Pakistani Christian released after serving four and a half years in prison for alleged blasphemy aga
Lahore (AsiaNews) After serving four and a half years in prison for alleged blasphemy against Islam, Aslam Masih, a Pakistani Christian, was acquitted Wednesday, June 4, by the Lahore High Court. The Pakistani citizen was arrested in November 1998. Apparently, he had desecrated the Koran by hanging verses in a charm around a dog's neck. However, in his appeal trial the prosecution's main witness completely denied the statement attributed to him. The witness declared that "the police has invented my testimony". All the evidence against Masih were second-hand testimony. In May 2002 the Faisalabad Court condemned him to a 70 years sentence and a fine of 100,000 rupees ($ 1600).
Justice Najam ur-Zaman is reported to have taken "a very aggressive attitude against the prosecution" because of the flimsy circumstantial evidence. Furthermore, the judge severely rebuked the prosecutors for the accusations moved against Masih of keeping in his pocket verses from the Koran. "It's not an offense for Christians or anyone else to have verses from the Koran in their pocket," he declared.
The Center for Legal Aid Assistance and Settlement (CLAAS) based in Lahore played a role of capital importance. The organisation helped Masih, who is illiterate, obtaining his release. At the moment of the sentence, Masih was in prison. He was incapable of attending the trial as he was weakened by the harsh detention.
Seven Christian are still being held in prison in Pakistan for alleged blasphemy.
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01/06/2004
