Pakistani Christian mother charged with blasphemy

Lahore, Pakistan: April 02, 2010, (PCTV Newsdesk)

A Christian mother of three has been charged with blasphemy after being accused of making derogatory remarks against the Islamic Prophet Mohammad.

Rubina Bibi was charged under section 295-C of the Pakistani penal code in what is believed to be another misappropriation of the blasphemy law to settle a personal score.

The charge was levelled against Rubina by her neighbour, named only as Samina, and Samina’s relative, radical local Muslim leader Sabir Munir Qadri.

Rubina had bought a food item from Samina but upon discovering that it was damaged had sought a refund. Samina refused to refund the money because Rubina was a Christian and had touched the product, but once Sabir and other local Muslims got involved, the charge was made against Rubina and a petty dispute over a refund escalated into a serious accusation.

Rubina has been sent to prison with her one-year-old son while the rest of the family have gone into hiding out of fear for their lives. If found guilty she faces a mandatory death sentence.

Her case has been taken up by CLAAS, with Pakistan director Joseph Francis seeking her bail release.

UK CLAAS director Nasir Saeed said it was always very dangerous for Christians whenever the blasphemy law was misused by individuals to settle personal grudges.

CLAAS recently handed a petition calling for an end to the blasphemy law and signed by 10,000 people to the UN Human Rights Commission.

In spite of numerous promises and assurances, the government has yet to take any steps towards a review of the law. CLAAS is continuing to press the Pakistani government to amend the law.