Rimsha case: Witnesses who testified against Khalid Jadoon backtrack
The witnesses, including the mosque’s muezzin Hafiz Zubair and Hafiz Awais and Khurram Shahzad, who endorsed Zubair’s statement, submitted a sworn statement before a District and Sessions court in Islamabad.
In the statement, the witnesses maintained that the police had tortured them and made them give statement against Jadoon.
Police officials investigating the blasphemy case against Rimsha had earlier submitted an interim charge-sheet declaring cleric Khalid Jadoon Chishti guilty before the trial court.
The cleric was accused of adding pages from the Quran to ashes seized from 14-year-old Rimsha to implicate her and was sent to jail on a 14-day judicial remand by the judicial magistrate hearing the case on September 2, 2012.
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@Abu Hamza: Your lifestyle is not so civilized if it gets hundreds of innocent people killed and suppresses minorities, making them live in fear for their lives and property.
@Joe: actually.... your name itself is idolatrous .... every Muslim tries to perfect him/herself... don't worry about us so much...worry about yourself... awright....
@Naseer: Anything can be expected from corruption or terrorism. If both are present__ The Devil Dances on Streets. @Abu Hamza: Secular ways that Western Powers are using were actually borrowed from Muslims Governments they know and claimed a millennia ago, when the west was living in dark ages like we are in today, our legal system brought them out into light-ages and due to loss of chracter brought us into the Dark Ages. We are like in the stage of rubbing-the-scriptures on faces to bring out the real Imaan. The extremist's blood letting is not going to help anything here, it will be more blood shed. @suraj: Fear of Taliban wins over the fear of the powerless judges! @Joe: How and when are you suppose to do that?I believe you have left your job & family to perfect yourself first, right? Easier said than done!
@Abu Hamza: Muslim ummah expected Utopia when talibans started their rule in Afghanistan. Afghanis will never forget this taliban upopia for years to come.
If Islamic Caliphate is so good, why are not Muslims forming one.
@Selvam: Under Sharia, Rimsha would have been the first to go. International pressure forced police to investigate. All these witnesses did not come forward voluntarily. Some one by mistake disclosed what was done to make the case strong. Once a person is blamed for blasphemy in Pakistan, there are good chances that they will be killed even if the court finds them not guilty.
Ah not surprising. Another fake case like Swat flogging video.
It's time to grab that "Molana" Tahir Ashrafi and put him in jail
I dont think that the police intimidated the witness in the first place. But pressure/ threats from extremist groups would have forced him to change his statement.
@Abu Hamza
The idea that first we need to create a perfect system of human government and enforce it, and than everything will be perfect.
This is idolatry, a worship of the creation of man. Utopia is a communist concept. It is blasphemous to Islam.
Perfect yourself and serve the creator only...
whoever behind the intimidation of the witnesses are may be least bothered about the reputation of the country...
@Pinky: Witness protection programs will never work in societies like Pakistan and India. In a witness protection program, the protected witness gets a complete new identity and they have to forget all their relatives and friends. They can never keep in contact with their relatives or friends. This is impossible to do in our societies and it is a cruel punishment for the witness. It can work in very few cases and definitely not in cases like this.
@Mj: 1) Accused? In both asia bibi and ramsha cases... they accepted their crimes... but are asking from protection. 2) I would to see you get tortured. 3) Keep you civilized thoughts and actions to yourself according to the judeo-christian secular lifestyle... and let the Muslims follow the civilized way of the Quran and Sunnah. 4) If you don't live in pakistan, then this does not concern your awright? IF you're so concerned about rimsha... then why not speak about r Afia siddiqui? Keep your hypocrisy to yourself. If you live in Pakistan, then leave and go to any CIVILIZED country of your choice....
@Hafeez: Lets see... the western govts enforce their secular ways on us... they've lobbied agaisnt the blasphemy laws since decades... they order tyrants in Muslim countries to jail Muslims who stand in their way..... when ever an order is given, it trickles down to the secular police and intelligence agencies in Muslim countries... hence th torture.... its really simple... eveyone knows this... why don't you?
@sabi: sabi... if you think the lobbies to support the blasphemy laws are powerful... you've got to be kidding me.... LOL! what a joke... i must write that down... so i can tell to my friends... LOL! good one.....
here's the thing.... asia bibi was not punished and neither was rimsha masih....infact, innocent Muslims got tortured here.... for what huh?
lets talk about your lobbies now? u.s nato countries ... all western powers who enforce a secular liberal domecracy on the Muslim world..... now compare that to the lobbie of Muslims.....
and here's another thought... why bother with a law in a secular democratic system? it would be a utopia if an Islamic Caliphate came into existence where Muslims and non-Muslims got their rights.... and no need for lobbies... anyone who blasphemes... off with their heads.... if you have a problem with the blasphemy law... then get lost from this country...
Government has successfully failed again ... Taliban are gonna handle this case very soon
Ramsha is guilty or not, maulvi fabricated the case or not. The question is why no one is trust worthy on the land of pure. Is Islam a joke?
These witnesses are ordinary people. Even our judges do not have the courage to stand against the extremists.
These witnesses are ordinary people. Even our judges do not have the courage to stand against the extremists. Jai Jahalut.
@Abu Hamza: "wow… i remember all the seculars and shias commenting agaisnt this Maulana. LOL! don’t you get it already?"
Option 1: In the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the police forced witness to testify against an Islamic prayer leader in order to falsely save a young autistic Christian minor girl. Option 2: In a country where a governor's killer gets thrown wit rose petals and the judge convicting him has to run away from the country, these witnesses were threatened not just with their own lives but that of their families - forcing them to backtrack now.
You seem to believe option 1 is what happened. Most reasonable people around the world are convinced option 2 is what happened
Also you think secular is a bad word i.e. the laws being fair to all regardless of their religion is a bad thing. So you yourself admit that you would support unfairness punishment to Rimsha because she is a Christian and unfair acquittal of Jadoon because he is Muslim.
reset
@Abu Hamza: Why would Policemen force witnesses to go against Jadoon? Give it a thought and then make a comment.
@Abu Hamza: A tortured maulvi, right. In Pakistan. That's believable.
Now we have witness intimidation by friends of Mullah Jadoon so that he can get off this case.
Noone in this case seems believable to me now.
"sabi State is unable to give protection to judges where do witneses stand.Life is dear to everyoneIt’s far worse than that — the police are part of the State apparatus and it’s the police who are coercing witnesses to recant their testimony. I suspect this case has demonstrated the true face of Pakistan – and it ain’t pretty."
Why should police influence witness in this particular case which is highly internationalised and govt. is struggling to show soft face of Pakistan.Infact govt is weak and state opratus is threatend.That's why I posted my comment on ET editorial,Turn in tide,as following,
"The loby behind blasphamy laws is such powerfull that it even brought powerfull Musharaf to his knee.And who knows what happens with this mullah once the dust is setteled.Chances are he will be acquited on some plea.This have we seen in last three decades.Only a revolution of the type can bring this menace of religion exploitation to it’s end".That means she is guilty.
When is the state going to hang her?
@Sayyed Mehdi: why don't you hand over yourself to the police... and they can show you how its done.... they can torture you.... without a single wound showing on your body.... the police baost about their skills of torture..... and btw.... the lawyer of the witnesses was talking to the media a few days back..... he revealed that the witnesses were harrassed from day one. They were threatened, their houses raided, arrested, torutured. Those witnesses and the imam are innocent.... they should be compensated for their loss and released. While the parties invloved in pressurizing the police to torture the witnesses should be in jail. Rimsha, the 21 (not 11 not 14 or 15) year old blasphemer should be in jail. and btw.... why not any laws against torture?
@Mj: oh these laws aren't unjust. The govt, and police are unjust for torturing their own majority to protect a blaspheming minority.... people like you are unjust... what's the matter? didn't you read properly? are you so blinded by your Islamophobia? those maulvis were tortured.... how about a death penalty for torture? how does that sound?
@Pakistani: the same mind set as non-liberals have.....
This is not a joke but a very serious matter for all peace loving pakistanis...the witnesses who have backtracked now should be charged under blasphemy laws for submitting false (blasphemous) statements in such a sesitive case
Witnesses must only be backtracking because -- either for money or threat! no other reason. Police mostly involved before the case hasnt gone into presecution. Police actually should be lauded for their actions in this case to bring about the real story!
@Abu Hamza "wow… i remember all the seculars and shias commenting agaisnt this Maulana. LOL! don’t you get it already?
Wow! I really don't get it. What do you mean? If it meant to be sarcastic, fine. But on a such a sensitive issue, better not to be comical.
Not @Abu Hamza, but in general:
I really don't get it. May be some of you do. Now what? The police should be charged for blasphemy. No justice will be served until the majority of the society GETS IT.
It is appalling to see that a whole society, maulanas, neighbors, police, average Joe, govt, judiciary..., is either against or ignorant of the fact that an innocent, uneducated minor girl's life is being ruined. Allah only knows how many other Rimshas we have not heard about.
We HAVE hit the rock bottom or should soon. I hope I am right. The silver lining is that after hitting the bottom, there is no way but up. ..pc
haa haa! land of pure!
@sabi
It's far worse than that -- the police are part of the State apparatus and it's the police who are coercing witnesses to recant their testimony. I suspect this case has demonstrated the true face of Pakistan - and it ain't pretty.
Another big reason to repeal the unjust blasphemy law. No law can have ambiguity or reason for doubt. Lives depend on it. No one is sure who is guilty or innocent. The law has to decipher and in this case, many a lives can be destroyed by unjust unfair enforcement. Urgent amendments or changes should be made to clear ambiguity, modalities.
When I tuned up CNN early morning, the newscaster was very enthusiastic and commenting that today an important mile stone will be laid in the Judaical history of Pakistan. Blasphemy law has taken a decisive turn and Rimsha will be acquitted and cleric to be tried for Blasphemy law. He also predicted that probably now time has come to amend this law. The moment he finished his comments one could see his long face and announcing that court has adjourned the case till next hearing. Now brings out ET the backtrack of earlier recorded witnesses. All speaks how well netted the Mullah Crecy in Pakistan is. Write it nothing will happen in this case. A rig ma roll decision will be announced after many hearings and then world and people will forget Rimsha as is the case with some many previous cases. Unfortunate situation for bright looking Pakistanis.
Blasphemy Laws are here to stay, things will not change in Pakistan. Really pity the minority who believe in secularism. Its the Majority rule that Jinnah had expected in India. The Majority want Blasphemy laws, its not going anywhere. Better get used to this bitter reality.
For all the non-Muslims: Better get out if you can.
The absurdity of this situation can be guaged from the fact that it is being implied that Police in Pakistan was actually trying to protect a weaker element of the society. This is laughable in itself. Police in Pakistan will never ever do that.
Under Sharia someone would already be officially and legally killed or mutilated: seeing the the sordid state of Pakistan's present judiciary and police one can understand the common man's desire for a swift and clear cut verdict, even if that cut falls on the wrong person(s). No appeals, no lawyers, witnesses valued according to sex or piety etc.
Since no one obviously cares what the truth may be, and there is no evidence except the statements of the 3 men, and the fact that once out the prayer leader will obviously take revenge; it is unsurprising that they want to dissociate from there prior statements. Them being dead ( or "target killed") is obviously not going to be any good for their families. So we will continue to live in a society where people will avoid telling the truth unless it benefits them.
All the witnesses must be charged with perjury and put away for ten years. It will send a signal to witnesses to stick to the Truth come what may.
@Abu Hamza: I saw one of the people testify on Television. He certainly didn't look like he'd been tortured or forced into giving the testimony. He could, however, been intimidated into withdrawing his testimony. Maybe by the government who've already rescued Rimsha and now want to end the case without giving a life sentence to anyone. But that's all just speculation of course.
What little doubt anybody might have had about Pakistan being a "banana republic", has been dispelled by this news item. Truth is something that died with Quaid-e-Azam.
@Farrukh: We have no idea what he (Muezzin) is going through
Another proof that nothing is clear and transparent in Pakistan - the symptoms of acute corruption. Take for example, Rimsha's age - they iterated different figures on different occasions: 9, 11, 14 and even more than that. Isn't a birth certificate or a relevant document enough to prove age?
This was expected. Intimidation is a powerful weapon. Lets hope the judiciary exercise the power that they possess to deliver justice and not take the easy way out as they do so often.
What a sordid affair this whole farce has been. This is why such laws are unjust and discriminatory as you can play with lives of others based on some hearsay and old enmities.
State is unable to give protection to judges where do witneses stand.Life is dear to everyone.