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Pakistan: Life Sentences For Blasphemy Overturned
Eurasia Review ^ | May 19, 2012 | Murad Khan

Posted on 05/19/2012 4:13:56 PM PDT by Olog-hai

A court acquitted a Christian couple of “blasphemy” charges yesterday, overturning their life sentences, their lawyer said.

Chaudhry Naeem Shakir told Compass that Justice Mazhar Ali Akbar Naqvi of the Lahore High Court accepted the couple’s appeal because prosecutors failed to prove allegations that 32-year-old Munir Masih and his wife Ruqayya defiled the Quran or insulted Muhammad on Dec. 8, 2008.

The allegations by Muhammad Nawaz in Mustafabad, Kasur district, came under sections 295-B and 295-C respectively of Pakistan’s blasphemy laws, which are routinely employed to exact revenge on Christians over personal disputes; in this case, the Christian couple’s children had fought with the family of Muhammad Yousaf, who directed his driver, Nawaz, to file the blasphemy charges.

Shakir said that the First Information Report (FIR) indicated Nawaz initially accused Ruqayya Masih of using the Quran for exorcism. He accused her of touching the Quran without ablution and said that her husband was equally culpable since he remained a silent spectator. The complainant also claimed that the couple insulted Muhammad.

A trial court had exonerated them from charges of blasphemy against Muhammad in 2010 but sentenced them to life imprisonment (25 years in Pakistan) for allegedly defiling the Quran. The couple then filed an appeal in the Lahore High Court pleading not guilty. …

(Excerpt) Read more at eurasiareview.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Government
KEYWORDS: acquittal; blasphemylaw; pakistan; pockiston

1 posted on 05/19/2012 4:14:11 PM PDT by Olog-hai
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To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Berosus; bigheadfred; Bockscar; ColdOne; Convert from ECUSA; ...

Thanks Olog-hai.
...because prosecutors failed to prove allegations that 32-year-old Munir Masih and his wife Ruqayya defiled the Quran or insulted Muhammad on Dec. 8, 2008
Clearly believers need to carry out the death sentences as commanded by the Koran!


2 posted on 05/19/2012 4:18:43 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (FReepathon 2Q time -- https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: Olog-hai

I am still thinking that one of these blasphemy charges will be filed in the UK any day now.


3 posted on 05/19/2012 4:36:34 PM PDT by GeronL (The Right to Life came before the Right to Pursue Happiness)
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To: Olog-hai

Anyone for a vacation in Pakistan?


4 posted on 05/19/2012 5:34:43 PM PDT by OldPossum
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