Pakistan

15-year-old boy cuts off own hand in Punjab after blasphemy mistake

Mohammad Anwar's act was celebrated by parents and neighbours, say police

Afp January 15, 2016

LAHORE: A 15-year-old boy cut off his own hand believing he had committed blasphemy, only to be celebrated by his parents and neighbours for the act, police told AFP on Friday.

Local police chief Nausher Ahmed described how an imam told a gathering at a village mosque that those who love the Prophet (PBUH) Mohammad always say their prayers, then asked who among the crowd had stopped praying.

Mohammad Anwar, 15, raised his hand by mistake after apparently mishearing the question.

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The crowd swiftly accused him of blasphemy so he went to his house and cut off the hand he had raised, put it on a plate, and presented it to the cleric, the police chief said.

The incident took place at a village in Hujra Shah Muqeem district, some 125 kilometres (77 miles) south of Lahore, the capital of Punjab province, about four days ago, according to the policeman.

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Ahmed said that he has seen a video in which the boy is greeted by villagers in the street as his parents proclaim their pride.

No complaint has been made, he said, so no police report has been filed and there will be no investigation.

COMMENTS (33)

dhoom2 | 8 years ago | Reply @Azi - "Generation at generation, a little more stupid than before" This happens when you marry your first cousins and mess up the genetic pool.

Sri Varahadev | 8 years ago | Reply The despicable part is that the Government will take shelter that in keeping with Pakistan’s self-claimed status as an Ideological Muslim State and Islamic Republic, this act represents the pinnacle of Islamic piety and sweep everything under the carpet.

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Hari Om | 8 years ago | Reply A damning indictment of the religious views of a society that leaves no option for a 15 year old but to chop of his own hand in order to preserve his life for not saying his prayers! In keeping with the translation of Pakistan’s name of Land of the Pure there seems to be mad scramble on to prove that one is purer than the next.

Bhola | 8 years ago | Reply We have all gone mad. I have no hope for our future anymore.

faisal | 8 years ago | Reply Why isn't the police investigating? The so called Imam had no business scaring the kid with the specter of 'blasphemy'. The kid panicked and did what he considered logical to save his life. This is the height of ignorance. About time we repealed the blasphemy law and stopped having masses so scared of blasphemy that they can't think rationally. Islam is being distorted here. The Imam should be arrested. Where are the religious scholars and the more educated segments of society? What hasn't the courts taken suo motto notice?

Iqbal | 8 years ago | Reply @Ali Hashmi: Why is it so difficult for some people to get sarcasm? Or wait.... was he serious? If the boy can cut his hands, someone can make that comment seriously also! Though in any other society it would easily pass off as sarcasm.

saleem | 8 years ago | Reply He has his whole life ahead to regret the consequences of his decision.

Ali Hashmi | 8 years ago | Reply @Abu Hurraira: Are you even serious right now?

Abu Hurraira | 8 years ago | Reply Hats off to this Kid. A brave and kind Muslim. Learn from him you libtard.

NKAli | 8 years ago | Reply Is this how we celebrate the teachings of Islam? Why did they deny the mercy of God when the boy inadvertently raised his hand? And being a MINOR the attendants in the meeting should have laughed it off. Paganism and heresy. Salams

I. Khan | 8 years ago | Reply This story is certainly a fake one , a fifteen years old can never chop his hand off and put in a plate, either the boy was on drugs or some one else cut his hand off and made this story.

Asok | 8 years ago | Reply @excalibur, search youtube for a dunya news TV interview with the kid.

Red | 8 years ago | Reply @AZB I too don't believe the story. It appears crowd cut the hand and forced the poor boy and his parents to display it on a plate, now to save the crowd it is being said the boy did it out of his own wish.

Arijit Sharma | 8 years ago | Reply @Darwin: " ...According to Darwinism, this guy just increased his reproduction and survival ability by 10 folds if not more. Social reputation and validation has a very high positive value in terms of social selection. ... " Well, this enhanced social reputation and validation will mean only one thing - starting a family with the closest cousin.

Sid | 8 years ago | Reply Is Lahore seriously full of religiously bend gullible ? He secured a free admission to top jihadi university with full scholarship.

excalibur | 8 years ago | Reply A false story with untenable details masquerading as facts

Reboogityamen | 8 years ago | Reply I'd like that clerics head on a plate.

Nida | 8 years ago | Reply That's it. I have officially lost hope for Pakistan.

Pakistani | 8 years ago | Reply madness.

Darwin | 8 years ago | Reply Someone mentioned Darwin's law. I know there are lots of idiots on the internet who read a book and then they think they know everything, so I decided to respond to you. According to Darwinism, this guy just increased his reproduction and survival ability by 10 folds if not more. Social reputation and validation has a very high positive value in terms of social selection. You on the other hand probably reduced yours by sitting here making a post and not goin out there trying to un-virgin yourself.

Jaggu | 8 years ago | Reply Pathetic ill informed people. There is no cure for the debilitating disease they are suffering from.

Sun Tzu | 8 years ago | Reply The cleric needs to be arrested. The boy sent to a mental asylum. The relatives and neighbours sent to get their heads checked.

Azi | 8 years ago | Reply Generation at generation, a little more stupid than before. Fate of this country.

Timorlane | 8 years ago | Reply Will we ever be normal again !!??

Edward | 8 years ago | Reply Poor confused child!

Saad | 8 years ago | Reply A manifestation of the collective insanity that has set in.

AZB | 8 years ago | Reply So a 15 year old boy finds something sharp enough in his home for self amputation He had the strength to cut off his own arm and had no problem with blood loss. Went out and presented his hand to the cleric.

Mj | 8 years ago | Reply Feels like living in an alternate reality where reason and common sense does not exist. Too much faith leads to an overdose.

abhi | 8 years ago | Reply This is well done. I hope more people follow the suit.

Hilmi | 8 years ago | Reply I hope this trend spreads. In parts of Africa there are rampaging militias that cut off innocent people's limbs. We will one up them by cutting of our own limbs!

thinkplease | 8 years ago | Reply Stupidity and Beyond! Thats why we need education to be our top priority now.

TooTrue | 8 years ago | Reply He should have cut his neck. The world doesn't need another brainless jihadi in the making.

Farhan | 8 years ago | Reply This is why Darwin's law and natural selection makes sense.

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