« Israel: Nazareth Attack Condemned By Jews, Muslims and Christians |
| Norway: Knife Fight At Oslo Mosque - Imam Wounded »
March 4, 2006
Pakistan: Islamists Jailed For Torturing Christian To Death
BosNews Life, the Christian news service (subscription), reports that on the same day that US President George Bush begins his official visit to Pakistan, two Muslim militants were found guilty of torturing a Christian in a forced conversion attempt.
The pair, who attended a seminary in Punjab province and caused the death of the Pakistani Christian, who died on May 02, 2004, were given a 25 year jail sentence. This is an irony, in a country where to blaspheme against Islam can result in the death penalty.
Maulvi Ghulam Rasool and Mohammed Tayyab had abducted a 19-year old Catholic university student Javed Anjum.
Anjum was taken after he took a drink from the water tap outside the Jamia Hassan Bin Murtaza Madrassa. From his hospital bed, Javed Anjum made a statement to police, saying that he had been kept a prisoner for five days. He also gave videotaped testimony, but this was not allowed in court.
Javed apparently cracked under torture, and recited the shahada, the official declaration of Islamic faith, at which the madrassa students turned him over to the police, claiming he had tried to steal the madrassa's water pump.
He had 26 injuries on his body, and had been electrocuted as part of his torture. He was taken to Faisalabad Allied Hospital, where he soon died from his wounds. His fingernails had been ripped out, he had a broken arm, broken fingers, skin burns, and injuries to his bladder and kidneys.
A third man, Umar Hayat, fled after the event, and was captured in December. He is expected to stand trial soon.
During the trial, Anjum's father, Pervez Masih, was requested to leave the courtroom by the judge, Javed Iqbal Warraich, saying that it was for his own safety. The trial had been interrupted on several occasions by Muslim extremists, determined to prevent justice being served.
Prosecutor Khalil Tahir Sindhu said he was pleased that the pair had been found guilty, but said he would appeal, to have the 25 year sentences changed to the death penalty.
Last month, a crowd of Muslims, mainly women, attacked a Catholic church in Kawanlit village in Punjab province, states Compass Direct. Windows were broken, Bibles were burned, and a 70 year old Christian woman, Veero Mehnga Masih, had both legs broken. Saleema Mazir Masih, aged 50, was also injured by the mob.
Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at March 4, 2006 2:58 PM
Comments
Post a comment
Thanks for signing in, . Now you can comment. (sign out)
(If you haven't left a comment here before, you may need to be approved by the site owner before your comment will appear. Until then, it won't appear on the entry. Thanks for waiting.)