Allama Tahir Ashrafi. PHOTO: ONLINE
LAHORE: The mob attack on a Christian colony in Lahore was in violation of Islamic laws that guarantee protection of minorities, Pakistan Ulema Council chief Allama Tahir Ashrafi said on Sunday.
More than 150 houses of Christians living in the Joseph Colony were torched by an angry mob on March 9 over alleged blasphemous remarks against Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) by Sawan Masih, a 28-year-old Christian sanitation worker.
According to a report by Radio Pakistan, Ashrafi – while addressing a press conference in Lahore – said Islam guarantees protection of life and property of non-Muslims.
He said that it is time to express solidarity with the members of the Christian community and to let them know that they are not alone.
Ashrafi further said that the blasphemy law must not be misused to persecute any one in Pakistan.
Stressing that non-Muslim citizens of Pakistan have equal rights, he said that the recent attack on the Christian community gave a bad name to Pakistan at the international level.
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Muslims nd christian should make peace between themselves if they want the world to stay in peace because they are the two most popular religions
Will this one statement take away the responsibility of those who are preachibg this hatred ?
Umm, dear Mr. Ashrafi, the blasphemy law DIDN'T EVEN GET A CHANGE to be misused here.
It never reached that stage. The 'pious' folk attacked the community AFTER the man was arrested. Where was the misuse? Stop your mind games.
@gp65:
"If the law stays in its present form, it will continue to be misused against minorities. Since you say that Islam believes in protecting life and property of non-Muslims, will you support the reform of the current blasphemy law"
How can this be reformed? The fundamental issue is not that that the laws need reformation, but it is that these laws are anti-human, medieval and barbaric and must be totally eliminated and expunged from the law books of any nation that wants to be recognized as a civilized nation.
Unfortunately, that is impossible in a nation that defines itself as an Islamic nation. Once a nation declares itself as an Islamic nation, the notion of declaring blasphemy and apostasy laws wrong itself becomes blasphemous and subject to the death penalty as prescribed by Sharia. Which politician is going to stick his neck out (without getting it chopped off) for calling for the abolition of blasphemy laws? So, there you have it. Once you get on an ideological tiger, getting off without getting eaten alive is impossible.
"Stressing that non-Muslim citizens of Pakistan have equal rights, he said that the recent attack on the Christian community gave a bad name to Pakistan at the international level."
Ah, so that is the problem - that it gives a bad name to Pakistan. Not that 150 people became homeless and probably are seriously traumatized.
"According to a report by Radio Pakistan, Ashrafi – while addressing a press conference in Lahore – said Islam guarantees protection of life and property of non-Muslims."
Maybe so. But clearly the version of Islam you are talking about is not being practiced in Pakistan.
"Ashrafi further said that the blasphemy law must not be misused to persecute any one in Pakistan."
If the law stays in its present form, it will continue to be misused against minorities. Since you say that Islam believes in protecting life and property of non-Muslims, will you support the reform of the current blasphemy law?
"Christian colony attack in violation of Islam: Allama Tahir Ashrafi "
Haven't we heard such hackneyed excuses repeatedly over the years?
If he believed that, is he prepared to come out and condemn that blasphemy and apostasy laws, which have been the underlying cause for killing of people throughout history, are also in violation of Islam and demand that they be struck down from the laws?
This mullah Ashrafi operates the PR wing of ASWJ/LEJ. Please do some research readers.
@ Chris.....
You are 100% right, They preach one and do other way. Watever they say, you need to take opposite meaning. viz peaceful religion, guarantee protection of minorities etc....
The current blasphemy law is an unjust law of an unjust Government for an unjust people with an unjust Police, Army and Judiciary. This banana republic has reached a point of no return.
Blah, Blah, Blah.First they attack then they say "No, Islam forbids that" then they attack again... This is a well programmed way.. to hide the real intentions. One mula incites then another makes the propaganda that Islam has nothing to do. Enough!! Our faith on Christ will be victorious. Please pray for the souls and flesh os those poor families. Remember brothers, That Jesus came also from a poor family and he was prosecuted and he defeated the World.
finally someone sane.
while this incident is condemnable.....why there is no such condemnation by the religious & politicians when mosques & schools are targeted by terrorists....is that not against Islam ?
great.
Why cannot the Muslim ulema council take action against the Muslim cleric who organized the mob to attack the Christian community?...these radical mullahs give Islam a bad name and yet there is no one in Islam who can stop them?...they are at the least guilty of inciting violence and the government should arrest them for this crime...