Volunteer human rights group Responsible for Equality and Liberty (R.E.A.L.) has received new reports from Pakistan of threats against a Pakistan woman who has been leading a Christian ministry.
The new Pakistan field report states that a 33 year old Pakistan woman, Ms. Saiqa, is being threatened by extremists who are using the oppressive Pakistan blasphemy law, PPC Section 295-C, against her. R.E.A.L. initially reported on this case on January 3, 2015.
Ms. Saiqa has been leading Christian ministry efforts in the “in slum areas of Rawalpindi / Islamabad” and is a professional teacher.
According to the new report, Ms. Saiqa has been convicted of blasphemy and called an “agent of western countries.”
In January, we reported how Molvi Razzaq had tried to force her from practicing Christianity and tried to force her convert to Islam, which is in violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), Article 18. We previously reported that after she rejected the advances by Molvi Razzaq, he tried to use the Pakistan Blasphemy laws to silence her and her teaching, and how he filed a FIR to the police claiming that she had defamed Islam. We reported how Molvi Razzaq announced a fatwa against her on a loud speaking and posted fatwa posters to find her, as she fled.
Molvi Razzaq has successfully defied Ms. Saiqa’s universal human rights and freedom of religion, using the Pakistan Blasphemy Laws to silence her.
The local report also states that:
“Molvi Razzaq and group of people of different mosques went to police station to file FIR to the local police station station that Ms. Saiqa used dirty language against Islam and Muhammad. Molvi Razzaq also announced a Fatwa on loud speaker and put Fatwa posters in different areas to find her. Molvi Razzaq has also distributed posters and has announced a reward if any one from Jammat will find her. Molvi Razzaq and other mosque’s clerics assured his people that they will address this matter in Raiwind Lahore for yearly convention, where Pakistan’s clerics and laymen gather for yearly convention.”
Our reporters approached the police station to assess the scale of situation. Police officer says that FIR has been filed and they have public pressure to find Miss Saiqa to fulfill the requirements of law.”
R.E.A.L. is sharing this report with the public, to our friends in the human rights media to get help to Ms. Saiqa, and we challenge the Pakistan government to act to stop this oppression.
R.E.A.L. previously reached the Pakistan Embassy spokesman Nadeem Hotiana on this specific case, who is very concerned about the image of Pakistan in the media. In January stated he would like into resolving this issue; we will remind him on this case. If the Pakistan government is concerned about its reputation, the way to make a difference is to act, not talk, to defend the human rights of religious minorities oppressed throughout Pakistan, in defiance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. We call upon the Pakistan government, and we call upon Nadeem Hotiana to personally intervene to stop such oppression of religious minorities.
We call for the defense of this woman, Ms. Saiqa, in Islamabad, and we call for the defense of her human rights, freedom of conscience, safety, and human dignity, in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) accepted by the United Nations over 60 years ago.