UPDATE (Pakistan): Tensions continue to simmer in alleged blasphemy case at Sangla Hills, Pakistan 

[RE: UA-214-2005: PAKISTAN: Desecration and destruction of churches and Christian property after blasphemy allegations at Sangla Hills, Pakistan]

PAKISTAN: Religious intolerance and violence, destruction of churches and Christian properties, threat and intimidation, rule of law
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Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes to update you on the case involving the desecration and destruction of churches and Christian property after blasphemy allegations at Sangla Hills, Pakistan (to see further details on the original urgent appeal, please refer to UA-214-2005).

According to the information we have received, an inquiry has been launched into the events of November 12, which saw a mob attack three Churches, a Sister’s Convent, a Christian school building and a Pastor’s house. On the fifth day of the inquiry, the District and Session Judge, Sheikh Mohammad Yousaf, heard statements from 13 Christians; Fr. Samson Dilawar, Pastor Tajamul Pervaiz, Saqib Bhatti, Babar Emmanuel, Zulfiqar, Emmanuel Julius, Nadeem Lazar, Babar Buta, James Masih, Ilyas masih, Johnson Martin, Lazar Masih and Sultan John. The 13 persons cited the names of Malik Azam, Maulvi Jamat Ali Masoomi, Anwar Baloch and Saleem (Kaloo) as the instigators of the burning and destruction of the churches and properties. The Judge also called the 88 persons detained on charges of destruction to appear before him. The inquiry is expected to finalise its report within days.

On November 27 Rev. Dr. Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury was in Pakistan. Besides visiting the earthquake hit areas, he met several state officials, including President Pervez Musharraf, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and the Minister for Religious Affairs. He condemned the desecration and destruction of churches and Christian property at Sangla Hill. Dr. William called for the scrutinising of the country’s hard blasphemy laws. Similarly, Bishop Alexander John Malik, the Moderator of the Church of Pakistan and Bishop of Lahore, while speaking at the International Islamic University Islamabad, asked the Muslim Ulema to come forward to build interfaith harmony and condemn violence in the name of religion. Further, the National Commission for Justice and Peace called a consultation meeting of civil society organisations on December 4 at Lahore to plan responses to religious intolerance.

While these measures are going some way to properly investigating the events of November 12 and seeking interfaith dialogue and harmony in Pakistan, the situation continues to simmer. The Daily Times, on November 28, reported that Aalmi Tanzeem-e-Ahle-Sunnah, an organization comprising of Muslim scholars called an emergency meeting at Jamia Naeemia in Lahore to discuss the alleged desecration of the Holy Quaran. An official statement said the meeting would discuss the desecration of Quran Mahal and the arrest of 88 Muslims in Sangla Hill, and would be presided over by Pir Muhammad Afzal Qadri.

Furthermore, an editorial printed in the same newspaper on the same day stated “While the Punjab government has shown initiative in preventing the Sangla Hill incident from becoming a wave of province-wide intolerance, Lahore’s clergy has become active too”. Unfortunately, it has taken a position that will shock the world. Maulana Dr Sarfraz Naeemi, secretary general of Tanzimat Madaris Diniya, has said that the government had paid scant attention to the desecration of the Quran but “rounded up 88 Muslim citizens of Sangla Hill on the false charges of destroying the Christian churches”. He declared that the “Christian clergy had set the churches on fire after the desecration incident and should be put behind bars and not allowed to leave the country”. He warned that he was taking a procession to Sangla Hill to get the Muslims released from jail. He protested religion minister Ijaz ul Haq’s statement that the Muslims had destroyed the churches. He said that the Quran “library” was burnt by the Christian clergy with the help of a special incendiary powder they first used in Shantinagar in 1997 (Shantinagar was destroyed by Muslim fanatics on the pretext of desecration of the Quran).

Some other organisations have also been mobilized by the vandals of Sangla Hill to issue dire threats to the community. Thus, the situation continues to simmer.

There is therefore, an urgent need to hold a High Court-level judicial inquiry into the details of the Sangla Hill incident so that the truth can be sought quickly. It will be interesting to establish as to why the procedure set by the government under the desecration law (295-B) was not followed by the police authorities and why the nazim had decided to take ‘direct action’ without proper judicial procedure. During the past 12 months, Muslims and non-Muslims alike have been equally the victims of such laws in the country, particularly in Punjab. Significant damage has been sustained to public property and bodily harm has occurred against innocent people. In some incidents the police are alleged to have joined the mobs.

In light of this situation, we again call on you to write to the relevant authorities seeking their intervention in this matter. A thorough investigation should be conducted into the initial violence that occurred at Sangla Hill. Full compensation must be provided to the Christian community so that they can repair and rebuild any damaged property. All responsible persons must be charged and brought before a court of law. In regard to religious tolerance it is the responsibility of the Pakistani government to ensure that religious minorities are protected against intimidation and threats. Thus, please ask the Pakistan government to introduce legislation that will ensure that religious minorities are protected and treated fairly. A step towards achieving this would be to repeal the discriminatory laws against ethnic minorities.

Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission
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