A Pakistani Christian widow, Mussarrat Bibi, has been granted bail after being charged with a blasphemy offense carrying a potential life sentence. The 46-year-old school office worker found herself in legal trouble when she was instructed to clean a storeroom alongside a Muslim gardener. Little did they know that their actions would lead to serious accusations of blasphemy.
“Students noticed that some pages included verses from the Quran,” said the Morning Star News, which prompted a chain of events that would forever change Bibi’s life. The accused woman’s lawyer argued that she had no intention of burning the verses because she couldn’t read them, highlighting the fact that both Bibi and the gardener were illiterate.
School staff members corroborated Bibi’s lawyer’s claim, agreeing that there was no malicious intent in their actions. However, their agreement did little to deter a group of Muslim extremists from lodging a formal complaint and staging protests outside the school. The situation quickly escalated, leading to the arrest and subsequent charges against both Bibi and the gardener.
In Pakistan, intent must be proven for a blasphemy conviction. The illiteracy of the accused further reinforces their lack of intent to commit blasphemy. Despite this, the Anglican Church of Pakistan, represented by Bishop Azad Marshall, raised concerns about the misuse of blasphemy allegations to victimize vulnerable citizens.
“In spite of repeated demands for the government to introduce deterrents, officials have failed to stop the misuse of the blasphemy laws. It’s unfortunate that police arrested and charged both the accused with blasphemy despite confirming that they were illiterate and had not committed the act intentionally. The allegation itself is nothing short of a death warrant, and we continue to pray for their safety,” said Bishop Marshall.
The prevalence of false accusations of blasphemy in Pakistan is a concerning issue. While it may be unlikely to abolish or repeal the blasphemy statutes in the current religiously-charged environment, Bishop Azad asserted the need for the state to implement stronger deterrents against the misuse of these laws.
“False accusations of blasphemy seem to have become the norm here. We understand that abolishing or repealing the blasphemy statutes is unlikely in this religiously-charged environment, but it’s high time the state should implement a strong deterrent against the misuse of the laws,” Bishop Azad emphasized.
The case of Mussarrat Bibi and the gardener sheds light on the grave consequences that arise from the misuse of blasphemy laws in Pakistan. Not only does it place innocent individuals at risk, but it also perpetuates an environment of fear and intolerance. Urgent action must be taken by the government to address this issue and protect the rights and safety of its citizens.
As the legal proceedings unfold, hopes are high that justice will prevail, and Mussarrat Bibi and the gardener will be exonerated from the unfounded charges. Until then, the focus remains on raising awareness about the widespread misuse of blasphemy allegations and advocating for a more just and equitable society in Pakistan.
