Posted on 07/05/2002 4:52:29 PM PDT by Dallas
MULTAN, Pakistan, July 5 (Reuters) - A mob of Pakistani Muslims stoned to death a man accused of blasphemy in the central province of Punjab on Friday, police and witnesses said.
The victim known as Zahid, 48, had previously been charged under Pakistan's controversial blasphemy law but was acquitted eight months ago by a court which found him mentally ill.
A few days ago, the people of Zahid's village of Barnala accused him of writing his own name in copies of the Koran in place of the name of Prophet Mohammad.
A village committee met to decide his fate on Thursday and some members wanted him handed over to the police. But Zahid was dragged out of his house and executed at noon in front of a crowd of between 250 to 300, residents said.
Police said they had received complaints against a number of suspects.
They said Zahid was first charged with blasphemy and desecration of the Koran three years ago. But a court released him on the basis of a medical report that said he was deranged.
The killing came less than a month after Yousaf Ali, a former army major, was shot dead by a fellow prisoner after he appealed a death sentence for blasphemy. Ali was convicted of blasphemy by a lower court for claiming to be a prophet.
Muslims believe Mohammad was the last prophet of God and the blasphemy law imposes the death penalty for anyone who claims to be a prophet.
Human rights groups say the law is often misused against non-Muslim minorities or to settle personal scores.
Yes, that's right; and his words proved to be prophetic when he said "I will fight to the death...". Who can gainsay that?
Darn. I'd of thought his name would have been BinLadin. Funny they haven't changed Mohammads name to Osoma yet. He's the new "modernist" prophet of today, so he says.
Religion means so much to so many. Why aren't people falling all over themselves to kill those who f**k up when retelling other fairytales like Hansel and Gretel?
(The Stoning Place. A Jewish OFFICIAL stands there, with some helpers, confronting the potential stonee, MATTHIAS. A large crowd watches. 90% are women in beards. Around the perimeter are a few Roman troops.) Official: Matthias, son of Deuteronomy of Gath ... Matthias: (to Official's Helper): Do I say "Yes"? Official's Helper: Yes. Matthias: Yes. Official: You have been found guilty by the elders of the town of uttering the name of our Lord and so as a blasphemer you are to be stoned to death. Matthias: Look, I'd had a lovely supper and all I said to my wife was, "That piece Official: Blasphemy! He's said it again. Women: Yes, he did. Official: Did you hear him? Women: Yes we did. Really. Official: (suspiciously) Are there any women here today? (The women all shake their heads. The Official faces Matthias again.) Official: Very well, by virtue of the authority vested in me ... (One of the women throws a stone and it hits Matthias on the knee.) Matthias: Ow. Lay off. We haven't started yet. Official: (turning around) Come on, who threw that? (Silence.) Who threw that stone? Come on. Women: (pointing to the culprit, keeping their voices as low in pitch as they can) She did. *He did.* He. Him. Culprit: (very deep voice) Sorry, I thought we'd started. Official: Go to the back. Culprit: Oh dear. (disappointedly goes to back) Official: There's always one, isn't there? Now, where were we? ... Matthias: Look. I don't think it ought to be blasphemy, just saying "Jehovah!" (Sensation!!!! The women gasp.) Women: (high voices) He said it again. (low voices) He said it again. Official: (to Matthias) You're only making it worse for yourself. Matthias: Making it worse? How can it be worse? Jehovah, Jehovah, Jehovah. (Great Sensation!!!!!!) Official: I'm warning you. If you say "Jehovah" once more ... (He gasps at his error and claps his hand over his mouth. A stone hits him on the side of the head. He reacts.) Right! Who threw that? Women: (high voices) It was her. It was *him*. (low voices) It was him. Official: Was it you? Culprit: Yes. Official: All right. Culprit: Well, you did say "Jehovah." (The women all shriek and throw stones at her from very close range. She falls to the ground stunned. Quick cut of Romans reacting. They shake their heads and mutter to each other.) Official: Stop that. Stop it, will you stop that. Now look, no one is to stone anyone until I blow this whistle. *Even*...and I want to make this absolutely clear...*even* if they *do* say "Jehovah." (There is a pause. Then all the women throw stones at the Official and he goes down in a heap. Five women carry a huge rock, run up and drop it on the Official. Everyone claps. The guards sadly shake their heads.)
It looks like the Pakistani court agrees with our Supreme Court about executing mental defectives but the people disagree.
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