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Sherry Rehman accused of blasphemy
 | This illustrates how 'blasphemy' is used in the Islamic world as a tool and a cudgel. Sherry is no more blasphemous than the average Pak holy man, IFYWIMAITYD. But the political infighting in Pak-land right now makes the accusation against Sherry useful since she's aligned on the side that's currently in power. Fortunately she's in Washington so she's safe from being torn limb-from-limb. Perhaps if this gets serious enough she'll ask for asylum. |
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Thursday admitted a petition filed against Sherry Rehman over allegedly committing blasphemy, DawnNews reported.
The petition was heard by a two-judge bench of the apex court comprising Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali and Justice Ejaz Afzal. The bench directed CPO Multan Amir Zulfiqar to take action in accordance with the law.
The petition against Rehman, Pakistan's ambassador to the United States, was filed by Faheem Akhtar Gill, a citizen of Multan.
Gill had requested to the court to register a case against Rehman for allegedly committing blasphemy. The petition claims that Rehman had committed blasphemy while speaking on a news channel two years ago.
| So this isn't something she said over dinner the other day, but ancient history at a time of changing standards. |
| Hey, a cudgel is a cudgel... |
In Nov 2010, Rehman had submitted a bill to the National Assembly Secretariat seeking an end to the death penalty under the existing blasphemy laws.
| ...which is how such things are done when the government rules more or less lawfully... |
Later in Feb 2011, the then prime minister, Yousuf Raza Gilani, had categorically stated that the government had no intention to amend the law. After Gilani's rejection, Rehman had told AFP she had "no option" but to abide by the decision after the premier had ruled out any discussion.
In Nov 2011, Rehman was appointed Pakistan's ambassador to the US after Husain Haqqani had tendered his resignation over the memogate controversy.
Blasphemy is an extremely sensitive subject in Pakistan, where 97 per cent of the 180 million population are Muslims, and allegations of desecrating the Holy Quran or insulting Islam often provoke public grimacing, eye rolling, face making, gun sex and fury.
| And a perfectly useful tool in a society overfond of such dramatics. |
Posted by: Steve White 2013-01-18 |
