Subject: Pakistan - DEATH PENALTY VERDICT FOR BLASPHEMY 


DEATH PENALTY VERDICT FOR BLASPHEMY UPHELD AGAINST PAKISTANI CHRISTIAN
 
 July 31 2001
 
 
Ayub Masih, a Pakistani Christian, had his appeal against the death penalty for blasphemy turned down last week.
Ayub, from Sahiwal district south of Lahore, was charged with blasphemy in 1996 for reportedly making derogatory remarks about the Prophet Mohammed.
 
The death sentence was imposed by a session judge of Sahiwal district in 1998. An appeal supported by Amnesty International was rejected by the Multan Bench of the Lahore High Court on July 25 2001.   Faisalabad's Catholic Bishop Dr John Joseph was so outraged by the original verdict that he committed suicide on the steps of the Sahiwal
courthouse by shooting himself.
 
Ayub, who faces death by hanging, has until August 24 to appeal toPakistan's Supreme Court. Earlier this month Ayub complained of frequent torture in Multan jail where he is being held. Sources in Pakistan report that after the appeal, Ayub's lawyer received threats from Muslim extremists.
 
Section 295 of the Pakistan Penal Code, known as the blasphemy law, is open to widespread abuse due to its vague wording and the lack of penalties against its misuse.   Section 295C allows the courts to pass sentence on those who 'by words,  either spoken or written, or by visible representations, or by any  imputation, innuendo, or insinuation, directly or indirectly, defile the sacred name of the Holy Prophet.'
 
Mervyn Thomas, chief executive of Christian Solidarity Worldwide, said:  "The law relating to blasphemy in Pakistan continues to be abused with terrible consequences for Christians like Ayub. That somebody can be sentenced to death on religious grounds casts a shadow of shame over the country of Pakistan.
 
"The contrast between the protection of Muslim feelings and the lack of safeguards for Christians is more than striking."
 
CSW is calling for Ayub's unconditional release and for President Musharraf to honour his pledges to reform the law relating to blasphemy and to introduce key reforms to improve the status of religious minorities in Pakistan.
 
For more information, contact communications manager Richard Chilvers at Christian Solidarity Worldwide, UK,
on 020 8949 0587