There's a current fashion trend in #Pakistan that's facing violent reprisals. Many women are going out in public, with headscarves and dresses that have #Arabic or #Urdu alphabet letters imprinted on them, only to be confronted with accusations of #blasphemy. Back in December, Fizza Abbas, journalist, poet and writer, ventured out to a bookshop with … Continue reading Fizza Abbas’ Personal Run-in With Blasphemy
Blasphemy
Refuge Seeking in Relative Safety
There is a common misconception among Christians in particular that I've been mulling over these past weeks. As usual, my thoughts have been straying to Aasia Bibi, especially since there has been no outbreak of news since her family relocated to Canada. Whilst no news may be an indication that all is well with the … Continue reading Refuge Seeking in Relative Safety
The Final Appeal
Tomorrow. 9 years of imprisonment. 2009 was the year. Local women objecting to her drinking from the local village well. A dispute in which she boasted of her pride in her Saviour, somehow ended up in mobs descending upon her. Flogging her in front of her daughters. Police intervetion. Accusations of blasphemes against the prophet. … Continue reading The Final Appeal
Plea for Asia Bibi
Providing the Pakistani state permit her survival, or contingent on prevailing health, 2019 will mark over nine years since Asia Bibi's arrest and subsequent imprisonment over what was, quite literally, a dispute between her and Muslim women at a local well. If you don't know at this stage (particularly as I've attempted to highlight her … Continue reading Plea for Asia Bibi
Tainted with blasphemy
I have written numerous posts concerning the use of the Blasphemy law across many Islamic countries. Section 295 of Pakistan’s Penal Code has enshrined blasphemy, whereby defiling or defaming the Quran and/or Muhammad is deeply illegal. In extreme cases it carries a death sentence. Aside from the legal ramifications which render many of the accused … Continue reading Tainted with blasphemy
Radical Within Reason 