Asia Bibi Case should be an Eye-opener for the Hardliners

Asia Bibi have already spent 8 years in Jail now acquitted by the Supreme Court of Pakistan 

The Asia Bibi Blasphemy Case

Asia Bibi, a Pakistani Christian woman, mother of four, from Punjab province,   Aasiya Noreen (Urdu: آسیہ نورین‬‎ — Āsiyaah Naurīn [ˈɑːsiɑː nɔːˈriːn], born c. 1971;[1] better known as آسیہ بی بی‬ Asia Bibi). Asia was convicted of blasphemy in 2010 and sentenced to hang after she was accused of defiling the name of the Prophet Mohammad during an argument the year before with a group of Muslim women with whom she had been harvesting berries. The argument began the other women had objected and refused to drink water from the bowl that a non-Muslim woman touched, referencing the caste system in Pakistan. Subsequently she was accused of insulting Islamic Prophet Mohammad, but Asia denies the charge. She was arrested and imprisoned in November, 2010.  Interestingly a Sheikhupura judge sentenced her to death by hanging. The verdict had received worldwide attention.

Twist of the Case

The complainants had heated arguments with Asia Bibi, which she called the case was a matter of women who did not like her. The case could be reasonably suspected of having dragged her to the court out of malice.

It should be noted that the first and formal police complaint was lodged at-least five days after the incident which added further suspicions that evidence could have been fabricated.

And as if that were not enough, some glaring disparities emerged in the disposition of different witnesses about the specifics of the actual incident.

As in many countries, Pakistan's criminal justice system puts the burden of proof on the prosecution. It applies strict rules of evidence to ensure the case is proved beyond all reasonable doubt.
The slightest deficiency anywhere along the process translates into a benefit for the defendant. But. for eight long years, this was not what happened in Asia's case.

The Supreme Court of Pakistan Verdict

On 31st October, 2018, Pakistan's Supreme Court overturned the conviction of Asia Bibi, who was in a death row for eight years for blasphemy, a land mark verdict that sparked nationwide protests, death threats from hardliners and cheers from human rights advocates.

It is clear from the Wednesday's verdict , the case ought not to have delayed, traveled beyond the trial court stage in Sheikhupura district back in 2010. Asia Bibi always maintained her innocence, but has spent most of the past eight years in solitary confinement.

Hardliners protesting against the verdict of Asia Bibi Blasphemy Case across Pakistan

The apex court, in a three member bench led by chief justice Saqib Nisar, issued the verdict on Wednesday Morning, three weeks after they had reached the decision.
The delay followed threats by blasphemy campaigners to hold protests.
In the his judgement Nisar said

Keeping in mind the evidence produced by the prosecution, against the alleged blasphemy committed by the appellant, the prosecution has categorically failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.

Asia Bibi, now can walk free from jail in Sheikhupura, near Lahore, immediately if not wanted in connection with any other case, Nissar mentioned.

Tensions and Aftermath of the Case

In January, 2011, a PPP leader and Governor of Pakistan's most powerful province Punjab - Salman Taseer was gunned down by one of his religiously inclined bodyguards. As Taseer had visited Asia Bibi in jail, sympathized with her and expressed a desire to reform blasphemy law.

A couple of months later, Pakistan's Minister for Minority Affairs, Shahbaz Bhatti was shot dead for making similar remarks.

These incidents put Asia's case on the anvil of the religious lobby, with anti-blasphemy vigilant groups vowing to draw her blood or that of the judges who would dare let her go.

It is obvious that lower court judges are less protected and more exposed to threats from vigilant groups - which is why most blasphemy cases end in convictions at the trial stage - a majority of the cases reaching the high court level are quashed, due to absence of strong evidence.

Asia Bibi Acquitted but facing death threat from the Hardliners

Asia Bibi was the first woman who was given death sentence under the blasphemy law According to officials, Asia Bibi might be flown out of Pakistan due to threat to her life. It is not clear where she will go as several countries, including Canada have offered asylum to her.

The timing of her release has not been shares due to security reasons.          
 
The blasphemy laws were promulgated by former military dictator Ziaul Haq in 1980s. A person convicted under these laws is given death sentence. While reading out the judgement Nisar said,

Her conviction is set aside and she is to be relieved forthwith... Tolerance is the basic principle of Islam.

There is tight security in the capital Islamabad and other parts of Pakistan due to ongoing agitation by the Hardliner Islamic Groups. Angry Protests erupted in Pakistan following the verdict.
             
The Red Zone in capital Islamabad, where the Supreme Court is located gas been sealed off by the police and paramilitary forces have been deployed to keep protesters away from the court.

Punjab, the country's most populous province is on high alert and its Home Department banned all kinds of public gatherings until November' 10.  Tehreek-e-Labbaik (TLP) Pakistan, an Islamic Political Party is leading the protest in Lahore where large number of activists gathered on the Mall Road. Protests are also being held in Karachi and other cities by groups linked with religious parties.

Protest Against Asia Case #AsiaBibiCase pic.twitter.com/H7FPBnWfW6

— Muhammad Uzair (@Muhamma35791282) November 2, 2018

                                  

 forgotten

“O mankind, your transgression 

(injustice, evildoing)

 is only against yourself!”

 (Quran 10:23)

However, the Prime Minister of  Pakistan Imran Khan is taking strong stand against the protesters. He warns protesters in tough words

I ask these elements (protestors) to avoid confronting the State. But if they opted to do so, the State will fulfill its responsibilities.

We will protect life and property of people...We will not let them (protestors) involve in vandalism or close down the roads 

Meanwhile they looted this little kid, yet another painful side of protests across Pakistan. O Allah please help us.#Protest #Pakistan #AsiaBibi #AsiaBibiVerdict #AsiaBibiCase #LawAndOrder #ISPR @ImranKhanPTI #JummahMubarak #يوم_الجمعه pic.twitter.com/Gjc5jIMazc

— Muhammad Yousuf (@MYousufSoomro) November 2, 2018

Asia Bibi's plea was not heard during her prosecution

Asia denied that she had committed blasphemy and said that she has been framed and accused by her neighbor to settle an old dispute in November 2010.

Asia Bibi cried alone

With the verdict Asia became shocked for victimization. Almost illiterate and a farm worker and a mother of four children lost all hope. She described the day of her sentencing as

I cried alone, putting my head in my hands. I can no longer bear the sight of people full of hatred, applauding the killing of a poor farm worker. I no longer see them, but I still hear them, the crowd who gave the judge a standing ovation, saying: "Kill her, kill her! Allahu Akbar!" The court house is invaded by a euphoric horde who break down the doors, chanting: "Vengeance for the holy prophet. Allah is great!" I was then thrown like an old rubbish sack into the van... I had lost all humanity in their eyes 

 forgotten

"Kind speech and forgiveness

 is better than charity

 followed by injury.”

 (Qur’an 2:263)

That time her husband Ashiq Masih announced that he planned to appeal the verdict, which has to be upheld by the Lahore High Court.  A month later, Salmaan Taseer, the governor of Punjab who investigated the affair for the President Asif Ali Zardari, stated that Noreen would most likely be pardoned if the High Court did not suspend the sentence. Zardari was poised to grant pardon, but Lahore High Court issued a stay order against potential Presidential pardon, which remains in force till date.Court transcripts show numerous inconsistencies in the evidence presented and reporters say they dare not repeat Bibi's testimony lest they also be accused of blasphemy  

 forgotten

“Forgive and let go.

 Don’t you like it if Allah forgives you?

 Allah is Most Forgiving, 

Most Merciful” 

(Qur’an 24 : 22)

Polarization

Asia Bibi's death sentence drew international outrage. and strong condemnation from non-governmental organizations defending her as well as human rights group such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch who saw the blasphemy laws as a form of religious persecution and called for them to be abolished.

 forgotten

“Never think that God is unaware

 of what evildoers do.

 He only delays them (their punishment)

 for a Day when eyes will

 stare (in horror)”.

  (Quran 14:42)

Amnesty International researcher Rabia Mehmood says that one of the reasons of Asia Bibi case has become so polarizing and controversial is the Pakistani Government's failure to take

effective measures to curb the campaign of hate and violence incited by certain groups in the country following her conviction, in fact the state has shown immense tolerance for the narratives of hate 

She previously highlighted a tweet by a media organization close to TLP, which last year led to anti-blasphemy protests, warning the court to

think carefully before taking the decision

Mehmood  adds

We can only hope that (the Asia Bibi case) becomes a watershed moment when it comes to blasphemy laws in Pakistan 

A verdict in Asia Bibi's favor spelled

out a message of hope and will be a step in addressing human rights abuses, religiously motivated discrimination and violence targeted at religious minorities and even Muslims who are accused of committing blasphemy 

Asia Bibi's case has become rallying call across the world. Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) led prayers for Asia Bibi's release last week in the UK, at ceremony attended by her husband Ashiq Masih and daughter Eisham Ashiq.

Father Emmanuel Yousaf said in a statement from the group

We have prayed 10 years now for our sister, Asia, and I am confident that our prayers will be heard, and the judgment will go in favor of Asia, her family and the entire Pakistani Christian community

In her 2012 book Get Me Out of Here Asia Bibi included a letter to her family urging them to

 keep courage or faith in Jesus Christ

         

104 Years Old David Goodall Raises an Issue in His Final Step

David Goodall hours before his Final Moment

David Goodall, the British-Australian Scientist, 104-year-old, traveled to Switzerland to end his life committed assisted suicide yesterday in Basel at 10-30 GMT. His decision has attracted significant attention of people around the world.

David, the noted London born ecologist and botanist, did not have terminal illness, who had been barred from seeking help to end his life in his home country Australia, said the decision had been driven by his deteriorating quality of life.

Goodall 'died peacefully' in Basel, tweeted Dr Philip Nitschke, founder of Exit International. They had helped him make the journey from Australia.     
As the web site states Dr Philip Nitschke played Ode of Joy of Beethoven's 9th Symphony at the time of death, which was chosen by David himself.

 The grandfather of 12 had attracted over $20,000 donations from the public to help fund his journey to Europe from Perth, earlier this month.

In an interview on 8th May with CNN, he exclaimed that he would love to be able to walk into the bush and see the world around. He could hear and enjoy birdsong but impaired by lack of vision.   

He was the honorary research associate at Perth's Edith Cowan University set off from Australia a week ago and stopped in Bordeaux, France to see family before arriving in Basel on Monday.
Goodall told journalists on Wednesday, day before his death :

I no longer want to continue life.

I am happy to have the chance tomorrow to end it and appreciate the help of the medical profession here in in making that possible.

Bringing euthanasia on the argument table

The 104-year-old Scientist hoped the widespread interest in his case would spur Australia and other countries to rethink their legislation.
He also argued when the issue comes to right-to-die

I would have preferred to have (ended) it in Australia and I greatly regret that Australia is behind Switzerland.

Goodall was the active member of Exit International for last 20 years and advocated to Euthanasia be legalized worldwide.   
Goodall secured a fast-track appointment with the foundation in Basel after he attempted but failed to commit suicide on his own earlier this year. He said of the suicide attempt

I would have been much more convenient for everyone if I had been able to, but unfortunately it failed.

But he was happy that he had been offered the 'Swiss option', since he has been able to see most of his family, which is spread over few countries, in the run up of his final day.

David Goodall's life

Born in London on 4th April 1914, when he was a child moved to Australia with his family members, just months before the outbreak of World War I 
Goodall completed his Bachelor of Science degree and followed by Doctor of Philosophy degree in 1941 both at University of London (Imperial College of Science and Technology). His PhD research was conducted at East Malling Research Station in Kent on assimilation in the tomato plant.

David Godall in 1950s

He stepped back full-time employment in 1979, but remained active in his field of work.
He then edited a 30-volume series book called 'Ecosystems of the World' written by more than 500 Authors  In 2016 he was awarded the prestigious Order of Australia .
In the same year, aged 102, he won a battle to keep working on the campus of Edith Cowan University, where he was a honorary research associate.

The World and Assisted Suicide 

Assisted suicide is illegal in most countries and was banned in Australia until the state of Virginia became the first to legalise the practice last year.
But the legislation, which takes effect in June 2019, only applies to terminally ill patients of sound mind and a life expectancy of less than six months.
In Switzerland , assisted suicide is allowed only if the person assisting acts unselfishly. It is the only country with centres offering assisted suicide to foreign nationals.  
      
 In terms of Right-to-die three legal words are cultivated so far

• euthanasia
• assisted suicide
• assisted dying

However these terms are not used consistently according to their meaning

• Euthanasia is an intervention undertaken with the intention of ending a life to relieve suffering, for example a lethal injection administered by a doctor

• Assisted suicide is any act that intentionally helps another person kill themselves, for example by providing them with the means to do so, most commonly by prescribing a lethal medication

• Assisted dying is usually used in the US and the UK to mean assisted suicide for the terminally ill only, as for example in the Assisted Dying Bills recently debated in the UK

For further details you may visit 

Assisted dying: What does the law in different countries say?

Goodall's last step and Switzerland

According to Swiss law meanwhile, anyone who is of sound mind and who has over a period of time voiced a consistent wish to end their life can request so-called  assisted voluntary death (AVD). Asked on Wednesday if he had any hesitations or doubts the 104-year-old said

No, none whatsoever

In assisted dying the person must be physically capable carrying out the final deed on their own.

In Goodall's case that meant he had himself to open the valve that allowed the short-acting barbiturate to mix with a saline solution and flow into his vain.

Final Thought         

It is very difficult to justify for a common people like me when a very old man with absolute state of mind decides his final step. When life hits us hard, every situation becomes irritable to digest we feel like useless we must see for the options available other than choosing death.
These situations can cause us to be confused, afraid, depressed, anxious and even angry. All these feelings are completely normal. We are humans, we are imperfect and we are flawed. But after recognizing all our emotions, we have to come to terms with our situation. We’ve got to face our problems head on.

As Rabindranath Tagore wrote -- death seems deadly, separation appears to be a crater - when I ignore You.

You is the Supreme Self . We must take shelter in the adobe of the Supreme Self. He will only take care our distress. 
             

Wherever I traverse
Within your world, endless -
Misery, death galore,
Pang of separation prevails.
Death seems deadly,
Separation appears to be a crater -
When I ignore you
And try to idolise myself.
O' brimful, your feet
Have everything expected,
But, fear, that I possess -
Is only the one absent.
Duty, misdeeds and remorse
All wither at once -
If I am bestowed with
Your image agleam within life.

(Translation from Rabindranath Tagore Lyric- by Anjan Ganguly)

The song featured in the Movie Noukadubi

 <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">RIP David Goodall <a href="https://t.co/Kjz9hV2N0u">pic.twitter.com/Kjz9hV2N0u</a></p>&mdash; Partha Bose (@kuntinandan) <a href="https://twitter.com/kuntinandan/status/994543718731399168?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 10, 2018</a></blockquote>
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https://twitter.com/kuntinandan/status/994543718731399168

Who are the Stakeholders of Violations of Human Rights in Syria

Representative Photo by Mubariz Mehdizadeh on Unsplash

Quite sometime before the conflict started 7 years ago a large number of Syrians were protesting against unemployment, corruption and a lack of political freedom under President Bashar-al-Asaad, who succeeded his late father Hafez in 2000. A peaceful uprising against the president Asaad in 2011, turned into full scale civil war. The BBC has reported on March 15 2018 that the war has left about 400,000 people dead, devastated cities and drawn in other countries.

The history of Syria is replete with accounts of outsiders who fought one another, such as the Egyptians, Hittites, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Macedonians and Romanians. Like India, Syria suffered as much as it benefited from such foreign intruders. But today visuals of the death of helpless children in Syria must make one reflect on how to put an end to this bloodbath in what is essentially a battle of attrition.

Ongoing War

Under the pretext of waging a holy war against ISIS, forces loyal to Assad in eastern Ghouta have perpetrated mass killings. As Amnesty International stated

flagrant war crimes

are being committed in eastern Ghouta and on an

epic scale

A humanitarian tragedy is unfolding.In collusion with the Assad regime and Iran, eastern Ghouta, a cluster of concrete-block towns and farmland with an estimated population of nearly 400,000, has been reduced to pulverized rubble, dismembered bones and dust mixed with blood. The region is bearing the brunt because it happens to be one of the last bastions of the rebels fighting the Assad government. In response to the airstrikes, the rebels have shelled the government-held neighborhood of Damascus.

Game of manslaughter

Civilians, including helpless children, are just prawns in a bigger game of attrition. The assault on Aleppo was mounted to chase the Syrian opposition forces to other areas, like the province of Idlib,

which the Russians and Syrians have also bombarded. The rebels who were thus hounded out have been largely exterminated in eastern Ghouta. It has essentially been a choreographed game of manslaughter. It bears recall that eastern Ghouta had been attacked by chemical weapons in 2013.

Many Players with much of Business Interest

 

Energy War

 
Russia's objective apparently was to control only the part inhabited by the Assad's supporters, who are by and large Muslim Alawites, an offshoot of Shiite Islam. The Sunni Muslims of Saudi Arabia and Qatar on the one hand and Shiite Muslims of Iran and Syria on the other are ranged between each other. This has to be explained in terms of compulsions of the energy war.- to secure not only the European market but also the South-east Asia given the energy requirements of China, India and Pakistan. Iran, rich both in oil and natural gas, has an edge over Saudi Arabia, rich only in oil and Qatar rich only in natural gas.

ISIS, Pipeline and Russia and Geopolitical Issues

ISIS has also been used at cross purposes because its presence and control of the eastern part of Syria and the western part of Iraq could effectively block the Iran-Iraq-Syria pipeline, affecting the flow of Saudi oil and Qatari natural gas. A strong neighbor like anti Assad Turkey is beholden to pro-Assad Russia. It is dependent on the latter's natural gas . While the Saudis are turning to Egypt to cobble up an Arab alliance, the later has moved closer to Russia after the Arab Spring. It is peeved over the American acceptance of the Muslim brotherhood in Egypt, a move supported by Turkey, Qatar and Iran. The Iranian pipeline, materialized in its present form, will reduce both Turkey's revenues and its geopolitical significance. In fact, the proposed pipeline has been packaged as the largest gas pipeline in the Middle East; it will stretch from Iran's gas-rich South Pars field to the Mediterranean coastline in Lebanon, via Iraq and Syria. It also happens to be a major bone of contention. Syria has been at the center through which Europe seeks to reduce its reliance on Russia, as 80 per cent of the gas that the Russian state-controlled company Gazprom produces is sold to Europe. Russia's involvement in the war in Syria is more out of concern of losing out to other US allies like Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Russia has earlier gone to war in Georgia and Ukraine to disrupt plans to export gas from other parts of the Middle East.              

Before the civil war, two competing pipelines, that were laid by Qatar and Iran, were meant to transport gas to Europe through Syria. Though Qatar, the reservoir of the largest natural gas field in the world, owns about two third of the resources. It cannot capitalize on it fully because it relies on tankers to deliver it to other nations and this makes its gas more expensive than Russia's. Qatar's plan, first put forward in 2009, to build a pipeline from the Persian Gulf via Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria and Turkey, was opposed by Assad  who had denied permission for the pipeline to run through his territory. This might have been prompted by Russia, which was eager to safeguard its own business. Iran's counter plan, signed by Assad in 2012, had Russia's blessings because it could use Iran against Qatar, a US ally hosting a US air base. While an enraged Qatar is believed to have funded anti-Assad rebel groups by $3 billion between 2011 and 2013 alongside Saudi Arabia, Iran was believed to be helping Assad by running the Syrian Army, supplying with weapons and even troops. So all the stakeholders - Russia, the US, Qatar,Arabia,Iran and Turkey pretending to fight against the ISIS or supporting or opposing Assad have vested interests and any pretension to fight a holy war is only for the birds.

People and Children are being killed - No concern

The death of hapless children in Syria is the outcome of the internecine power struggle. More than 11000 children were killed in November 2013 most of them by Chemical Weapon as reported in naharnet on 24 November 2013.

PC Naharnet

Syria, one of the most heavy weight Middle Eastern allies of the Soviet Union during Hafez-al-Assad's rule, formalized its alliance in the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation in 1980. Saudi Arabia has been firmly entrenched under the United States' security umbrella and this can be traced to the time of World War II. It had always been deeply distrustful of the Soviet Union and had been wary of the invasion of Afghanistan in December 1979.

The US and Russia Cold War

Syria had stood by revolutionary Iran throughout the later's eight year war against Iraq, while Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini openly involved the masses to overthrow the Saudi monarchy. As things stand. there is now a sharp competition between Russia and the US, almost reminiscent of the Cold War. This has been the major stumbling block towards peace in Syria. And as the war in Afghanistan had less to do with removal of Taliban, the war in Syria has become a battle field to secure access to sources of energy. It had begun as a concerted move to drive out ISIS.

In their Chilling report on April 3 2017 the Independent claims that
US-led coalition killed more Syrian civilians than Isis or Russia in March, figures show

PC Independent

 

Conclusion

To quote an old dictum,

There can be no (Arab-Israel) war without Egypt and no peace without Syria,

In Syria, various stakeholders are working at cross-purposes. Russia's main concern is to persuade the international community to allow Assad to remain in power. The United States and its allies are unsure and seen to be on shaky ground. But the distressing reality is that Russia, Iran and Syria are not going to desist without suitable economic, military and diplomatic pressure being exerted on the presidential palace in Damascus.