Bradford Asian Christian campaigner calls for move to stop Pakistan attacks
ICC Note
“We are concerned about the persecution going on against minorities, especially Christians in Pakistan,”
08/18/2010 UK (The Telegraph & Argus)-Urgent calls for a change in Pakistan’s blasphemy laws have been made by Bradford’s Asian Christian Welfare Association.
Chairman Jim Dutt said several Christians have been killed by Muslims in Pakistan in the past year, including a 12-year-old girl.
He has written to Prime Minister David Cameron and President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari asking them to take action to stop Christian deaths in the country.
Mr Dutt was invited to a meeting in Birmingham where a talk was given by Pakistan’s president and used the opportunity to hand his letter to one of Mr Zardari’s staff.
“We are concerned about the persecution going on against minorities, especially Christians in Pakistan,” said Mr Dutt.
“He didn’t talk about this at all at the meeting. I would like to see him speak out about this.
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Mr Dutt and his organisation are calling for the abolition of section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code which states: “Whoever by words, either spoken or written, or by visible representation or by any imputation, innuendo, or insinuation, directly or indirectly, defiles the sacred name of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) shall be punished with death, or imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable to fine.”
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Mr Dutt said: “We kept asking Gordon Brown, now David Cameron, and I have also written to the Queen, asking them to put pressure on the Government of Pakistan to abolish this law so innocent people cannot be tortured, persecuted and burned alive. They are innocent, desperate, and we want this law abolished as soon as possible.”
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