Tag: Blasphemy

Asia Bibi central to trade deals, EU tells Pakistan

February 16, 2018 Pakistan Asia Bibi, Balochistan, Blasphemy, Education, Europe, Islamic extremism, Pakistan, Punjab, Rawalpindi, Sweepers

The EU’s Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief, Jan Figeľ, told Pakistani officials during a recent visit that the renewal of their export privileges to Europe depends on the release of Asia Bibi, a Christian woman on death row for blasphemy since 2010. “The EU countries have started . . . Read More

Pakistan: 31 sentenced over ‘blasphemy’ killing, 26 acquitted

February 12, 2018 Pakistan Blasphemy, Mardan, Pakistan

Protestors in Pakistan’s capital Karachi call for justice in the case of Mashal Khan’s murder on 22 April 2017. (IPhoto: RIZWAN TABASSUM/AFP/Getty Images)

A Pakistani court last week sentenced one man to death and five to life imprisonment – while 25 others received various prison sentences – for their involvement in the murder of Mashal Khan, a 23-year-old student who was alleged to have committed blasphemy. The court acquitted 26 others for lack . . . Read More

Pakistan student kills school principal in blasphemy row

January 24, 2018 Pakistan Asia Bibi, Blasphemy, Islamabad, Islamic extremism, Pakistan, Prophet Muhammad, Quran, Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan

Banner protesting against changes to the blasphemy laws, Peshawar 2017 (World Watch Monitor)

A Pakistani student has shot and killed his school principal after they argued over the student missing classes to attend protests over “blasphemous” law changes, reports The Guardian. Police said the unnamed student had attended a sit-in staged by a new ultra-religious party, Tehreek-e-Labaik, to oppose a small change in . . . Read More

UK Parliament hears ‘squeeze’ of persecution of Christians ‘as dangerous as violence’

January 18, 2018 Global News -- No Particular Country Blasphemy, Children, Commonwealth, Egypt, India, London, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Religious freedom, Sweepers, UK, Women, Youth

Christian women are particularly vulnerable because of their gender and their faith. (Photo: World Watch Monitor)

Most of the 200 million Christians globally under pressure for their faith don’t experience violence but a ‘daily squeeze’ which is more insidious and – if left unchallenged – can lead to violence, MPs and others heard yesterday (17 January) at the launch of Open Doors’ World Watch List 2018 . . . Read More

Maldives activist investigated for ‘blasphemy’ over ‘religions other than Islam’ tweet

January 8, 2018 Maldives Abdulla Yameen, Apostasy, Blasphemy, Human rights, Islamic extremism, Maldives, Religious freedom, Sharia

An activist in the Maldives has received death threats and is being investigated for “blasphemy” after posting a tweet in response to President Abdulla Yameen’s comment that his government would not allow any other religion in the country than Islam. Shahindha Ismail, executive director of the Maldives Democracy Network, tweeted: . . . Read More

Indonesian Christians oppose new Jakarta Governor’s Christmas event

December 19, 2017 Indonesia Ahok, Blasphemy, Indonesia, Jakarta

The Council of Churches in Indonesia has opposed a Christmas event organised by Jakarta’s new Islamist governor, reports Asia News. Anies Baswedan had invited Christians to the ‘Celebration of Christmas’ being held at the National Monument (Monas), a tower in central Jakarta that symbolises the country’s struggle for independence. Monas . . . Read More

Indonesia church leader charged with blasphemy

December 14, 2017 Indonesia Ahok, Blasphemy, Education, Human rights, Indonesia, Islamic extremism, Java, Joko Widodo, Muhammadiyah, Religious freedom, Southeast Asia, Tangerang, Youth

Inside a church in Indonesia. Villagers in Central Java requested the top of a burial cross to be cut before a Catholic was to be buried in what is a public cemetery but is regarded by Muslim groups as 'their' graveyard. (Photo: World Watch Monitor)

An Indonesian church leader has been charged with blasphemy – the first case of its kind in the country – and could face five years in prison. Rev. Abraham Ben Moses, 52, was arrested and detained last week in his home town of Tangerang, Java, 25 km west of the capital, . . . Read More

South Sudan’s Christians return to Sudan, despite pressures

November 28, 2017 Sudan Apostasy, Blasphemy, Omar al-Bashir, Petr Jašek, Religious freedom, Russia, Sanctions, Sharia, South Sudan, Sudan, USA

Village church in Goli, South Sudan. (Photo: World Watch Monitor)

Many of the Christians who fled Sudan after the South’s independence in 2011 have returned, even though the authorities continue to close churches and harass Christians there, a Catholic priest told The Economist. Prayer centres that were closed have been reopened, Father Juma Charles of St Matthew’s Catholic Cathedral in . . . Read More

Pakistan’s anti-blasphemy protests showcase minorities’ plight

November 27, 2017 Pakistan Asia Bibi, Barelvi, Blasphemy, Gujranwala, Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Minorities, Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, Mumtaz Qadri, Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan, Pakistan Muslim League, Peshawar, Prophet Muhammad, Punjab, Rawalpindi, Salmaan Taseer, Sheikhupura, Sufi, Sunni, Taliban, Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan

In November there were widespread anti-blasphemy protests in Islamabad and other cities in reaction to proposed changes to an election law. (Photo: World Watch Monitor)

Anti-blasphemy protests in Pakistan have once again highlighted the fragile position of the country’s religious minorities. Life in various parts of Pakistan virtually came to a halt on Saturday (25 November) after the police, paramilitary and other law enforcement agencies clashed with rioters in the capital, Islamabad, resulting in protests . . . Read More

Indonesia: Ahok’s accuser found guilty of hate speech

November 23, 2017 Indonesia Ahok, Blasphemy, Indonesia, Islamic extremism, Java, Muhammadiyah

Jakarta's governor arrives in court for his verdict and sentence in his blasphemy trial. Photo: Getty Images

A key figure behind the jailing of the Christian former Governor of Jakarta for blasphemy has been sentenced to one and a half years in jail for hate speech. However, a West Java court ruled on Tuesday (14 November) that the defendant, Buni Yani, should not be detained immediately. A . . . Read More

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