Mob tries to kill Catholic accused of blasphemy

BY ANABEL INGE
A CATHOLIC was tortured by police in Pakistan for allegedly blaspheming against the prophet Mohammed, it has emerged.
According to reports by the All Pakistan Minorities Alliance (APMA), a mob stormed the home of Sattar Masih, 28, and tried to kill him the day before his wedding day. Police intervened, but only to arrest the husband-to-be and take him to prison, where he was reportedly tortured again to get his "confession".
The incident occurred after local Imam Maulana Mohammad Umer filed a complaint against Mr Mask,. under Section 295-A and 295-C known as the blasphemy law of the Pakistan Penal Code. The law authorises the death.penalty or life imprisonment for anyone found guilty of offending the prophet Mohammed, the founder of Islam.
According to the APMA, a group of Muslims paid a visit to Mr Masih's home in the Christian colony in Kotri, Sindh province, carrying a piece of paper that had his picture on it as well as blasphemous words against Mohammed written in Urdu. Although Mr Masih's denial of the blasphemy was rejected, the men decided to leave the premises.
But later that same day, during the public Friday prayers at a local mosque, Imam Maulana Umer announced the discovery in his mosque's donation box of the piece of paper. He also showed the piece of paper to the worshippers assembled at the mosque.
Many of the mosque-goers headed for Mr Masih's house and attempted to murder him, but were prevented by the arrival of the Kotri police. Mr Masih, a former cook at a church-run hospital, was then arrested.
Mr Masih's 60-year-old uncle, Mushtaq Masih, and his son were also arrested. The son was later released. Mushtaq Masih, also suspected of blasphemy, was suspended from his job as a sweeper for the municipal administration.
Sarfraz Ghauri, Sattar Masih's cousin, told UCA News that the incident was part of a conflict between Sattar Masih and his uncle. "Mushtaq cursed the groom, saying dead bodies would be lifted on his wedding day," said Ghauri.
The complainant. Imam Maulana Umer, agreed with Catholic Church workers on April 19 that no sane person would add their own picture to such a blasphemous note, but insisted that Mr Masih would have to name the offender behind the act before the charges were withdrawn.
Shahbaz Bhatti, APMA chairman, criticised the police for its actions. Speaking to AsiaNews, he said "How could any sensible person write those words against the prophet and then leave name and photo, when he knows that punishment of such an act is death?"