Karachi: Christian accused of blasphemy for denying access to carpark
An international airport security officer threatened by her superior for enforcing the rules. In a video that went viral, the woman bravely challenged the official to press charges. Human Rights Focus Pakistan: "Without the images that showed her innocence what would have happened?"
Karachi (AsiaNews) - Accused of blasphemy simply for enforcing the rules for entering a car park at a Pakistani airport. The incident of false accusation of blasphemy occurred on 7 January, when a Christian security officer stopped a vehicle without the necessary documents to enter the car park of the cargo area of Karachi's Jinnah International Airport. A Muslim employer of the same civil aviation authority stopped her and told her to let his acquaintance's vehicle in even without a pass.
A video that has gone viral shows him threatening the officer with blasphemy charges, saying "I will call the preachers... I am mad and I will cut you up." Words to which the woman retorts by challengfing him to register a blasphemy case against her if she did something wrong.
The incident has caused a widespread uproar: former President Asif Ali Zardari has asked the provincial and federal governments to seriously consider what happened at the Karachi airport.
"The accusation of blasphemy is a very dangerous act," said Zardari, calling for measures to protect the woman security officer and a severe punishment against the accuser. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) itself decided to dismiss the employee.
Farhatullah Babar, engineer and former senator, said: 'We salute this brave Christian official who refuses to be cowed by false accusations of blasphemy. This is the way to fight bigots. The authorities should take note of it."
Speaking to AsiaNews Naveed Walter, president of Human Rights Focus Pakistan (HRFP), said the woman's response to the CAA official is the voice of all Christians and innocent minorities who are victims of accusations.
"They think Christians are easy targets and they intended to do the same in this case, but she did her duty according to the rules and the law." However, Naveed Walter added: "What action are the authorities taking against the serious threats to Christian women? Dismissal alone is not a solution, there should be actions and strategies together to stop these incidents. If this woman had been killed on the spot, as has happened many times to other innocent people, who would have been held responsible? Only the video of the incident could prove her innocence."
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30/11/2020 12:28
