200-strong mob ransack Lahore girls school after teacher 'set blasphemous homework'

200 protestors attacked a girl's school in Pakistan after a teacher set homework allegedly insulting the prophet Muhammad.

The headmaster have been arrested and under Pakistan's strict blasphemy laws potentially faces the death penalty. A search has been launched for the female teacher who set the homework

The Islamic hardliners became incensed after a teacher at the prestigious private school allegedly made a mistake while copying Islamic text from an exercise book and then distributed the text to her students.The teacher was in hiding today but the school’s 77-year-old principal has been arrested and remains in police custody.

Meanwhile, the school’s management have today denied all responsibility for the ‘dirty act’ and called for the teacher, Arfa Iftikhar, to be punished. Ms Iftikhar allegedly set homework - for her students to do during Eid holidays from 26 to 29 October - which supposedly made derogatory references to the Prophet Mohammad.

According to the AFP, a search has been launched for Ms Iftikhar and Asim Farooqi, the school’s headmaster, has been remanded in custody for 14 days on charges of blasphemy. Pakistan’s laws on blasphemy are extremely strict and charges can carry the death penalty.

Daily Mail

Pakistan's blasphemy laws has caused controversy.

In 2011 Religious Minorities Minister Shahbaz Bhatti was shot dead for opposing the blasphemy law as was Punjab Governor Salman Taseer. The shooting of the Governor divided Pakistan with some people hailing the assassin a hero.

In 2010 Christian mother-of-five, Asia Bibi, was sentenced to death in 2010 for insulting the Prophet Muhammad.

The laws have been contentious since the formation of Pakistan in 1947, but have been especially in the spotlight since a Christian mother-of-five, Asia Bibi, was sentenced to death in November 2010 for insulting the Prophet Muhammad.

The following January Punjab Governor Salman Taseer - a prominent critic of the law - was assassinated by his bodyguard. The assassination divided Pakistan, with some hailing his killer as a hero.

In March 2011 Religious Minorities Minister Shahbaz Bhatti, a Christian who spoke out against the laws, was shot dead in Islamabad.

In 1986, a separate clause was inserted to punish blasphemy against the Prophet Muhammad and the penalty recommended was "death, or imprisonment for life", in that order.

BBC

It is rather worrying that at the start of the 21st century, a teacher and a headmaster face the death penalty in Pakistan for insulting a religion.

Why exactly does Pakistan think that the all powerful Allah needs protection from a female school teacher and a headmaster?

Islamic states to reopen quest for global blasphemy law

Secretary-general of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, which represents 57 Islamic nations, has called for international law to make insulting Islam a criminal offense.

Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, secretary-general of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), said the international community should "come out of hiding from behind the excuse of freedom of expression", a reference to Western arguments against a universal blasphemy law that the OIC has sought for over a decade.

He said the "deliberate, motivated and systematic abuse of this freedom" were a danger to global security and stability.
Separately, the Human Rights Commission of the OIC, which has 57 members and is based in Saudi Arabia, said "growing intolerance towards Muslims" had to be checked and called for "an international code of conduct for media and social media to disallow the dissemination of incitement material".

Reuters

Pakistani Christians and Hindus have pointed out that an International law making criticism of Islam a crime would serve to increase the religious intolerance against non Muslims seen in Pakistan and other Islamic countries.

Why is Islam so intolerant?

This is why I'm glad the religious majority in our country are "cherry pickers." Religion has no rightful place in government, because it stomps on individual rights. I don't know why Islam is so intolerant, and so protective of their prophet. The man was a general, I'm sure he could handle a few school teachers.

Who are we to judge what is good or what is bad? Who are we to say one crime is 'worse' than another crime? At the root of any evil situation there was an intent behind it. In Islam perhaps the culture does not view good or bad in terms of 'how bad' or 'how not really that bad', but rather as black or white, either good or bad period. They may be looking at the intent of the one behind the 'badness'. When a civilization that has flourished for thousands of years upholds their laws that have survived the ages... we think we can question the practices, when our USA has not even been around for a quarter of the time? Not only that, but who is to say that the lives of abundance and taking advantage of others is the 'right' way to live anyway?

Originally posted by chadderson
When a civilization that has flourished for thousands of years upholds their laws that have survived the ages... we think we can question the practices, when this country has not even been around for a quarter of the time?

You are seriously defending a blasphemy law in which a school teacher potentially faces the death penalty for insulting a so called prophet?

You are stuck in the 7th century. I wish you could go back there.

reply to post by ollncasino


It seems you believe you have the answer. If someone is spreading lies, it should be stopped. When an ancient civilization, in which almost all of its inhabitants conform to a specific belief... that also has been successful for AGES.... upholds its views against outsiders that think they 'know better' than them, i believe it is justified.

You are astonished at the impact of the penalty if i had to guess. Thats just how they do it over there. They have existed far longer than the USA as a civilization and culture. In wisdom one learns that spewing negativity in any regard is frowned upon by the universe. To spew it towards the One? Bad idea.

Originally posted by chadderson

If someone is spreading lies, it should be stopped. When an ancient civilization, in which almost all of its inhabitants conform to a specific belief... that also has been successful for AGES.... upholds its views against outsiders that think they 'know better' than them, i believe it is justified.

You are astonished at the impact of the penalty if i had to guess. Thats just how they do it over there. They have existed far longer than the USA as a civilization and culture.

So because Islam has a history of 1,400 years, who are we to criticize them having the death penalty for insulting Islam?

Imprisoning and killing people for insulting a so called prophet is evil.

I'd say it's their right to have whatever laws they want. It's their nation and it's a diverse world. That word means things like this too, even if some wish it didn't.

It should also be our obligation to reconsider our choice of allies. The war in Afghanistan is really the factor forcing us to allow pretty much anything Pakistan wants without so much as verbal protest while supplying so much aid at the same time. If someone would end that war.....having had 4 long years to do it now and failing to......then we wouldn't be forced to be married to Pakistan.

Just my thoughts.

Originally posted by chadderson
reply to post by ollncasino

 

It seems you believe you have the answer. If someone is spreading lies, it should be stopped. When an ancient civilization, in which almost all of its inhabitants conform to a specific belief... that also has been successful for AGES.... upholds its views against outsiders that think they 'know better' than them, i believe it is justified.

You are astonished at the impact of the penalty if i had to guess. Thats just how they do it over there. They have existed far longer than the USA as a civilization and culture. In wisdom one learns that spewing negativity in any regard is frowned upon by the universe. To spew it towards the One? Bad idea.

So because they have been committing ignorant intolerant acts of violence for "ages" and been "successful" it is justified? Don't take this out of context as it can be highly misinterpreted, but your argument is invalid.

reply to post by chadderson


First of all their laws are so ridiculous exactly BECAUSE THEY ARE SO OLD. They are stuck in the stone ages and think killing a person is the answer to everything.

If someone is spreading lies, it should be stopped.

And who exactly are you do declare what religion is real and which are false? I say all of them are a load of total bull and I vomit all over them. How's that for blasphemy.

Originally posted by Wrabbit2000
I'd say it's their right to have whatever laws they want. It's their nation and it's a diverse world.

Pakistan blasphemy laws used to justify 'murder': EU parliament

The EU has stated that Pakistan's blasphemy laws

...carry the death sentence and are "often used to justify censorship, criminalisation, persecution and, in certain cases, the murder of members of political, racial and religious minorities,"

Link

Pakistan may have the legal right to persecute political, racial and religious minorities. That doesn't make it right.

So let me get this strait, they want an international law that makes it illegal to make
fun of the prophet mohammund or however they spell it as i no longer respect them
enough to correct it, well here is an interesting challenge, how bout they respect
international law to not freaking murder people then maybe we will talk.

Im so sick of morality being warped by religion it isnt even half amusing anymore,
it makes me sick.

I felt the need to add here that murder in the name of a religion is still murder,
what they are saying is they know who we must murder, not because they have
a righteous or good reason for choosing these people but because they cannot
fathom that they are simply put wrong, their religion is not correct, it is not true,
it is not good, that goes for every single one of these egotistical fools.

religion is what will end this era of our existence, you cannot mesh the idea of
freedom and religion as they are the antitheses of each other, to have freedom
you must be able to say something is not true especially when it is most assuredly
not true, to wish that those who don't agree with you could be locked up and
punished for pointing out that your lying does not make it true or right it simply means
your willing to kill for lies and fallacy...... remember things like this next time you
hear someone say well religion is an all around good thing, heck they do good
stuff...... yea they sure do, they murder school teachers and fight for the right
to tell you, me and anyone who doesn't agree that they may well be criminals for
questioning what SHOULD BE QUESTIONED.

I truly wish this world would start questioning things, stop buying the BS.
"your life is yours alone, rise up and live it." - terry goodkind

Originally posted by chadderson
Who are we to judge what is good or what is bad?

Aaah moral relativism, a carefully planned and passed down ideal to keep us all useless and compliant and happy with our lots. Afraid to make a stand about anything in this panopticon world we've made for ourselves. Keep us subdued and afraid to have a moral thought about anything anymore.

I judge what's good or bad with my own moral compass.

I say threatening to kill a teacher over a homework mistake based on a fairy tale book written thousands of years ago is bad.

I judge. Me, right here. Any other questions?

Originally posted by bloodreviara
So let me get this strait, they want an international law that makes it illegal to make
fun of the prophet mohammund

Im so sick of morality being warped by religion it isnt even half amusing anymore,
it makes me sick.

That's the problem. Islam doesn't want to co-exist. It wants to dominate.

For instance, there is no doubt that the Blasphemy law has widespread support in Pakistan.

Pope calls on Pakistan to repeal blasphemy law as 50,000 march in Karachi to support it

Link

You know this was done, because it was a successful all girls school, and this won't do in a Islamic state, that wants complete sharīʿah.


Islam the religion of peace and they will kill YOU too prove it.

Originally posted by TheMaverick
You know this was done, because it was a successful all girls school, and this won't do in a Islamic state, that wants complete sharīʿah.


Islam the religion of peace and they will kill YOU too prove it.

Too true. Muhammad also wasn't tolerant of criticism of himself or Islam. According to the first biography of his life, written by Ibn Ishaq in 768AD, his response was assassination.

• Muhammad authorised the murder of a number of poets (male & female) who had mocked him. One poet was a mother sleeping with her young children. The Muslim assassin had to move the child aside before thrusting his dagger into her chest. Another victim was a male poet who was, according to Muslim sources, over 100 years old. Mohammed then absolved the Islamic murderers of any wrong doing.

• He was also an accomplished caravan raider who had the propensity to execute prisoners who had been political opponents in the past. One such man had fallen foul of Muhammad when Muhammad was in his early days due to being a better story teller than Muhammad,. "Who will look after my young daughter?" cried the man, moments before he was executed. Muhammad then cursed him.

The Life of Muhammad (768 AD) by Ibn Ishaq

Its not difficult to understand why many Muslims quickly resort to violence when Islam is criticized. Muhammad himself ordered the assassination of people who criticized him.

Originally posted by khimbar

I say threatening to kill a teacher over a homework mistake based on a fairy tale book written thousands of years ago is bad.

Of course, people may say that Western Muslims, unlike Pakistani Muslims are a more moderate bunch. But is that necessarily true?

Poll: Nearly Half of U.S. Muslims Believe That Critics of Muhammad Should Be Criminally Prosecuted

Not only do half believe people should be prosecuted for criticizing Islam, an eighth believe they should be executed!

Originally posted by ollncasino

Originally posted by Wrabbit2000
I'd say it's their right to have whatever laws they want. It's their nation and it's a diverse world.

Pakistan blasphemy laws used to justify 'murder': EU parliament

The EU has stated that Pakistan's blasphemy laws

...carry the death sentence and are "often used to justify censorship, criminalisation, persecution and, in certain cases, the murder of members of political, racial and religious minorities,"

Link

Pakistan may have the legal right to persecute political, racial and religious minorities. That doesn't make it right.

I agree with you in saying this is horrible and bordering on Evil as I'd view it. However...that's the rub isn't it? I guess having United Nations observers forced down our throat like we're children, unable to hold an election...does things to help understand how such things look from other nation's perspective.

I know beyond question, there are things WE do in the West that they find absolutely reprehensible and would happily dish out death penalties for. If they do that HERE (honor killings for instance) I'll happily say they deserve the same ..because the did it here, not there.

When they are there? Well... I guess I'm just starting to stop and ask myself, what right DO we have to tell them they can't enforce their own laws, inside their own nation, any way they see fit?? I don't recall the whole world taking a vote and deciding to sign on for the New World Order the U.S. and E.U has decreed shall be forced upon the other nations.

I don't mean to have a sharp tone in any personal way at all. It's come to be a topic I see a little different after those damned UN observers though. Hey, this IS crappy to be on the receiving end of. ..perhaps? It's something to reconsider in how it's rammed down other nation's throats....by force of open war, if necessary.

Originally posted by ollncasino

Originally posted by khimbar

I say threatening to kill a teacher over a homework mistake based on a fairy tale book written thousands of years ago is bad.

Of course, people may say that Western Muslims, unlike Pakistani Muslims are a more moderate bunch. But is that necessarily true?

Poll: Nearly Half of U.S. Muslims Believe That Critics of Muhammad Should Be Criminally Prosecuted

Not only do half believe people should be prosecuted for criticizing Islam, an eighth believe they should be executed!

Hey, If they agree to come to our country, then they should be prosecuted or executed for making fun of our gods and prophets.

Whats interesting to me is it seems Muhammad was awful violent compared to all the major worlds religions prophets. But then some of these guys don't have good written histories.

reply to post by chadderson


We are, as a matter of fact. Thanks for asking.