by Farahnaz Zahidi Moazzam
25 September 2012
Karachi, Pakistan - Pakistan has remained a strong proponent of laws against defamation, desecration or disrespect of any symbol of religious reverence. For Muslims, one integral part of the faith is demonstrating respect for religious symbols, particularly those related to the Prophet Muhammad. The recent wave of protests about the Innocence of Muslims online video in Pakistan (and elsewhere), help illustrate the sentiments of many Pakistanis, a large number of whom see this representation as disrespectful to religion. This prevailing attitude also explains the country’s blasphemy laws, which include prohibitions on harming religious objects and insulting religious beliefs.
In Pakistan, there have been several high-profile cases related to these laws, the most recent being that of a young Christian girl, Rimsha Masih, who was accused of burning pages of the Qur’an - and just this week found innocent by police who investigated the case. It may be easy to overlook Masih’s case as yet another problematic example in the history of the blasphemy laws, but it was actually an occasion that demonstrated how those on different sides of the issue may be able to move forward.
Opinions in Pakistan are divided over the blasphemy laws. Human rights activists argue that these laws promote an atmosphere of intolerance and restrict freedom of expression. They point out that, in a country in which 97 per cent of the population is Muslim, it is Pakistan’s minority groups which are most frequently victims of often-unjust accusations. These activists warn that these laws can be misused by those with vested interests.
Members of conservative religious groups are of the opinion that blasphemy cannot be tolerated. For them, freedom should not allow disrespect of religious belief and they posit that perpetrators should have to answer legally to these offences.
Claims that she is mentally ill, and the possibility that the pages of the Qur’an may actually have been planted by a local imam, Hafiz Mohammed Khalid Chishti, who is now also under investigation, resulted in an unprecedented sweeping wave of sympathy for Masih, both globally and in Pakistan.
In a surprising statement from religious leaders at a recent press conference, Muhammad Tahir Ashrafi, the chair of the All Pakistan Ulema Council, a network of prominent Muslim religious leaders, demanded bail for Masih. At the conference, he was flanked by Christian representatives of the Pakistan Interfaith League. While he defended the blasphemy laws in principle, he called Masih “a daughter of the nation” and called for Chishti to be tried in court. His demands, as well as those of human rights proponents, were met when Masih was released on bail on the 7th of September.
If both liberals and the religious establishment are unanimous in their demand for justice for Masih and individuals involved in similar cases, there could be a middle ground in the making. But for this process, a few steps would be imperative.
For starters, secular liberals, who rarely work with religious leaders, would need to be willing to initiate a dialogue process with mainstream religious leaders to create a common understanding of issues surrounding the debate on blasphemy laws. “[The] ulema’s efforts will be strengthened if their introspection is duly acknowledged and supported by the liberals”, says Aurangzeb Haneef, a scholar in Islamic Studies and Peace-Building.
Members of the clergy hold different viewpoints. A space would need to be created where religious scholars could sit down and raise important questions, give much-needed answers and come to a common consensus on the blasphemy issue, as well as other key issues plaguing Pakistan’s peace.
One cannot deny that religious leaders play an extremely important role in Pakistani society. If religious voices, along with other sectors, start advising reform, restraint and due procedure of the law, it will certainly make a difference.
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* Farahnaz Zahidi Moazzam is a freelance writer and activist who focuses on human rights, gender, peace and Islam. This article was written for the Common Ground News Service (CGNews).
Source: Common Ground News Service (CGNews)www.commongroundnews.org
Copyright permission is granted for publication.
