Ahmadi and Christian Socio-Political Responses to Pakistan’s Blasphemy Laws

Qaiser Julius

Description

The roots of Pakistan’s blasphemy laws can be traced back to the British colonial rule in India, but their harsher clauses were added to the Pakistan Penal Code during a wave of intense Islamization in the 1980s. Everyone in Pakistan is threatened by the misuse of these laws, even Muslims; however a disproportionate number of victims targeted by these laws have come from two minority groups, the Ahmadis and Christians.
Dr Qaiser Julius focuses on how these two groups have been affected by Pakistan’s blasphemy laws, their different reactions to these laws, and more specifically, why they are responding differently despite living under the same circumstances. In this well-structured and understandable study, Julius provides a valuable tool for Christians to understand what it means to be a minority in a hostile culture. This thorough analysis presents a way forward for the Christian church in Pakistan, providing hope amidst the discrimination and persecution.

Informations

• Publié par: Langham Creative Projects
• Date de parution: 30 septembre 2017
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781783683291
• Langue: English

Extrait

This study by Dr Qaiser Julius represents an important contribution to research into the religious minority experience living under Islamic rule in Pakistan. The author’s primary interest is in Pakistan’s Christian community. However, his research is helpfully complemented by a consideration of the Pakistani Ahmadi community, who are effectively outcasts from Islam.
Dr Julius considers the history of both communities and their difficult experience of Pakistan’s blasphemy laws. He also closely examines the differing responses of Christians and Ahmadis to blasphemy charges. His research is rigorous and his articulation of contemporary events is perceptive and original.
The study concludes with a set of powerful reflections on Christian responses to the blasphemy laws in Pakistan. The author thus provides a sense of hope to Pakistan’s embattled Christian community. This book is essential reading for anyone interested in Pakistan and the march of blasphemy laws across the Muslim world.
Peter G. Riddell, PhD
Vice Principal (Academic), Melbourne School of Theology
Professorial Research Associate, Department of History, SOAS, University of London
Other studies have described the predicament of Pakistan’s Christian community. This book breaks new ground with its broad-ranging analysis and especially by comparing the experience of Christians with other religious minorities in Pakistan. It is a remarkable contribution by one of Pakistan’s finest Christian theologians.
Rev Tim Green, PhD
General Secretary, Increase Association
Senior Consultant on church-based training, World Evangelical Alliance
This study of the effects of the blasphemy laws in Pakistan on two different communities, Christian and Ahmedi, is highly relevant and timely. The subject is not just extremely charged politically, but it has become an international issue. Qaiser Julius’s scholarly and thorough treatment of this sensitive issue lays out the matter in an engaging and thorough manner, while at the same time offering a way forward for the Christian community of Pakistan. It is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand these laws, particularly as there has been so much misinformation about them.
James A. Tebbe, PhD
Rector, Forman Christian College, Lahore, Pakistan

Ahmadi and Christian Socio-Political Responses to Pakistan’s Blasphemy Laws
A Comparison, Contrast and Critique with Special Reference to the Christian Church in Pakistan
Qaiser Julius

© 2017 by Qaiser Julius
Published 2017 by Langham Monographs
An imprint of Langham Creative Projects
Langham Partnership
PO Box 296, Carlisle, Cumbria CA3 9WZ, UK
www.langham.org
ISBNs:
978-1-78368-301-7 Print
978-1-78368-330-7 Mobi
978-1-78368-329-1 ePub
978-1-78368-331-4 PDF
Qaiser Julius has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988 to be identified as the Author of this work.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher or the Copyright Licensing Agency.
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN: 978-1-78368-301-7
Cover & Book Design: projectluz.com
Langham Partnership actively supports theological dialogue and an author’s right to publish but does not necessarily endorse the views and opinions set forth here or in works referenced within this publication, nor can we guarantee technical and grammatical correctness. Langham Partnership does not accept any responsibility or liability to persons or property as a consequence of the reading, use or interpretation of its published content.

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Contents

Cover


Abstract


Acknowledgements


Transliteration Scheme from Urdu/Arabic into English


Abbreviations


Introduction The Research Issue, Methodology and Structure


Research Issue


Research Methodology


Research Structure


PART I


Chapter 1 The Development of Pakistan’s Blasphemy Laws


Introduction


First Period: 194 7–1 977


Second Period: 1977–1992


Third Period: 1993–2011


Concluding Summary


Chapter 2 A Theological Analysis of Pakistan’s Blasphemy Laws in the Light of Islamic Shari′a


Introduction


Blasphemy in Islam: Definition and Scope


Pakistan’s Blasphemy Laws in the Light of the Qur’an


Pakistan Blasphemy Laws in the Light of the Sunna


Pakistan’s Blasphemy Laws in the Light of Islamic Fiqh (Jurisprudence)


Pakistan’s Blasphemy Laws in the Light of Muslim Scholarship in the Modern Period


Concluding Summary


Chapter 3 The Design Flaws in Pakistan’s Blasphemy Laws from a Legal Perspective


Introduction


From All Religions to One Religion


Requirement of Intent


Absence of Definitional Specificity


Cognizable Offences


Disproportionate Penalties


No Exceptions for Mentally Disturbed


No Protection for Minorities


Incompatibility with International Covenants


Concluding Summary


PART II


Chapter 4 Ahmadis and Christians in the Minority Context of Pakistan


Introduction


Ahmadiyya Movement


Christianity in Pakistan


Concluding Summary


Chapter 5 The Experience of Christians and Ahmadis under Pakistan’s Blasphemy Laws


Introduction


Argument # 1


Argument # 2


Argument # 3


Argument # 4


Argument # 5


Concluding Summary


PART III


Chapter 6 An Exploration and Comparative Analysis of Christian and Ahmadi Responses to Pakistan’s Blasphemy Laws


Introduction


Similarities


Dissimilarities


Concluding Summary


Chapter 7 Theological and Contextual Reflections on the Christian Response to Pakistan’s Blasphemy Laws


Introduction


Reflection: Sense of Fear and Insecurity


Reflection: Social Stigma


Reflection: A Sense of Disillusionment


Concluding Summary


Chapter 8 Conclusion: A Way Forward for the Christian Church in Pakistan


Theological Front


Sociological Front


Political Front


Educational Front


Contextual Front


Glossary


Bibliography


Main Sources


Court Cases


(The All) Pakistan Legal Decisions


About Langham Partnership

Endnotes
Abstract
The roots of Pakistan’s blasphemy laws can be traced back to the British colonial rule in India, but their harsher clauses were added to the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) during a wave of intense Islamization in the 1980s. Since then, the way the blasphemy laws have been applied has become a serious issue for the minorities in Pakistan. Although no group in Pakistan – not even Muslims – is safe from the misuse of these laws, a disproportionate number of victims have come from two minority groups: Ahmadis and Christians. This study focuses on the ways in which these two minority groups have been affected by Pakistan’s blasphemy laws, their different reactions to these laws and, more specifically, why they are responding differently despite living under the same circumstances. Due to the nature of the research subject, the author has employed a hybrid approach in methodology, which is a combination of ethnographic qualitative methods and text-based research, relying heavily on primary sources.
This dissertation begins by examining Pakistan’s blasphemy laws on both theological and legal grounds and argues that these laws cannot be justified, either on the grounds of Islamic Sharía or on the legal grounds of British law, which formed the basis of Pakistan’s founding legal system. Therefore, it argues that these laws are contrary to the prevailing law of Pakistan, which is a combination of Islamic and British laws. Further, in the light of the experience of Ahmadis and Christians in Pakistan, the dissertation argues that there is a pressing need to repeal or drastically change these laws in order to stop their misuse. Finally, using an analytical framework, this dissertation examines how Ahmadis and Christians are reacting in different ways to th