Pakistan: Christian Woman Granted Bail Amidst Mob Threats
A trial court in Pakistan has granted rare bail to a Christian woman charged with blasphemy, according to her attorney.
Additional Sessions Judge Waseem Mubarak of Gojra approved post-arrest bail for Saima Masih, the widow of Farhad Masih, on September 10, though the information was only made public this week for security reasons.
The bail was granted a month after a Muslim neighbour falsely accused Saima and her younger sister, Sonia Faryaad, of discarding a sack containing Quranic pages in an open area near their home on August 6, as reported by the sisters’ attorney, Haneef Mattu.
Mattu added that residents of Kathore village in Chak No. 304 Gojra, Toba Tek Singh District, Punjab Province, stated that the accusations were made by Muhammad Haider after Saima Masih rejected his “indecent advances.”
According to Mattu, Saima Masih, a volunteer health worker, is the mother of two children. Sonia Bibi, who has three children and works as a teacher at an adult literacy centre, was able to flee the village with her family after the allegations arose.
He had previously submitted a pre-arrest bail application for Sonia Bibi, but it was rejected by an additional session court. Mattu then filed her bail petition in the Lahore High Court but later withdrew it after an initial police investigation cleared her of the alleged offence.
Following the court’s decision to grant post-arrest bail to Saima Masih, Mattu filed a petition in the Lahore High Court to dismiss the baseless charges against both sisters.
“There are several inconsistencies in the case, including delayed filing of the First Information Report (FIR) and the absence of direct witnesses,” Mattu explained to Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. “However, the court turned down our petition, advising that we should file a fresh application under Section 265-K of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC). This section allows the court to acquit the accused even before the framing of the charges.”
He is currently waiting for the police report to initiate proceedings under Section 265K.
Due to safety concerns, the sisters and their families are now living in an undisclosed location, he noted.
Akmal Bhatti, chairman of the Minorities Alliance Pakistan, previously informed Christian Daily International-Morning Star News that a Muslim mob had tried to kill Saima Masih when the blasphemy allegation circulated in the area, but timely police intervention saved her life.
Sajid Christopher from the Human Friends Organisation stated that both women and their families have faced significant hardships, including false accusations, death threats, and lengthy legal battles, which have disrupted their lives.
He said, “Despite her release, Saimas safety remains in jeopardy as societal pressure and the possibility of vigilantism pose ongoing threats. Such accusations often lead to the accused being ostracised. ”
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Regardless of their legal income, which means her life and that of her children remain under constant risk,”
He also stated that Sonia Bibi has faced even more severe challenges.
“Forced into hiding with her three children, Sonia’s family was subjected to immense stress,” he said. “Although the investigating officer did not find Sonia guilty in his inquiry, the fear for her safety continues. The initial rejection of her bail by the session court further intensified the threats they faced, and even now, the family remains vulnerable to attacks from extremist elements who often act outside the legal framework.”
Christopher said that no one should live in fear for their life due to blasphemy accusations, particularly when investigations fail to substantiate allegations.
“We call upon the authorities to ensure that both Saima and Sonia, as well as their families, are provided with adequate protection and that their safety is guaranteed,” he said. “Furthermore, there must be accountability for those who make false accusations, and the justice system must take immediate steps to protect the innocent from unwarranted harm.
Minority rights activist Joseph Jansen commented that the case of the Christian sisters exemplifies how blasphemy laws are often exploited to settle personal scores.
“These laws, which can result in the death penalty, have incited mob violence and extrajudicial killings,” he stated. “This must come to an end before more innocent lives
are taken.”
Pakistan is ranked seventh on Open Doors’ 2024 World Watch List of the most challenging places to be a Christian, maintaining the same position as in previous years.
Content Credit| Igbakuma Rita Doom
Picture Credit | https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2023/06/19/supreme-court-reserves-decision-on-challenges-to-review-of-judgments-law/
