ISLAMABAD: Pakistani police have arrested four Muslim men on blasphemy charges near the eastern city of Lahore after they argued with a local cleric, who refused to make a funeral announcement for a Christian neighbour from the loudspeaker of the mosque where he was a prayer leader.
The incident had occurred at Khodi Khushal Singh village in central Punjab on November 18, local police official Faryad told reporters on Thursday. “The men have been arrested and presented before the court,” he added.
According to initial police report, the men had argued with the cleric after he refused to make funeral announcement for a Christian man from his mosque. “As soon as they (accused persons) arrived at the mosque, they started cursing the mosque’s imam (religious cleric), disrespected the mosque and insulted Islam,” the police report read.
The four men were charged under sections 295 and 298 of Pakistan’s penal code, which carry penalties of up to two years in prison.
Blasphemy is punishable by death in Pakistan, and though no one has ever been executed for it, dozens have been killed by mobs after being accused of the crime. False blasphemy accusations, which are often motivated by personal vendettas or religious hatred, are widespread in the country. In most of the cases, such accusations are highly inflammatory and have the potential to spark mob lynchings, vigilante murders and mass protests. Since 1990, at least 79 people have been killed in incidents of violence triggered by accusations of blasphemy.
The incident had occurred at Khodi Khushal Singh village in central Punjab on November 18, local police official Faryad told reporters on Thursday. “The men have been arrested and presented before the court,” he added.
According to initial police report, the men had argued with the cleric after he refused to make funeral announcement for a Christian man from his mosque. “As soon as they (accused persons) arrived at the mosque, they started cursing the mosque’s imam (religious cleric), disrespected the mosque and insulted Islam,” the police report read.
The four men were charged under sections 295 and 298 of Pakistan’s penal code, which carry penalties of up to two years in prison.
Blasphemy is punishable by death in Pakistan, and though no one has ever been executed for it, dozens have been killed by mobs after being accused of the crime. False blasphemy accusations, which are often motivated by personal vendettas or religious hatred, are widespread in the country. In most of the cases, such accusations are highly inflammatory and have the potential to spark mob lynchings, vigilante murders and mass protests. Since 1990, at least 79 people have been killed in incidents of violence triggered by accusations of blasphemy.
More News
Student protests anti-Semitic: Netanyahu – Times of India
Iconic blades of Moulin Rouge windmill collapse – Times of India
NY court junks HW’s conviction in case that sparked #MeToo – Times of India