A Lahore court judge has handed down a death sentence to a man accused of blasphemy on Wednesday, as well as a fine of Rs100,000 ($16,500). Defendant Younis Masih, of Chungi Amar Sadhu had been charged with making derogatory remarks against the Prophet Mohammad, an offence punishable by hanging or life imprisonment according to state law. However, the lawyer claimed the case against his client was concocted. Defence counsel Pervaiz Aslam Chaudhry said the trial at the prison had been arranged due to security reasons, adding that all evidence in the case was also recorded through a video facility.
The lawyer said the Christian community had arranged a spiritual gathering in Chungi Amar Sadhu in 2005 when neighbour Abdul Aziz, also a complainant in the case, objected to it. It turned into an exchange of harsh words in which the complainant alleged that the accused had used derogatory remarks.
The lawyer said that the case had not been investigated properly. He contended that the offence required investigation by an officer not below the rank of SP under section 156-A of the CrPC. But, he claimed, a sub-inspector had investigated the case. Chaudhry said he would appeal against the decision.
The court also directed the police to provide security to the lawyer who had been receiving threats during the trial.
Yesterday’s was the first ever blasphemy trial to be video-televised, which had been arranged at the jail due to security issues.
Source: ADNKronos International
Fauzan
Selina Haider
Aleena
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am lawyer of Younas Maish and I contested most of blasphemy in pakistan under the platform of LADS(legal aid for destitute& settlement) being chairman.life of me,family are at stake all the times.
Your conern is need for the security.You can contact for further information.hope for reply.
Regards
Parvez Aslam Choudhry Advocate
Chairman LADS
LIBRARY ASIA AND THE PACIFIC SOUTH ASIA PAKISTAN
AI Index: ASA 33/012/2007 18 June 2007
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See also
Pakistan: Death threats/fear for safety/possible death penalty/prisoner of conscience
(03/02/2006)
URGENT ACTION
Pakistan: Further information on death threats/fear for safety/possible death penalty/prisoner of conscience. New concern: Death penalty
PUBLIC AI Index: ASA 33/012/2007
18 June 2007
Further Information on UA 28/06 (ASA 33/003/2006, 3 February 2006) – Death
threats/ fear for safety/ prisoner of conscience New concern: Death
penalty
PAKISTAN Younis Masih (m)
Parvez Aslam Choudhry (m), his lawyer
Younis Masih, a Pakistani Christian, was sentenced to death for blasphemy by
the Sessions Court in Lahore on 30 May. He is appealing against his sentence.
He has been attacked twice by inmates at Kot Lakhpat prison in Lahore where he
is detained, and remains at risk of further attack at the hands of prisoners
and guards. Amnesty International considers him to be a prisoner of conscience,
detained solely for the peaceful exercise of the right to freedom of
expression. His lawyer, Parvez Aslam Choudhry, has survived an apparent attempt
on his life and has been threatened and harassed as a result of his involvement
in the case.
Younis Masih is alleged to have made derogatory remarks about the Prophet
Mohammed at a religious service held at a house near his own on 9 September
2005, in the Chunngi Amar Sadu area of Lahore. He denies this, and a local
newspaper quoted his wife as saying that he was attacked after he went to the
house at around midnight and asked the people inside not to sing so loudly, as
he was in mourning for his nephew, who had recently died. The Muslim cleric who
had led the service filed a complaint against Younis Masih on 10 September
2005, accusing him of offences under Section 295C of the Pakistan penal code,
which deals with blasphemy.
During the trial before the Sessions Court, Younis Masih gave evidence via a
video link due to concerns for his safety, making it the first blasphemy case
to use video technology. The lawyer for the cleric who filed the complaint
against Younis Masih reportedly threatened Parvez Aslam Choudhry during his
defence. The lawyer also received a separate death threat at midnight on 9
June, when an anonymous caller telephoned him and told him that he and Younis
Masih would be killed. The trial was reportedly unfair, as it is claimed that
the prosecution case was based on hearsay, and not direct evidence, and that
changes had been made to the original prosecution witness statements. The judge
ordered the Punjab police to provide protection to Parvez Aslam Choudhry
because of the threats made against him, but the lawyer has stated that this
order has not been implemented.
On 11 May 2006, unknown assailants deliberately rammed their car into Parvez
Aslam Choudhry’s car, which then was pushed off the road and fell forty feet.
One passenger, lawyer Rana Javed Rafiq, died instantly. Parvez Aslam Choudhry
and his colleague Ijaz Victor were hospitalized for a number of days after the
incident. On two occasions in February and July 2006, Parvez Aslam Choudhry was
threatened at gun point by Muslim men who warned that his life was in danger if
he continued to represent blasphemy cases.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The blasphemy laws of Pakistan, while purporting to protect Islam and the
religious sensitivities of the Muslim majority, are vaguely formulated and
arbitrarily enforced by the police and judiciary in a way which amounts to
harassment and persecution of religious minorities. Many of those accused or
suspected of blasphemy have been assaulted or tortured. People detained on
blasphemy charges in prisons including Kot Lakhpat, where Younis Masih is held,
have been killed by fellow detainees or prison wardens. Others suspected of
blasphemy, but not under arrest, have been unlawfully killed without police
taking any action to protect them.
“Defiling the name of the Prophet Mohammed” is a capital offence under Section
295C of the Pakistan Penal Code, which states, “Whoever by words, either spoken
or written or by visible representation, or by any imputation, innuendo, or
insinuation, directly or indirectly, defiles the sacred name of the Holy
Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) shall be punished with death, or
imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable to a fine”. The Federal Shariat
Court, whose tasks include reviewing laws to ensure they conform with Islamic
doctrine, ruled in 1991 that anyone convicted of blasphemy should face the
death penalty, not life imprisonment.
Articles 18 and 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights set out that
everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion, opinion and
expression. International human rights law provides that any limitations placed
on these freedoms should be only such as are prescribed by law as well as being
necessary and proportionate for, among other things, the protection of the
rights and freedoms of others. Amnesty International considers people
imprisoned under blasphemy laws for exercising their right to freedom of
opinion and expression to be prisoners of conscience.
AI Index: ASA 33/012/2007 18 June 2007
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Further information
AI Report 2005 entry
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Dear Sir/Madam
Frontline Appeal for my security is for your concern and information.
Best Regards
Parvez Aslam Choudhry Advocate
Chairman LADS
Pakistan: Attack and death threats against human rights defender Parvez Aslam Choudhry
Email
Front Line is deeply concerned following reports of the attack and death threats against human rights defender Parvez Aslam Choudhry. Parvez Aslam Choudhry is Chairman of Legal Aid for the Destitute and Settlement (LADS) in Lahore. In 2003 he was awarded the Bishop John Joseph Award by Pakistan Minorities Front for his outstanding work in defending the rights of minorities at considerable personal risk.
Further Information
Posted 16/04/2008On 8 April 2008, at approximately 12.00 midnight, Parvez Aslam Choudhry received an anonymous telephone call threatening both him and his family. Parvez Aslam Choudhry was reportedly told he was to be killed because he was a Christian lawyer defending a Christian person accused of blasphemy. Similar threats were also made against him inside the court by witnesses. The case in question concerns a former Christian who converted to Islam before marrying Muslim woman.
On 6 April 2008, Parvez Aslam Choudhry was attacked by a large mob when he arrived at court for the bail hearing. His car was damaged and the mob threatened to kill him. Parvez Aslam Choudhry’s application for the court to take legal action was accepted but action has reportedly yet to be taken.
Parvez Aslam Choudhry has previously been the subject of death threats. Front Line believes that the attack and death threats against Parvez Aslam Choudhry are an attempt to dissuade him from continuing with his legitimate and peaceful work in the defence of human rights. Front Line is concerned for his security and physical and psychological integrity, as well as that of his family members.
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