teachings of Islam.
@Solomon: they do! its Hazrat ISA (A.S) who everyone else believe is yet to come back from where i dont know :) so its not that ahmadies you need to be asking this question its yourself!
As an Ahmedi, as a Muslim born in Pakistan whose grandparents sacrificed blood & treasure to move to Pakistan from India in 1947, and, above all, as a human being, I have a right to claim that Prophet Muahmmad was Not the last prophet sent onto our planet. I should not be compelled to say otherwise, and if you do, you will so by force. I am fortunate enough to have emigrated along with my persecuted family to Canada where I can freely practice my faith. Isn't it ironic that Ahmedis, or any other Muslim sect for that matter, can freely practice their faith in Israel, India, America or Europe but not in Pakistan and most Muslim majority nations. So much for Ummah and Muslim brotherhood.
@M M Malik: This is just for the people who believe that there is such punishment and they have created a worldly justice otherwise even these bigots very well know that Hazoor SAW never punished anyone even if He (SAW) was harmed physically.
Just wondering what is SAW it use to be PBUH after prophet mohammmeds name ???
@Solomon: "When everyone in the world believes that there wont be any Nabuwat after Prophet Mohammed so why cant you guys."
It is not everyone in the world - it is only Muslims. The idea that no more prophets can come means no new religion can start after Islam started. If the religions prior to Islam had the same mindset Islam itself could not have started - do you realize? Secondly, if you want to believe that Prophet Mohammad is the last prophet fine. Ahmadis claim that they also believe it but other Pakistani Muslims reject that. Whatever the case, their religious belief is their own. Surely they do not deserve to be persecuted based on what You think their beliefs are?
@AnisAqeel:
Please note carefully that there is worldly punishment for blasphemy in the scriptures. The punishment is in the hereafter. All followers of Imam Abu Hanifa must consult his works to personally to confirm that there is no worldly punishment for blasphemy, as explained by the Imam.
This country is definitely going toward jahalat. The very reason Prophet Muhammad (SAW) sent to eradicate. The very Prophet (saw) we believe in also said on many occasion if someone curse you, you in return pray for him. And here we have a blasphemy Law. Are we really following the Prophet (saw) or just trying to prove to the world that how much we love our Prophet (saw)????????
Nothing is wrong with the 'blasphemy law' but to enforce and implement is the worst part. Anyone alleging anything blasphemous must be proven and not taken as he said or she said to settle differences and if not proven accuser and its accomplices must be punished to death penalty for all who accused or aided to accuse, just as Islam says. Now I predict it cannot be done until ‘mullah mafia’ is eliminated and that mafia is ‘well protected’ until our terrorism policy is changed and that may be at a cost of another Bangladesh within Pakistan. We Pakistanis do not think on the long-term aspects and the people have been foolishly drugged with self-pride without having means for that pride.
@ Solomon I am sure you claim to be a Muslim For me that is enough to accept what is your faith. That is what I have learnt from teachings of Holy Prophet S A W S . Being a Muslim I hope you must have read Quran and Hadith,can you give a definition of a Muslim staying with in Quran and Hadith and not the one by present day mullahs.What an unfortunate situation – before people used to accuse, rightly or wrongly, others to settle their differences but now government of Pakistan has facilitated them - they can accuse any one of blasphemy and results are gruanteed. Best and easiest way to settle your personal, sectarian or other differences. Now it is becoming a standard practice to use this law - the street Mullas and other opportunists are reaping the fruits of it. I am sure that Allah subhanatullah is Baseer-o-Aleem and this game cannot be played for very long. You are using Allah’s beloved prophet (SAW) for your dirty and evil “benefits”. Let’s see for how long you can abuse this ill-advised man made law?
@Solomon: " @ Ahmadiz: Why dont you guys accept the fact the Prophet Mohammed was the last Nabi on earth and finish this topic. "
Majority of the Muslims believe that Jesus (as) will be the last prophet on earth. Does the chronological order of prophets matters or is significant? What matters is the everlasting, unchangeable message of Allah and that was revealed only to Hazrat Muhammad (saw).
@asif amjad:
Wrong! Islam is a complete, flawless and perfect way of life (politics, engineering and physics included) prescribed by Almighty Allah as he revealed to Prophet Mohammed (SAW). Only problem is that the words of Allah aren't being correctly followed.
@Solomon: Sir, please note that Ahmadis are the true follower of Holy Prophet (PBUH) . Ahmadis belived that Muhammad (SAW) was the last prophet. How they dare to insult their own prophet?. In Pakistan the blasphemy Chartres is the best way to take revenge from any one.
@ T R Khan, now i am utterly butterly confused, the entire Muslims of the world declared Ahmadiz non muslim as they say Holy Prophet is not the last Prophet, and in your comments you saying he is last bearing prophet, than wats the issue???
@Solomon: "Why would an Ahmadi abuse Holy Prophet? Dont they believe and follow him?"
All Ahmadies believe that the Holy Prophet is the pinnacle of all of Allah's creations, He (saw) is the last law bearing prophet and his message is for all times and cannot be changed or added upon by anyone.
I have known many Ahmadies over the years and some quite closely. I cannot believe that an Ahmadi will ever indulge in any blasphemy against the holy Prophet (saw). The charges have to be false.
The extent of jahalat in this country is such that recently a Christian couple was accused and imprisoned because they touched the Holy Quran without washing thier hands. Pakistan is the only country crazy enough have such laws.
@Solomon: We Ahmadi's cannot dare to utter disrespectful remarks towards our Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w). The blasphemy law is brought up against us time after time only because it is so convenient to do so. You do not need any evidence except the fact that the accused is an Ahmadi to submit him to prison and unleash unto him the wrath of the masses. I speak as a victim of such atrocity myself.
Why are all blasphemy charges cases registered in Pakistan? Why not in the rest of the world?
Just for curiosity, asking a question: Why would an Ahmadi abuse Holy Prophet? Dont they believe and follow him?
This is a tragedy at work but I am sure as our society evolves, it will stop doing this.
Good job by police and the principal. Bravo.
"16 year old committed blasphemy, expelled from school." Oh My God. Jahaalat ki inteha ho gayi bhai..
This is terrible. Everyone is free to practice their religion, but that does not imply that making derogatory remarks against the Holy Prophet and committing blasphemy can be accepted to settle petty disputes between young men. If the youth of today cannot learn to respect the Prophet, then very chaotic and bleak days lie ahead for all.
It's not just the ahmadi community that is under attack from the religious extremists.Atheists,agnostics and freethinkers have constantly been uder merciless persecution in pakistani society and the law provides full protection and support to the persecuters.Anyone who doesn't fit the defintion of a 'good' muslim is hunted down mercilessly be it gays and lesbians,ahmadis,hindus,christians,atheists,agnostics.
this is what happens when a society allows religion to interfere in every aspect of life,from the laws,to what can be spoken,to what can be talked about on tv.Religion and law don't mix,religion and politics don't mix but we've done both,made laws based on religion,allowed religion to dictate how anyone thinks,talks and acts.Freedom of religion includes freedom from religion also.
is it only me or does anyone else also get goosebumps reading such news