Pak. editors jailed on blasphemy charges

NEW YORK, JULY 12. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is dismayed that local authorities in Abbottabad have not dropped blasphemy charges brought against journalists from the Urdu- language daily Mohasib, even though officials at both the provincial and Federal levels have issued statements noting that these charges are groundless.

On May 29, Mohasib published an article entitled ``The Beard and Islam,'' which contested the view of certain Muslim clerics that a beardless man cannot be a good Muslim, and criticised the exploitation of religious faith for personal gain.

Following protests by some religious leaders, the Abbottabad police sealed the newspaper office and arrested four of Mohasib's senior staff: Mr. Mohammed Zaman Khan, editor; Mr. Mohammed Shahid Chaudhry, managing editor; Mr. Shakil Ahmed Tahirkheli, news editor; and Mr. Raja Mohammed Haroon, sub-editor.

``This case shows how dangerous the blasphemy laws can be for any Pakistani journalist who tackles the difficult topic of religion,'' said the CPJ executive director, Ms Ann Cooper. ``These four journalists have been jailed for more than a month and face charges that could result in the death penalty.''

According to local journalists, the Federal Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Northwest Frontier Province Law Department have each issued statements arguing that the Mohasib article contained nothing that could be considered blasphemous. In early July, the Inspector General of Police in Northwest Frontier Province sent a notice urging local authorities to drop the case registered against Mohasib and to release the jailed editors.

However, district officials have refused to drop the case, citing pressure from religious groups.

For more information on press conditions in Pakistan, visit the CPJ website at www.cpj.org. CPJ is a New York-based, non- partisan, non-profit organisation of journalists that works to defend press freedom around the world.

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Section  : International
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