PAKISTAN: ISLAMABAD: DEMONSTRATIONS AGAINST NEW BLASPHEMY LAWS

Описание: (27 May 1995) Urdu/Eng/Nat

More than two-thousand demonstrators took to the streets of Islamabad Saturday to protest government plans to introduce tough new penalties against blasphemy .

Islamic groups are strongly opposed to Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's plans to amend the country's blasphemy laws and have called a general strike.

Pakistan's government is considering introducing a 10-year jail term for individuals who are found guilty of committing blasphemy.

The religious forces of the country describe the proposal a major offence to their vital interests and have begun a series of demonstrations in protest.

Riaz Ahmed was beaten to death by a civil mob for alleged blasphemy.

His surviving family and friends deny he broke Islamic rules and hold regular vigils in his memory.

SOUNDBITE:
"He said I am not murted (infidel), I am true Muslim, true believer in Islam, and he recited Kalma-e-Shahadat (The Creed) La Illaha Illallah, Mohammed e Rusulallah. Again, they were infuriated,
they told that he is not entitled to recite Kalma."
SUPER CAPTION: Saadat Ali - Ahmedi Amir, Community leader in Mardan.

Contrary to common perception, it is not only non-Muslims that are main targets of Pakistan's Islamic extremists.

Members of Ahmedia, a sect of Islam, have been outcasted from Islam by a constitutional amendment in 1974.

By that amendment, they are not entitled to call themselves Muslims or call their places of worship a mosque.

SOUNDBITE:
"Wherever the local administration or the government they act weakly, they react weakly, then the mullahs and the so-called fanatics they come up and do it. Where the government comes down with the hard hand - they would not do it. In Abbottabad, in Mardan and recently in Peshawar they did it. It happened in Peshawar on 9th of April, it's nearly two months passed now, and nothing has happened to those fanatics, those so called killers. And if it is the intention and if it is the attitude of the government you can not stop it. That is how you encourage it."
SUPER CAPTION: Irshad Ahmed - Amir of Ahmedi Community in Peshawar

Religious forces in Pakistan are growing stronger every day and the government faces an uphill battle trying to control their growing powers.

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