Photo via christianconcern.com

Pakistani Christian Teen Accused of Blasphemy Flees with Family

The 8th grade Christian girl expelled from her school on an accusation of blasphemy when she misspelled a term of praise for Mohammad has fled from her hometown with her family fearing for their lives, reports Jeremy Reynalds, Senior Correspondent for ASSIST News Service.

According to the Pakistan Christian Post (PCP), the blasphemy charge was filed against Faryal Tauseef Bhatti, 13, a student at Sir Syed High School.

Bhatti’s troubles began when her teacher, Farida Bibi, checked her test paper. Instead of using a word of praise for Mohammad, she used a word-close in spelling-which means curse.

Bibi reported her student’s “blasphemy” to the school principal, who opted to immediately expel Bhatti from school.

PCP said the news of the alleged blasphemy of Mohammad’s name by a Christian student spread quickly in the small town of Havelian. Muslims launched protests to punish Bhatti.

As a result, PCP reported, Sept. 23 was a day of fear for the few dozen Christians families of Havelian when Islamic clerics delivered sermons in mosques during Friday prayers saying that Bhatti is a blasphemer and must be punished.

Clerics said that Muslim teacher Bibi said it was it was not a mistake, but Bhatti’s intention to defile Mohammad’s name. Using Mosque loudspeakers, the clerics said the young teen and other Christians needed to be taught a lesson.

PCP said when a reporter visited Havelian, neither Bhatti or any other family members could be found.

PCP said the country’s controversial blasphemy law is being misused by radical Islamics as a weapon to enforce personal rivalries and business disputes against religious communities in Pakistan.

According to PCP, there have been incidents of Muslim mob attacks on Christian properties and burning them alive. There have also been, PCP added, dozens of assassinations of Christians on a pretext of blasphemy.

PCP said Nazir S Bhatti, President of the Pakistan Christian Congress PCC has condemned the blasphemy allegations of Bhatti’s teacher, because Christian students are excluded from Islamic Studies classes, according to Lahore High Court rulings. The court issued a decree that non-Muslims have an alternative class.

“I urge (the)government of Pakistan to repeal (the) blasphemy law as it is hanging like (a) sword on (the) necks of millions of Christians, Hindus and Ahmadi religious communities and hundreds of innocent minority members have been killed by Islamists on (this) pretext,” PCP reported Nazir Bhatti said.

PCP said Nazir Bhatti demanded safety for Faryal Bhatti and her family. He urged Islamic clerics and Islamic political leaders to step forward to stop the misuse of the blasphemy law against innocent religious minorities.

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TAGS: Pakistan Christian girl Mohammad Faryal Tauseef Bhatti Sir Syed High School blasphemy

[09/29/2011]

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