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From: yogi sikand <ysikand@yahoo.com> Date: Fri Apr 29, 2005 Subject: Petition for Abolition of Blasphemy Laws in Muslim Countries Brutal Murder of Ashiq Nabi by the Mob for Alleged Blasphemyin Pakistan: Appeal for Justice and the Abolition of Blasphemy Law View Current Signatures - Sign the Petition http://www.petitiononline.com/VMappeal/ To: President of Pakistan, Governments of the MuslimsCountries, UN Commission for Human Rights Recently in Nowshera District in Pakistan, a man namedAshiq Nabi (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4466341.stm),was brutally murdered for the unproven allegation of blasphemy byan angry mob following a rumor that he had damaged a copy of the Qur??™andeliberately. As the rumor spread rapidly, a 400-plus village mob chasedMr. Nabi through the fields, who finally sought refuge up on a tree wherehe was shot dead by someone in the mob. This is one of many frequent casesof murder for those accused of blasphemy in the Islamic Republic ofPakistan. Many people, mostly from minority religions, are oftenjailed in Pakistan on charges of blasphemy. Sentencing to deathfor alleged blasphemy is not uncommon in Pakistan; the most well-known case beingthat of Dr. Younis Sheikh, who was ultimately acquitted because ofintense international pressure. Dr Sheikh, still in fear for his life, hasnow taken refuge in a Western country. However, people accused ofblasphemy, are often murdered by mobs, who believe it to be theirreligious duty as Muslims to kill those who desert or disrespect Islam.Indeed, death for blasphemy is common in the Muslim world. Recently Prof. HumayunAzad of Bangladesh (http://www.mukto-mona.com/Articles/humayun_azad/humayun_azad_dhormanubhuti.htm)was fatally assaulted by Islamic zealots for allegedlydefaming Islam in his book, who finally died in Germany on 11 August,2004. This idea of murdering those, who express opinionsopposing or disrespecting any religion or prophet, is a vestige ofthe medieval barbaric traditions that has no place in today??™s modern worldof excellence in human rights and dignity where fundamental humanrights must be assured to people in every country of the world. Articles 18 and19 of the United Nation??™s Declaration of Universal Human Rightsguarantee the freedom of choosing, practicing and preaching one??™s religion andbelief as well as freedom of expression of one??™s opinion withoutinterference or fear. The blasphemy penal law, which carries penalty assevere as death, is in outright contravention of UN??™s Declaration ofUniversal Human Rights and is barbaric and unacceptable today. We feel that suchbarbaric and cruel laws should not exist anywhere in the world and shouldbe abolished without delay. We appeal to the President of Pakistan to take sternactions against those responsible for the barbaric murder of AshiqNabi and we plead with him to take immediate steps to repeal this barbaricblasphemy law which contravenes the universal human rights. We also appealto Governments and the religious authorities of the Muslim nations tolook into the religious text which spontaneously instigate thegeneral public to ???mob justice??? to kill and torture the alleged blasphemers.Unless the religious basis of such brutal acts are properlyinterpreted , some people would continue to resort tosuch cruel ???rogue justice???. We also appeal to the United Nations to take herDeclaration of Universal Human Rights seriously and work with orpressurize (if needed) member Governments to abolish such uncivilizedcriminal laws, including their religious bases. We also appeal to those, who value life, human rightsand human dignity, to sign this petition so as to raise yourvoice and conscience against such unacceptable and barbaric cruelty thatstill exists in our civilized world. ----------------------------------------------------------- The Brutal Murder of Ashiq Nabi by the Mob forBlasphemy in Pakistan: Appeal for Justice and the Abolition of Blasphemy LawPetition to President of Pakistan, Governments of the MuslimsCountries, UN Commission for Human Rights was created by Members of Vinnomotand written by Alamgir Kabir (alamkabir71@...). Thispetition is hosted here at www.PetitionOnline.com as a public service. There isno endorsement of this petition, express or implied, by Artifice, Inc.or our sponsors. For technical support please use our simple Petition Helpform by clicking on http://www.petitiononline.com/VMappeal/ |
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