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Pakistani Christians get 25 years in jail for ’defiling the Quran’

A Pakistani court on Tuesday, March 2, 2010 sentenced a Christian couple to 25 years in prison for defiling the Quran, the Muslim holy book, ANS has learned.

According to the Centre for Legal Aid, Assistance and Settlement (CLAAS) UK Munir Masih and Ruqqiya Bibi were accused of touching Quran with unwashed hands.

A blasphemy case was registered against Ruqqiya Bibi and her husband Munir Masih on December 19, 2008 under 295-B of Pakistan Penal Code (an offense that carries life imprisonment, if convicted) at Mustafabad Police Station in Kasur, a city near Lahore.

Mr. Nasir Saeed, Director CLAAS-UK told our correspondent that the pair were granted bail but the hardliner Muslims allegedly pressured police to implicate them for committing blasphemy against Prophet Muhammad, an offense that carries death sentence, if convicted.

ANS has learned that the pair managed to get bail again.

The final arguments of the case were presented before the court on February 18, 2010 by CLAAS lawyer, Mr. Tahir Gul Sadiq

The UK-based human rights activist said that Ruqqiya Bibi and Munir Masih were sentenced for 25 years imprisonment by the judge, Mr. Ajmal Hussein in Kasur on March 2, 2010.

Saeed told our correspondent that Masih and his wife had been receiving financial assistance from CLAAS since they got into blasphemy-related trouble.

Police, he said, arrested Ruqqiya Bibi and her husband Munir Masih from the court and have sent Masih to the Kasur District Jail and Ruqqiya to the Multan Women Jail.

“CLAAS is grieved by the sad end of the story and is going to file an appeal in the High Court Lahore on behalf of Ruqqiya Bibi and her husband Munir Masih against their 25 years imprisonment,” said Mr. Saeed.

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TAGS: Pakistan Pakistani Christians defiling the Quran Centre for Legal Aid blasphemy case life imprisonment persecution

[03/04/2010]

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