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Pakistan: Lecturer accused of blasphemy for Facebook posts must be released

danieldemol

Well-Known Member
Premium Member
‘Pakistani authorities must immediately and unconditionally release a university lecturer being held in solitary confinement for Facebook posts, Amnesty International said today.

Junaid Hafeez, a 33-year-old lecturer at Bahauddin Zakariya University in the city of Multan, was charged with blasphemy over social media posts, and has been in solitary confinement since June 2014.

For the past year, the conditions of his solitary confinement have been described as “extreme”. He is due to appear again in court tomorrow (Tuesday 1 October).

Currently, Hafeez’s case is with the eighth judge since his trial began, with previous judges being transferred to other cases. There have been severe delays in the proceedings and, in May 2014, his counsel Rashid Rehman was murdered in his office after receiving threats in open court for defending Junaid.’

Read more here: Pakistan: Lecturer accused of blasphemy for Facebook posts must be released
 

Stevicus

Veteran Member
Staff member
Premium Member
‘Pakistani authorities must immediately and unconditionally release a university lecturer being held in solitary confinement for Facebook posts, Amnesty International said today.

Junaid Hafeez, a 33-year-old lecturer at Bahauddin Zakariya University in the city of Multan, was charged with blasphemy over social media posts, and has been in solitary confinement since June 2014.

For the past year, the conditions of his solitary confinement have been described as “extreme”. He is due to appear again in court tomorrow (Tuesday 1 October).

Currently, Hafeez’s case is with the eighth judge since his trial began, with previous judges being transferred to other cases. There have been severe delays in the proceedings and, in May 2014, his counsel Rashid Rehman was murdered in his office after receiving threats in open court for defending Junaid.’

Read more here: Pakistan: Lecturer accused of blasphemy for Facebook posts must be released

I wonder what the chances are that the US might impose sanctions on Pakistan over this. Probably nil.
 

Revoltingest

Pragmatic Libertarian
Premium Member
Once again, I'm reminded why I'm not moving to Pakistan.
The religion of peace can be very deadly for peaceful heathens.
 

danieldemol

Well-Known Member
Premium Member
Here is an update from Reuters;
Pakistan scholar's blasphemy trial enters final stages as U.S. raises alarm

Pakistan scholar's blasphemy trial enters final stages as U.S. raises alarm

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - A Pakistani court will hear final arguments on Thursday in the blasphemy trial of a liberal scholar and former university lecturer a week after a U.S. religious freedom commission placed his name on its list of global victims, his lawyer said.

Junaid Hafeez, who quit his studies at Pakistan's top medical college to pursue a passion for art and literature, secured a Fulbright scholarship and attended Jackson State University in 2009 where he majored in American literature, photography and theater with distinction.

He has been in solitary confinement in Pakistan for fear of being attacked by fellow inmates in jail since his arrest in 2013* on blasphemy charges linked to online posts.’


*I note the discrepancy between the Reuter’s article and the amnesty report in post #1
 
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