Blasphemy case: Accused cleric sent on 14-day judicial remand
The judicial magistrate had earlier, while hearing the blasphemy case pertaining to Rimsha, reserved his verdict on giving police judicial remand of cleric Khalid Judoon, stating he would do so after gathering all details.
Police presented Jadoon in court today and submitted a plea for obtaining judicial remand but the lawyer present in court stated a separate FIR be registered for this as it was a separate case.
Khalid Judoon, the cleric who claimed having “saved” the girl by handing her over to police, was accused by a witness of adding pages from the Quran into ashes seized from Rimsha.
Meanwhile the court of Additional Session Judge Muhammad Azam Khan on Saturday adjourned the hearing of the case till Monday after Rimsha’s parents requested the court to allow them to change her lawyer.
Rimsha has been in custody since she was arrested in a poor Islamabad suburb more than two weeks ago accused of burning papers containing verses from the Quran.
COMMENTS (96)
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@PakShock:
You can't justify Jizya by your arguments. The examples you quote are not valid since Jizya was imposed purely based on one's religion. The idea of having to pay for "protection" is very anti-human, since it implies that their lives are at danger if they don't pay. Isn't this a form of blackmail? More importantly, it is sanctioned in the quran and quran is god's own words.
@Raj - USA: ha ha ha.. I know where you coming from! That's why Pakistan failed in film industry__ all it's movies where very predictable. Stage dramas & Movies is what Pak still has to polish it's skills on. You are right it take all the fun out of an evening. Even the Pak historic leaders were so work-oriented, after trying hard they could not make an entertaining movie on them. Boring!
What I had commented earlier (see above), has come so true. Pakistan is very predictable.
@Observer: Ofcourse that was hundreds of years ago, along with many prehistoric exercise of power of protection & forced Zakat & Ushur payments on Muslims which minorities were exempted from__ to this day. But the Fees are there around the Globe in the form of variety of taxes, security, insurance, etc etc. Also in modern society in a more presentable way for your protection is the form of entrance fee, territory crossing fee, this or that fee, many are charged in convenient monthly payments to your bank account. You don't think the police fee at border, airports, ports, trains, on stations is not charged or included in the ticket fee are you? Please, we can not impose Jazia few for their protection in this time or you are suggesting we should?. By the way, who is paying ET for this free internet paper service? The advertisements! That's how the money changes form but....some one has to pay for the service someone is providing.
@Mohammad:
If he is at fault, he must be treated as per the blasphemy law! exemplary punishment is required so that no one can temper with the law in future.
Was he 'tampering' with the law, or was he tearing up the Quran.
It seems to me that if you do not like someone in Pakistan just blame them of blasphemy and let the degenerate mob do the rest.
Even if a person is cleared at court (assuming the mob does not kill the person first) they are forced to flee.
Guys, come on.
@LuvPak:
"@Gandalf: The old respect of Islam and Muslims was due to the all-inclusive open-mindedness of Muslims. Their acceptance of minorities as part of community on AS IS basis. "
The imposition of Jazia does not support your statement.
@Gandalf: The old respect of Islam and Muslims was due to the all-inclusive open-mindedness of Muslims. Their acceptance of minorities as part of community on AS IS basis. The schools of Islamic teaching of that time were lead by the direct descendant of noble Islamic logic-based original-thinking minds, who knew the religion the Muslims were practicing at that time was formed & smoothed-out actually by their own teachers(our aimas) from a series of unclear & ambiguous steps to a new method of governing daily affair of people in every aspect. Those scholars were so efficient & qualified when they merged the true Spirit of Islam into the system of government it took off the plane of whole Muslim Community to such a high standard of humanity that it literally flew for a thousand years with little adjustments. If it came down today its not because of any schemes of an enemy, but because the Old School of Muslim Scholars and their standard of Education along with the Self Respect came down too. Actually it happened to all Mighty Empires sooner or later. The Today's Islamic World is but the result of the Short-Sighted & the Quick-Fix self-hating Clergy who is overwhelmed by the exploding population & their silent but persistent demand for a Current & Adoptable Islam. Same Muslims Fourteen Hundred Years ago had less resources to fight for or to share. Pakistan! Somehow(we know how!) became the Epitome of all the crises in the Muslim world.
@Vikram: I am proud of the fairness of our system which has dug out the truth without caring for any religious affinity. You will see Maulvi will be suitably punished for this fraud. In India it is very difficult for a Muslim to get justice particularly if he is pitched against a Hindu and the case is also decided in the court of a Hindu judge. See what happened in the case of the entire episode of Babri Masjid and the final judgment delivered by Hindu jury.
"A single scholar of religion is more formidable against shaytaan than a thousand devout persons." said the Prophet of Islam. Some of these mulvis who have crammed a few Suras of Quran but are devoid of any true knowledge of Islam, are the cause of havoc in the society. True Islamic societies have always been pluralistic and thrived through the combined efforts of Muslims and non-Muslims. Jews and Christians of middle ages only considered Muslims to be just, generous in forgiving, and noble to the extent that the persecuted of Europe always took sanctuary in Muslim Spain from where most of the knowledge emanated to Europe. Alas the poverty and deficiency of true Islamic knowledge and spirit in this blighted part of God's earth makes mockery of Islam.
@True Muslim Paki: Afraid of the world are you?? Let the world know what type of country pakistan has turned out to be.
@Yusuf Kazi: "So the liberals are now willing to use this same blasphemy law against this Imam, i.e., the same law they want repealed? How does that work? One standard for the Imam, another standard for the girl?"
The way it works is that the Imam should be tried on the same laws that he wanted the little girl tried. No double standards there.
My dear Pakistani brothers please give me reasons not to hate you...I tried a lot to find goodness in you but all I can say is that you are extremely delusional. The first thing a pakistani stranger asked me on a trip to london is about my religion. Instead of asking about my nationality...he asked about my religion..How can my religion be a part of my identity.. What can my religion explain anything about me.. Does it make me a good person or a bad person ?? My identity is my country my language my tradition my culture..Religion is important but it does not define a person completely.. When I replied that I am a muslim He asked whether I was a Sunni Or Shia??
@Amira:
"Since when are lying and cheating part of any religion? "
Have you ever heard of taqiyya?
@Bilal: Bhai sahab, check my previous comment. i said "if proven guilty" i am not not passing judgement. yes, girl should be set free because of being a minor and having a genetic disease.
To Indians/Non-muslims: Please understand that the Imam did what he did not out of spite for the girl but out of love for Islam. Do you people remember Mumtaz Qadri and Ghazi Alam Din? They murdered people for perceived blasphemy but are respected because of their love for Islam. They are not hated.
This respect is missing in the case of this molvi, and that is all I'm advocating for.
Now where are the apologist who said that Rimsha must be punished because their feelings were hurt when she burned the pages
It is the police officer who is responsible for the whole shoddy affair Acording to law the disrespect has to be wilfull. Was the girl capable of wilful disrespect ? A minor ? A sweeper, cleaner family's child .Police officer failed to carry out basic investigations.
I don't understand what all the hype is about. We have bigger issues to look into in Pakistan. Just as western media is following the story, everybody in Pakistan and particularly Pakistani media is on their tows. looking at the enthusiasm and how excited everybody in this forum is to see a mullah behind bars and hanged in public makes me laugh. Commentators have reached the conclusion that the molvi is the criminal and they have announced the verdict(execution). In fact not a single non-muslim has been sentenced time who has been tried in blasphemy law let alone the execution. Common guys its not that big of a deal.. let the court system go through it proper way and we should not try to influence the outcome of this case by creating this fake media hype and concern.
Last thing i would like to say that I am proud of Pakistani investigators(Islamabad police) for their professionalism in this case. Now its up to court to decide. I can safely say that Pakistani justice system is lot fairer that that of US.
People, its the meaning & the guidance in Quran that need to be respected & followed. All else is just paper, wood, rock, glass, tape, harddrive, USB, microchip & human memory cell of brain. After all if Quran don't stop you from lies & crimes it don't mater how much you kiss the paper, or a Hafiz's hand. in the eyes of God you are just as disobedient as a didobedient is__ a sinner.
@Salman Arshad: Your Molvi brother added Quran pages to the burned pages to make sure girl gets killed in the name of Islam.. Shame on you for supporting a criminal.
@Salman Arshad.. Can I have your number and address.!!! I need to give a hit on you :)
Jokes aside.. No religion / God / Allah wants human to defend them or kill for them.. And humanity is the first religion.. So if you want to be a 'correct muslim" first be a civil human being
@Menon: How can you be so naive to equate the men with termite. Human beings have been blessed with wisdom to understand the law and be law abiding. Actions of human beings are willful for which they are answerable to the lawful authority and for their sins to Allah Almighty. People from all the religions are so sensitive to their faith that they would even sacrifice their lives to defend it against any insult. No Muslim in India can imagine to desecrate Ramain or Mahabharat or abuse Rama/Krishna/ Ganpati papa and then be able to live as a living man. I remember a few years ago, MF Hussain in his painting had painted Radha/ Krishna without clothes and the whole of India's Hindu population became thirsty of his blood. Consequently Hussain had to leave India and then he stayed in exile till his death. I think there is a need for you people to sweep the filth under your own bed before you point a finger towards the Muslims of Pakistan.
So the liberals are now willing to use this same blasphemy law against this Imam, i.e., the same law they want repealed? How does that work? One standard for the Imam, another standard for the girl?
Just like the blasphemy law can be misused in the case of the girl, it can also be misused in the case of the Imam.
I think the liberals might be heading for a big fail this time around.
It's going to be very fun to watch.
@Salman Arshad: just like your every mistake in life got punished and accounted for. Gimme me a break. Sorry I have to go to puke.
@Pak101:
No your information is incorrect.
This law must be changed after beheading of mullah in public shown on youtube.
@Pak101: Yes it is your internal matter but it is barbaric to punish a child. Like you never made a mistake as a child. In number of countries they have youth justice system where person under 18 is not allowed to spend more than one night in jail and that too in extreme cases. There are alternate justice system. Old fashion scolding or withholding privileged etc. You should think why people around the world shake every time a taliban video surfaces or these stories come out of Pakistan. then you wonder why people around the world have trouble understanding people like you. Ask yourself a question why is Pakistan only country in the world with these kind of laws and why a religion needs protection from law and order?
It feels like we are still living in 12th century. Anyone can accuse anyone for rape or blasphemy and the one with power wins. In muslim countries, most of the time winners are Muslims. Minorities are infidels anyway so who cares.
This is high time to repeal or at least amend the blasphemy life. We are vindicated who were calling it black law for the day one..!
All I'm saying is the molvi should be given due respect because of his willingness to even surrender to the law for the sake of Islam. Qadri had committed murder of a man who had not even committed blasphemy, and he has so much respect. So why are people trying to malign someone who has only facilitated the punishment of a blasphemer. I think the former Chief Justice of the Lahore high court should defend this molvi like he defended Qadri. I am amazed people are giving so much importance to lying, but were supporting murder.
First thing first..this is not the only law in Pakistan that is being misued/abused then why so much fuss about it...there are scores of innocent people being framed every day but I don't see this much fuss on that..... Let's be very clear that it's a very important and sensitive law as it inolves our religion and Prophet and alot of deligence needs to be exercised before giving comments. Nevertheless, the fact that no law in the country should be misused/abused should be conetmplated...How difficult is it in a country like Pakistan to buy people to tastify against some one. There are chances that the people who testified against the Imam are paid for doing this...
@Pak101: "@Singh: "What’s the penalty if somebody slaughter a cow in india ??????? 7 year’s of imprisonment right ????" Where do you come up with this stuff? There ae restaurants that serve steak and others that serve nihari in India. Where do you think they get beef from?
" hey indians what about your so called secular country ????" Do you know what secular means? At the government level it means government will not differentiate between people on the basis of their religion. At Ian individual level it means equal respect for all religions.
@Salman Arshad
So in his desire to see justice he tampered with evidence and perjured himself - is that your story line? If he did that in the West a few things would happen - first the prosecutor would be forced to drop all charges against the girl as the "evidence" is now tainted/inadmissible - he then would charge the Imam for tampering with evidence, perjury, and probably charge him with inciting a riot and maybe conspiracy for murder/manslaughter. The victim would then sue him in civil court taking every last penny he owned.
Many comments above show anger. What really happened and what is happening?
Everyone, including the police and judiciary, and importantly her neighbors knew from the very beginning that the girl found the religious book in the trash and also that she has mental disabilities. The Judge or police did not ask the question as to how the religious book found its way in the trash. The neighbors did not come forward. Even this mentally challenged girl would have known to ask this basic question, had she been the judge or police officer. Yet the Judge sent her to jail and repeatedly kept extending her confinement in the jail on one pretext or other. Now, after international condemnation, the police, judiciary and everyone are trying to find a way out. It may be true that the cleric did it. It is also true that the police, judiciary and her neighbors knew it all along that the cleric did it. Yet the girl was sent to prison.
In the end, this cleric will be let off for lack of proof or some other grounds, may be even a pardon from another senior cleric who may promise to reform this cleric in another seminary. The girl may still continue to languish in prison. A non-muslim girl becoming the cause for the punishment of a muslim cleric ?????? It is never possible in Pakistan.
I have said in one of my earlier comments on another topic that in societies like India and Pakistan, everyone knows more of what is happening in their neighbors homes than they know of what is happening in their own homes.
@Ch. Allah Daad , to pass a law, more than half of the parlimenterian required, than there is a long procedure involved... it means that those who made this law are fanatics... in my opinion, Blasphemy Law's authenticity and credibility aside, but it is 100% sure that Law is applied according to its soul.
@Salman Arshad unbelievable.People in 2012 can have such argument.
@Salman Arshad: So you are saying that cleric was only lying to tell the truth?
@Singh: What's the penalty if somebody slaughter a cow in india ??????? 7 year's of imprisonment right ???? hey indians what about your so called secular country ???? If any body in pakistan violate our law irrespective of ther religion, must be punished. This is our internal matter and you don't have the right to intervene.
@Salman Arshad: hahaha salman i think you are molvi :P you think your little sister can do this kind of stuff? your answer will be NO..because she is your sister. Right! The thing is what right or wrong The MOlvi did wrong he should be punished. same Qadri did wrong he murder the man.No the Blasphism .. The girl will soon escape and Molvi IN.. ... Shame on Muslim Molvi.
@Aftab Kenneth Wilson: How hard is it to burn Quran in front door of a Christian? All one has to make sure is that Christian family is inside. Just make some noise and pretend you came there and look what you found.
Investigation did nothing in Rimsha's case. Mullah was able to plant pages of Quran after the fact. An good investigator could have easily found some thing fishy. This Girl may survive because some other Muslim eyewitness came forward. Mullah may blame the witness for doing it because of something that happened between them before. A judge may get a threat telling him to leave Mullah alone. This is Pakistan where law of Jungle applies.
Most Pakistanis want to live in peace but they are powerless to do any thing.
These disgusting mullahs! leave this poor , poor country alone. Its your ego that controls you and you think your doing it for your faith. You hate other countries, religions, people..shame on you! We are all one, equal, the same, respect other views and religions. I dont blame part of the world hating Pakistan as its the Mullahs that now sadly represent and rule this country.
That is the real face of Mullahs. They frame people not knowing "what goes up comes down." Grill him the same way and send him to gallows as several innocent have been sent before. Make an example.
Even Qadri is respected because of his sincerity and love toward Islam even when he committed murder. This molvi did not commit any murder, and yet everyone has joined hands against him. He had seen the evidence and only wanted to make sure the girl did not escape punishment.
Behead the Cleric who has brought shame to Muslims!
I knew that this had happened for causing Internationale damage to already poor image of Pakistan he needs to face a firing squad so other idiots can learn
@ Mohammad, You want him to treat as per Blasphemey Law. It means Blasphemy law is a good law. In my view those who want to try this Imam under Blasphemy Law and those who want to punish poor girl under Blasphemy are two sides of one coin.
Eliminate the blasphemy law and enter the seventeenth century. I have heard that these days a productive economy can provide running water, indoor toilets and consistent electricity amongst other things.
Throw the mullah in jail for attempted murder (after a fair trial).
Speedy, exemplary and harsh action should be taken if found guilty against the Maulana involved in this crime. This is non sense, we are reaping what Gen. Zia sowed in early 80's. We were more tolerant society in 60's than what we are today.
@Salman Arshad
Burning additional pages of Quran to make case strong is also blasphemy. I think that 'cleric' must had pervertious interest on that innocent girl and on failure he cooked all this story of quran burning.
He should be treated harsh and extremely hard trail should be imposed on him so that others in future must think twice, trice and for decades before attempting blasphemy.
So how's that Presidential mandated investigation coming? Your USA Ambassador made it clear on the first day she had personal assurances that this matter was going to be promptly handled and there was no reason for concern --- those promises have turned to ash just like the promise of a prompt investigation into OBL. Shame on Pakistan.
Thanks everyone in Pakistan… for making life miserable for everyone else. Pakistan Zindabad. Imran Khan …who needs you!
@Salman Arshad: Not sure if trolling or just plain stupid
Charge him under the blasphemy law along with his lawyer!
What about monetary compensation for inflicting pain, torture, suffering and mental anguish to the little child, her parents and the Christian community who had to fled to save their lives?
One must not forget that the punishment for blasphemy is DEATH or prison for life for even a minor child of 11 with arrested mental development.
In Pakistan Truth has a variety of meanings - remember Pakistani fake WikiLeaks.
Would you consider it a blasphemy or GALATPHEMY if a pen-drive with Koran downloaded is destroyed by someone whether by mistake or purposely?
Google interesting stories of Hakikat rai and Ilm-uddin of Punjab, both occurred before 1947.
@Paul: thanx buddy ..........v did our best for dz!
Better to hand over him to Gojra people who burned Christians and their homes there for blasphemy. Let them make BAR B Q from this healthy Molvi.
@Salman Arshad: What is more importent human life or piece of paper?
I can see at some point in time a book's knowledge was worth a person's life, in the present it is not. This cleric instigated a witch hunt on a poor minority girl hoping to drive the minorities out at any cost, even if he has to rip pages from the Koran and put them in with ashes and trash. As a true believer what should his punishment be?
Poverty, Ignorance and Religion don't mix. Is Pakistan educating all its youth not just the elite and military. Or is it letting the Madras indoctrinate them?
So, if a Muslim destroys pages of the Quran, does he get capital punishment? Or is it reserved only for the minorities?
The young girl is a minor and suffering from down syndrome . She should be set free from the charges. The cleric should be tried by the highest court of the land. If proven guilty, the court and the liberals get a chance to challenge the blasphemy law on the basis of the positive verdict by the supreme court. Cheerio
What will happen to our Judiciary's desire for their words to be as respectable & contempt proof as the the words of God? After all that's when it all started from a blasphamy case.
Good developments.
Maybe wrong but I hear witness is number 2 mullah of the same mosque...hmmmm...
@Salman Arshad: Since when are lying and cheating part of any religion? Is it good faith to possibly send a person to death? Most probably he had some personal grudge against the family and, as we know - with the blasphemy law anything goes. And besides: do you REALLY think that Allah or the Holy Prophet need people like this cleric or yourself to defend them???? Would be quite a sad state of affairs then.
If this whole story wouldn't be so tragic for Rimsha, her family and the Christians living in this area (and actually for Pakistan as a whole), it would actually be completely ridiculous.
Every International Online News website in the world, BBC/CNN/SKY News/Reuters/Washington Post/Aljazeera/GulfNews/Guardian/LATimes/Australian/EuroNews/Telegraph, have made this news a headline. Where`s the Media Managers of the Government? The PPP Government is utterly useless and needs to resign. Ye Aapas ka masla hi, aur Aapas main suljhaavo. The news must not have been made public.
Magistrates reluctant to send Mullah for remand and reluctant to let go of Ramsha, What does it say about our judicial system?
this cleric should be sentenced to jail under the pervailing blasphemy law to prevent from incident like Rimsha.
A shameful man. An example of misery should be made out of him to teach lesson to all those who level false allegations and use the blasphemy law to settle their own scores.
Congratulations Pakistan.
The world is watching.
We hope that justice is soon done.
If Islam’s philosophy is only as deep as the paper it written on then Islam has far greater problem. Taken it literally (not saying one should) if one burns pages of Koran and Muslims gets insulted by it makes the faith sound hollow.
Philosophy is everlasting, paper is not. If someone put Koran on wooden shelf and termites decided to eat it, whom does the Mullah brigade punish, the termites that ate the pages or the person who put it there. Does the termites become holy because it ate Koran and Muslims have to start praying to termites?
No disrespect towards Islam or Koran intended, merely pointing out the ridiculousness of the so called blasphemy which makes Islam shallow.
if he is guilty then simply hang him in public for blashphemy and do not miss this opportunity to reform all the madrasas..
if proved guilty, than he should be severely punished for framing a little girl, tampering with the evidence, providing false info and causing a great deal of embarrassment to Pakistan & people… we must not let him walk free….
Rishma will bring changes to Pakistani Society. If vatican and US Senators are talking about the case it means all over the world every Joe average is talking about this case. Global community is shaking its head in disbelief. What happen to old fashioned scolding or educating someone in soft voice. Well it is Pakistan the only nation in the world where religion of majority needs protection from law and religion of minority (Ahmadi) is banned.
mullahs have gone insane
I wish the court force this moulvi to say sorry to that poor girl and hang him up side down
This is what we call poetic justice !! Hople this molvi and all others who previously implicated innocent persons like Aasia bibi will also be apprehended and appropriately punished for their crimes.This is very important
As evrything in Pakistan, so many U turns and so much sesationaism ! High time for self examination, before its too late ! The days of Cospiracies and Blame others are well and truly over, as no one really cares or listens to Pakistan !
Tearing pages form Quran, & adding to the ashes of unknown is itself a Blasphemy . . . ????
I don't see anything wrong here.
The cleric was only trying to make the case stronger in good faith.
This does not mean the girl didn't commit blasphemy.
There are more witnesses who saw the girl burning the pages.
Welcome to the world of bigots and religious masqueraders.
If the news reported by ET proves true then who will be answerable for innocent Rimsha who has been in custody since she was arrested in a poor Islamabad suburb more than two weeks ago accused of burning papers containing verses from the Quran? Those who very loudly supporting Blasphemy law in its current shape should learn lessons from this incident. How a religious fanatic can use the law to his ill designs should be eye opener for all. Might be very soon lot many supporters will be on streets for the release of religious cleric as was the case for the murderer of Salman Taseer. How state, judiciary and elite of civil society deal this case the whole world shall be watching it interestingly.
An example of the blasphemy law's effectiveness in our society and they way it is being fabricated over the years to harm, persecute, kill innocent people...Specially against Ahmadi's...
If he is at fault, he must be treated as per the blasphemy law! exemplary punishment is required so that no one can temper with the law in future.
the mood swing, at times we act more like a mob and less like a rational nation.
It's funny how the courts are completely canceling out any gain made from the recent minority bill in regard to Pakistan's human rights image and their reputation for double speak.