Christian community claims Muslim neighbors reported five people to the police for blasphemy without evidencePolice in Toba Tek Singh, Pakistan, opened an investigation into blasphemy claims against five local Christians, including an 11-year-old boy. Local activists and priests say the case has been fabricated and Christian families in the area barricaded themselves in their homes during Holy Week celebrations.
The group of five is accused of disrespecting Mohammad
One of the five, Salamat Masih, has been arrested while other four are at large including 11-year-old Daniel. The police are searching the province for him. Upon apprehension, all will be tried under article 295 C of Pakistan's Penal Code, the blasphemy law. The law provides life imprisonment or a death sentence for infractions.
Fr. Bonnie Mendes, a priest of Toba Tek Singh, told AsiaNews, "The Christians did nothing. It is a totally fabricated case against innocent Christians". Fr. Mendes also said the situation in the area is tense although local police claim the situation is under control.
Shahbaz Bhatti, chairman of All Pakistan Minorities Alliance, strongly condemned the blasphemy charges against the five Christians. He urged the government to provide full protection to Christians in Toba Tek Singh and demanded a judicial inquiry of the incident. In an interview he said "there is only one solution to stop the misuse of this law and that is the total repeal of the law. Procedural changes are just paper work and bring no relief to poor people who are still being trapped by extremists just because of this law."
Fr. Mendes explained that the root of the problem is a quarrel between families. He claimed that local Muslims were Offended™ by the behavior of the five Christians during a procession, agreed to report them, then attacked them during a march. The five ran away but Ratan Masih, who is disabled, did not succeed in fleeing and was brutally beaten. He remains in the hospital.
After Salamat Masih's arrest, local Christians began a campaign asking the authorities to intervene. They explained there have been substantial procedural errors made during the course of investigations including that the police have not investigated the accusations made against the Christians and that they simply arrested them on the hearsay of the Muslim's claims.
The government promised full cooperation with the Christian community and sent police to guard the Christian schools and churches in the area to avoid extremist reprisals. The delegation then met with Muslim leaders, explaining the situation to them.
Currently, the Christian community of Toba Tek Singh remains in fear of what will happen to them. Salamat's family fears for his life, and believes that he will be attacked by inmates while in prison. Family members refuse to leave their homes believing that the accusations of blasphemy could also be used against them.