Christian couple beaten to death for 'desecrating Quran': police

[Tultras]

The incident took place at the town of Kot Radha Kishan, some 60 kilometres southwest of Lahore, and is the latest example of mob violence against minorities accused of blasphemy.
“A mob attacked a Christian couple after accusing them of desecration of the Holy Quran and later burnt their bodies at a brick kiln where they worked,” local police station official Bin-Yameen told AFP.
“Yesterday an incident of desecration of the Holy Quran took place in the area and today the mob first beat the couple and later set their bodies on fire at a brick kiln,” he added.
Another police official confirmed the incident.
Read: Timeline of accused under blasphemy law
The victims were only identified by their first names, Shama and Shehzad, and were a married couple.
Pakistan's brick kiln workers are often subject to harsh practices, with a study by the Bonded Labour Liberation Front Pakistan estimating that 4.5 million are indentured labourers.
Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has constituted a three-member committee to fast track the investigation of the killings and ordered police to beef up security at Christian neighbourhoods in the province, an official from his media office told AFP.
Blasphemy is a hugely sensitive issue in the country, with even unproven allegations often prompting mob violence. Anyone convicted, or even just accused, of insulting Islam, risks a violent and bloody death at the hands of vigilantes.
A Christian woman, Aasia Bibi, has been on death row since November 2010 after she was found guilty of making derogatory remarks about Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) during an argument with a Muslim woman.
An elderly British man with severe mental illness, sentenced to death for blasphemy in January, was shot by a prison guard last month.
The reality of Pakistan today is that mere accusation of this crime, howsoever unsubstantiated, instantly imperils the life of the individual concerned, and that threat persists not only throughout his incarceration, but even after acquittal.
Minorities are particularly impacted by the blasphemy law. Firstly, they are disproportionately targeted as compared to their actual representation in the population.
Secondly, when one of them is accused, the entire community is made to suffer, as illustrated by the mob violence in Joseph Colony, Gojra, etc or in lesser known cases where communities have been intimidated into moving en masse out of the locality. In fact, the desire to grab land or settle personal scores often underlies blasphemy allegations. That is all the more reason the law needs to be revisited.

Source: Christian couple beaten to death for 'desecrating Quran': police - Pakistan - DAWN.COM

 

[krazyhamad420]

Needs to Remove that white part from our Flag, as we cannot secure minorities ..

aik banday ne Blasphemy ki thi aur puri Coloney ko AGG laga di thi in so called musalmano ne ....

 

[Gamer150]

han sun ky dukh huaaa...

bat kuch our hi ho gi..

 

[LeGenD123]

Extremely sad incident. Another sign of prevalence of violent tendencies and illiteracy within populace of Pakistan.

Jaab taak Law & Order system theek nahin hoga aur illiteracy overcome nahin hogi, tab taak violence prevalent rahe gaa iss mulk mein.

Law shouldn't be revisited, rather shortcomings of Law & Order system and issue of illiteracy be addressed.

 

[FUEL2009]

Welcome to the jungle.

 

[Dr Beowulf]

Its very disgusting and a vicious circle.
The government cant even utter the idea of changing the law without their own lives coming under threat (salman taseer). The jahil coward people who blame these poor minorities of blasphemy simply wanna settle a score. They need to be put on death row themselves. Nobody in the minority is stupid enough to carry out blasphemy in this damn country. Nobody.

 

[docfrog]

Shameful Incident in the name of Islam in the Land of "hyper Pure" Muslims of Great Islamic Republic of Pakistan

What hurts more is the general apathy on the part of the fellow Pakistanis. Just see this post. Only 4-5 comments. Post an idiotic rant on the Inqilab, Naya Pakistan, Film Actors and a Joke and there would be dozens of replies in no time.

This barbaric incidence of "BURNING ALIVE TWO HUMAN BEINGS' apparently means nothing to us.

May Allah show and keep us on the right path

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Sorry! But I disagree with this notion that this has anything to do with a low literacy level

I have seen, met and heard virulent hatred and threats for minorities from "apparently" educated lot of Pakistan including doctors, engineers, professional etc

Remember how the Lawyers showered rose petals on Buzdil Qadris police van when he was produced in the court. It was again shameful and hurt a lot to see a pathetic and coward killer being appreciated by the educated people.

 

[LeGenD123]

Greatest issue is business-oriented Law & Order system. Culprits caught, put in jail for a brief period and afterwards either released on bail (or) by court due to lack of gawah (or) if sentenced then have the option for appeal. This nonsense is the reason why terrorism and crime continues to flourish in Pakistan.

Islamic Law & Order system is best for mankind. Culprits caught, if proven guilty, executed or punished in front of the public on the spot. No BS of paying extreme sums of fees to lawyers or appealing against sentences after proven guilty.

Current British style Law & Order system in Pakistan is not suitable for it, period. The sooner people realize this, the better.

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Sorry! But I disagree with this notion that this has anything to do with a low literacy level

I have seen, met and heard virulent hatred and threats for minorities from "apparently" educated lot of Pakistan including doctors, engineers, professional etc

Remember how the Lawyers showered rose petals on Buzdil Qadris police van when he was produced in the court. It was again shameful and hurt a lot to see a pathetic and coward killer being appreciated by the educated people.

Illiteracy have many forms. People can be educated as per world's criteria but religiously illiterate still, this is what you witness a lot in Pakistan at the moment.

Islam does not permits its followers to take matters of law in to their own hands and punish people on their own accord, only Islamic authorities have this freedom within reasonable bounds. People can just report or hand over the accused to the authorities, nothing more. After this, law takes its course and accused have to be proven guilty in court first.

 

[armada]

This is what your kids will do if you put them in Madrasas... I say rid off this madrasa culture or at least bring them under government watch....

 

[LeGenD123]

This is what your kids will do if you put them in Madrasas... I say rid off this madrasa culture or at least bring them under government watch....

Make education affordable, period. This is what the government needs to do.

 

[Ottoman]

From what I have gathered so far, this incident isn't related to blasphemy. As in the couple weren't killed on the basis of committing blasphemy of any sort.

The murder took place due to certain monetary issues between the husband and his landlord. Murderer tried to wriggle his way out of the problem by slapping a blasphemy charge on the victims. Although how that justifies committing murder is beyond my understanding.

 

[LeGenD123]

Now you know what the Islamic way to punish this murderer is?

Put him on the trial without him having the option to hire a lawyer on his terms and choice. He should be given the right to defend himself nonetheless via a state-sponsored lawyer but if found guilty during the trial, taken out to a public place and executed with a SWORD on the SPOT. No jail term or BS. This kind of punishment will make people thick twice before taking law in to their own hands next time.

But unfortunately, Pakistan is addicted to Western interests and style of systems. And so-called liberals will find another excuse to speak against Islamic practices.

 

[Blastwave]

[MENTION=41864]armada[/MENTION]

please don't post in this thread again..

thank you

 

[Ranger Taffles]

Greatest issue is business-oriented Law & Order system. Culprits caught, put in jail for a brief period and afterwards either released on bail (or) by court due to lack of gawah (or) if sentenced then have the option for appeal. This nonsense is the reason why terrorism and crime continues to flourish in Pakistan.

Islamic Law & Order system is best for mankind. Culprits caught, if proven guilty, executed or punished in front of the public on the spot. No BS of paying extreme sums of fees to lawyers or appealing against sentences after proven guilty.

Current British style Law & Order system in Pakistan is not suitable for it, period. The sooner people realize this, the better.

I'm sorry but you're clearly misinterpreting the judicial law system run in Pakistan. It has nothing to do with the British style of law and order system, rather has to do with our constitution and what our lawmakers have enacted. This is a significant misconception as both systems are very different. The law follows what the legislation follows. There is nothing beyond it. And Pakistan being a common law country has valued statutes in relations to precedents set over. Also if you're thinking that Islam follows only executions or public punishments then you're wrong about that too. In criminal law, there is something called as sentencing, that is imposing liability on the accused. It is absolutely valid in Islamic Law to allow sentencing by an order of paying monetary fees. How do you think the State functions otherwise? All the procedures regarding bail, evidence and appealing also stay put within the system, ensuring fairness and equality for all parties involved.

And on topic, it's our extreme thinking that has got the better of us. The blasphemy law been increasingly misused and it is disgusting how Muslims have fallen to causing such loss. Accuse anyone of blasphemy, and the job is done. Sick.

 

[LeGenD123]

I'm sorry but you're clearly misinterpreting the judicial law system run in Pakistan. It has nothing to do with the British style of law and order system, rather has to do with our constitution and what our lawmakers have enacted. This is a significant misconception as both systems are very different. The law follows what the legislation follows. There is nothing beyond it. And Pakistan being a common law country has valued statues in relations to precedents set over. Also if you're thinking that Islam follows only executions or public punishments then you're wrong about that too. In criminal law, there is something called as sentencing, that is imposing liability on the accused. It is absolutely valid in Islamic Law to allow sentencing by an order of paying monetary fees. How do you think the State functions otherwise? All the procedures regarding bail, evidence and appealing also stay put within the system, ensuring fairness and equality for all parties involved.

Pakistani Legal System is based on British Common Law System and this is a well-known fact.

The legal system is derived from English common law and is based on the much-amended 1973 constitution and Islamic law (sharia).

Source: Pakistan Legal System

The legal system is based on English common law and Islamic law. The former is more influential in commercial law while the latter is more influential in personal status (and, more recently, criminal and tax law to some extent).

Source: http://aannaim.law.emory.edu/ifl/legal/pakistan.htm

I have pointed out a basic concept of Islamic Legal System, and am not interested in defining the entirety of it in this thread.

Islam certainly permits the accused the right to defend himself/herself in court but this is not necessary on the basis of personal hiring of a lawyer as per my understanding. State-sponsored Lawyer can be assigned to the accused by the authorities for this purpose; this is sound approach to prevent the chances of imbalances in legal representation of the involved parties because powerful and influential people have the option to hire most capable (expensive) lawyers and can influence the outcome of the cases in this manner if the victimized party doesn't have this liberty, and also to prevent lawyers from unnecessarily dragging the cases and continue to extort money from involved parties with this kind of pathetic practice. In addition, if the originally accused is found to be wrongly accused by the other party during the trail, the accuser becomes liable for punishment instead.

Most importantly, Islam stresses on the importance of "on-the-spot" imposition of punishments out in the public to make these cases an unforgettable lesson for the masses to avoid considering crimes to settle disputes or conduct terrorism. The concept of long-term jail sentences is WESTERN and is not effective at discouraging people from conducting crimes in general. On top of this, the right of the guilty to appeal against the harshness of sentence is an insult to the sanctity of Legal system itself. Leniency in sentencing should only be granted if the victimized party agrees to this arrangement upon request from the guilty.

And on topic, it's our extreme thinking that has got the better of us. The blasphemy law been increasingly misused and it is disgusting how Muslims have fallen to causing such loss. Accuse anyone of blasphemy, and the job is done. Sick.

Blasphemy law isn't the only one that can be misused, their are other laws that can be misused as well. So should all be abolished? No.

Once again, current Pakistani Legal System is business-oriented and compromised by influential forces, it does not have a good punishing approach either. You expect this system to perform? It will not in a thousand years.

 

[Ranger Taffles]

I have pointed out a basic concept of Islamic Legal System, and am not interested in defining the entirety of it in this thread.

Most importantly, Islam stresses on the importance of "on-the-spot" imposition of punishments out in the public to make these cases an unforgettable lesson for the masses to avoid considering crimes to settle disputes or conduct terrorism. The concept of long-term jail sentences is WESTERN and is not effective at discouraging people from conducting crimes in general. On top of this, the right of the guilty to appeal against the harshness of sentence is an insult to the sanctity of Legal system itself. Leniency in sentencing should only be granted if the victimized party agrees to this arrangement upon request from the guilty.

Way to go for missing out on this:

The legal system is derived from English common law and is based on the much-amended 1973 constitution and Islamic law (sharia).

All common law countries have their independent system of running judiciary and trial procedures. Yes, they're derived from the English Common Law system but they run differently.

Islam certainly permits the accused the right to defend himself/herself in court but this is not necessary on the basis of personal hiring of a lawyer as per my understanding. State-sponsored Lawyer can be assigned to the accused by the authorities for this purpose to prevent the chances of imbalances in legal representation of the involved parties because powerful and influential people have the option to hire most capable lawyers and can influence the outcome of the cases in this manner if the victimized party doesn't have this liberty, and also to prevent lawyers from unnecessarily dragging the cases and continue to extort money from involved parties with this kind of pathetic practice.

My friend, the state always acts as the prosecutor when it comes to criminal law procedures. In civil law procedures the parties bring their own lawyers but as far criminal law is concerned, the State always prosecutes. The defendant if found guilty and if fined monetarily does not pay compensation (to the victim), but pays up the fees to the State. And so with other conditional punishments. This is how State prosecution functions in Pakistan.

For reference, the recent blasphemy case is titled - MST ASIA BIBI VS THE STATE ETC

Most importantly, Islam stresses on the importance of "on-the-spot" imposition of punishments out in the public to make these cases an unforgettable lesson for the masses to avoid considering crimes to settle disputes or conduct terrorism.

If you seriously believe in something like that then it should be understood that crime and terrorism has stood for ages and will continue to do on so. It operates on its own basis and the card of fear has productively failed these past centuries. For example, the "western" states such as Britain also used to do public executions and look where it ended up for them. Is Iran or UAE really doing better with their rate of crime? Taliban also do public executions by the way. Moreover, something known as human rights speaks volumes in today's day and age. In my opinion, Pakistan lacks efficient enforcement when liability is imposed, which also reasons with your frustration. Our affairs regarding the approach to punishment has been dismal as the authorities have never really developed over it.

 

[Leon]

Where are the people that burnt the bodies? Maybe the police should catch them and do the same. Who gave them the right to do that to any Human when the law is there.

 

[Arhamsaeed]

Shameful incident. In majority of these blasphemy cases someone has a personal agenda with the victim and they use this barbaric law to punish them.

Sent from my HTC Amaze using Tapatalk 2

 

[Leon]

I am in fact an Islam extremist of a kind but this incident shakes me off aswell. Way to ruin the religion's image everywhere especially Pakistan's.

 

[Tultras]

Where are the people that burnt the bodies? Maybe the police should catch them and do the same. Who gave them the right to do that to any Human when the law is there.

The police have made over 50 arrests related to this incident, they say that the "local mullah" incited the hate against the couple.

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This is what your kids will do if you put them in Madrasas... I say rid off this madrasa culture or at least bring them under government watch....

I happen to go to a madressa, I think i am reasonably sane and would never attempt to commit an act like this. Education is the problem, our government doesn't enforce education and this is the result it causes. You accusing me, and countless other people i know, of growing up to be murderers, is shameful.