4. März 2021 – 10:08
–>
Imprisoned for Facebook post
<!–
–>
Nabil Masih was sentenced to 10 years in prison for blasphemy when he was only 16 years old. He allegedly shared a derogatory picture of the Kaaba in Saudi Arabia on social networks. A judge has now ruled that he will be released on bail. The exact date is still open.
Jailed since his arrest in 2016, Nabil Masih became the youngest person to be charged with blasphemy in Pakistan at the age of 16. A Muslim friend accused him of “sharing” and “liking” an allegedly blasphemous photo of the Kaaba, Islam’s holiest site in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, on Facebook.
In 2018 he was sentenced to ten years in prison – he has now been behind bars for this “offense” for five years.
Now his lawyer Naseeb Anjum explains that Nabil will be released on bail, but the exact date is still unknown – and continues: “The freedom for Nabil Masih is only the first fight. We must now work towards a complete acquittal and I am confident that we can do that. “
Judge: “No evidence available”
Judge Javaid Gaddal, who ordered the release, says there is no evidence of what he is being charged with. And according to “International Christian Concern” (ICC) it is also not certain whether Nabil Masih (the spelling Nabeel Masih is also common) posted the picture or whether he was only marked on it.
Police say the post was removed when the young Christian was arrested to avoid further violence. His lawyer, Naseeb Anjum, said the Kasur District court sentenced the youth even though there were no witnesses against him. The court also ignored the fact that the case was only registered two days after the alleged photo appeared. “The delay in registering the case shows that Masih was only charged after deliberation and consultation.” The fact that police removed the image from Facebook shortly after the case was registered made the process of determining guilt or innocence difficult.
Concerns about security
William Stark, ICC Regional Director, welcomes “this positive development” and continues: “… we hope that he will soon be released from prison and be allowed to return to his family. We also hope that Lahore’s Supreme Court will acquit Nabil in full so that his innocence can be proven beyond doubt. “
At the same time, concerns about his safety are growing, especially from Muslim extremists who may target him. The death penalty is provided for blasphemy in Pakistan, and the law is repeatedly used abusively against Christians and Hindus. For example, it is not uncommon for a dispute over land to be the cause of a blasphemy charge that can pull an unpopular person “out of circulation”.
Arrest branded in memory
The death penalty has never been carried out, but the accused sometimes spend years behind bars and afterwards a return to the place of origin is hardly possible, as heated mobs can carry out vigilante justice.
Masih said in an interview he was able to give to a local partner of Christian Solidarity International: “I still remember today that a large crowd broke into our house, accompanied by the police. I still have goosebumps. I can’t forget how my father and siblings cried and begged them not to take me away. I also remember the threats from the attackers. “
Calling for Christian couple postponed
At the same time, the Supreme Court postponed the appeal hearing of a Christian couple who had been on death row since 2014 on charges of blasphemy. Over the past six years, Shagufta Kausar and her paralyzed husband, Shafqat Emmanuel, have been postponed; similar to, for example, Asia Bibi.
“The judges are obviously avoiding the appeal,” says her lawyer Saiful Malook. “At the last scheduled hearing on February 24th and earlier on January 19th, I was fully prepared to argue our case, but the judges left the courtroom as soon as it was our turn. I protested against the repeated postponements, but in vain. ” The case would be dragged off again and again out of fear.
The couple are accused of having sent blasphemous texts to a Muslim cleric with my SIM card, which is registered on the two of them. There is no solid evidence for this. “Both are in isolated cells, separated from other prisoners, as there are fears that they could be killed. It is time they were released. “
On the subject:
Pakistan continues to discriminate: two more Christians charged with blasphemy
«Symbol for many others»: EU: Asia Bibi nominated for Sakharov Prize
Hope arises in Pakistan: Christian expectations in election winner Imran Khan
Date:
07.03.2021
Author: Daniel Gerber
Those: Livenet / Christian Headlines / Morning Star News / infochretienne
–
