A DEADLY CRISIS is simmering in South-East Asia region where religious extremism and an intolerant culture is fast escalating. A case in point is of a moderate Muslim scholar in Pakistan, Mr Muhemmed Yusuf Ali, an activist of Peace, religious tolerance and human excellence. He has been condemned to death and 35 years of rigorous imprisonment on 5th August 2000 by a lower in Pakistan under the pressure of a local religious organization on the baseless allegations of blasphemy. Moreover, without any evidence and without any authority, the lower court has called him liar (kazzab), kafir (infidel), murtad (apostate) against all requirements of justice and Islamic Shari'ah.
Religious zealots in Pakistan are highly abusing vaguely formulated Law of Blasphemy as a ‘handy-tool’ to harass and prosecute those who challenge their power-base by calling for sectarian harmony and religious tolerance or hold divergent religious beliefs.
Mr Muhemmed Yusuf Ali, a staunch Muslim of Ahl-e-Sunnah school of thought, has been actively working against growing religious extremism and human excellence for last two decades. He wrote columns and articles in ‘Daily Pakistan’ for 5 years, and trained people around the world for more than 15 years. He openly spoke against extremist elements of religious clergy in Pakistan, and often said in his recorded interviews, “today Islam portrayed in Muslim countries by religious clergy is a highly distorted version of real Islam – a way of living with love & peace, and serving the Creator and creation.”
In 1997, Mr Yusuf Ali stepped up his efforts to serve humanity and on 28th February arranged the first assembly of an association founded by himself (World Assembly for Human Excellence) in a local mosque. In reaction, his opponents started a vilification campaign against him in the local press. He was accused of adultery, fraud, claiming prophet-hood, and blasphemy against Islam. He clarified his position through paid advertisements in the newspapers. But, a case was maliciously registered against him on 29th March 1997 by a local religious organisation. He was immediately detained and locked up in a prison in inhumanly conditions for a period of 2 years.
Judiciary kept avoiding hearing his case to stay away from argument with religious extremists. After 2 years of detention he was released on bail on statutory grounds. A trial finally started in February 2000. However, against all hopes and (as Amnesty International reports) in contravention of international fair trial standards, the trial was conducted in the private chamber of the learned judge, in camera, and in an oppressive atmosphere. No independent observers or media representatives were allowed in. Most of the hearings were commenced at about 2:30pm and continued till as late as 7-8pm. The final arguments were heard on 28th July till 11:45pm, and the counsel for the defence were asked to conclude.
Mr Muhemmed Yusuf Ali denied all allegations in their entirety. (Verdict available at http://www.wahe.net)
According to the trial record the complainant, office bearer of a local religious organization, alleged that Mr Yusuf Ali 'indirectly committed blasphemy' by showing his resemblance with Prophet Muhemmad (peace be upon him) on an unknown date, during a Friday sermon, more than 2 years before registration of the case. The complainant also admitted that all his information were based on word of mouth and unfounded reports published in a local newspaper.
The learned judge of Pakistan's lower court found no evidence of adultery, as the complainant could not produce any information to support false allegation. No proper evidence of blasphemy or fraud was produced in the court except a few people’s word against Mr Yusuf Ali’s, including a local newspaper reporter who reported the fabricated stories in the first place. The complainant produced video/audio pieces of several sermons copied onto two cassettes. Nothing objectionable or offensive was found in the sermons. The date of sermons and maker of cassette were unknown, which make the produced evidence highly unreliable and legally inadmissible.
Honourable Judge acknowledges in his verdict that evidence in this case was oral in nature. In his verdict, Judge accepts the complainant’s word against Mr Yusuf Ali’s. He praises the complainant’s religious organization, on record, and gives them credit of bringing provisions of blasphemy law in the Pakistan Penal Code. However, he nullifies the statement of Mr Muhemmed Yusuf Ali in his defence by simply calling him a liar! Mr Muhemmed Yusuf Ali testified during the trial that according to Islamic beliefs all human beings are representative of God Almighty and all Muslims should also strive to be a representative of Prophet Muhemmed (peace be upon him). He advocated that to gain human excellence all human-being should respect each other and live life according to examples set by their great leaders such as Prophet Muhemmed, Prophet Jesus, Prophet Moses, Mahatama Buddha (peace be upon them). Mr Yusuf Ali admitted that he himself lives life according to teachings, examples and guidance of Last Prophet Muhemmed (peace be upon him), strives to fulfil his mission, and considers himself his humble and true representative. However, the judge deduced that the last statement amounts to indirectly committing blasphemy. He declared Mr Yusuf Ali an infidel, an apostate, liable to death, and 35 years of rigorous imprisonment on several counts.
A number of oft consulted Islamic scholars in juristic matters of international repute, have declared the verdict of Pakistani lower court unfounded, invalid and against all norms of dispensing justice. However, Mr Muhemmed Yusuf Ali is again languishing behind bars in a “C” class cell with fast deteriorating health, with no medical facilities, waiting for a fair trial. His family and his own life is in danger from religious extremists.
Religious zealots in Pakistan are highly abusing vaguely formulated Law of Blasphemy as a ‘handy-tool’ to harass and prosecute those who challenge their power-base by calling for sectarian harmony and religious tolerance or hold divergent religious beliefs.
Mr Muhemmed Yusuf Ali, a staunch Muslim of Ahl-e-Sunnah school of thought, has been actively working against growing religious extremism and human excellence for last two decades. He wrote columns and articles in ‘Daily Pakistan’ for 5 years, and trained people around the world for more than 15 years. He openly spoke against extremist elements of religious clergy in Pakistan, and often said in his recorded interviews, “today Islam portrayed in Muslim countries by religious clergy is a highly distorted version of real Islam – a way of living with love & peace, and serving the Creator and creation.”
In 1997, Mr Yusuf Ali stepped up his efforts to serve humanity and on 28th February arranged the first assembly of an association founded by himself (World Assembly for Human Excellence) in a local mosque. In reaction, his opponents started a vilification campaign against him in the local press. He was accused of adultery, fraud, claiming prophet-hood, and blasphemy against Islam. He clarified his position through paid advertisements in the newspapers. But, a case was maliciously registered against him on 29th March 1997 by a local religious organisation. He was immediately detained and locked up in a prison in inhumanly conditions for a period of 2 years.
Judiciary kept avoiding hearing his case to stay away from argument with religious extremists. After 2 years of detention he was released on bail on statutory grounds. A trial finally started in February 2000. However, against all hopes and (as Amnesty International reports) in contravention of international fair trial standards, the trial was conducted in the private chamber of the learned judge, in camera, and in an oppressive atmosphere. No independent observers or media representatives were allowed in. Most of the hearings were commenced at about 2:30pm and continued till as late as 7-8pm. The final arguments were heard on 28th July till 11:45pm, and the counsel for the defence were asked to conclude.
Mr Muhemmed Yusuf Ali denied all allegations in their entirety. (Verdict available at http://www.wahe.net)
According to the trial record the complainant, office bearer of a local religious organization, alleged that Mr Yusuf Ali 'indirectly committed blasphemy' by showing his resemblance with Prophet Muhemmad (peace be upon him) on an unknown date, during a Friday sermon, more than 2 years before registration of the case. The complainant also admitted that all his information were based on word of mouth and unfounded reports published in a local newspaper.
The learned judge of Pakistan's lower court found no evidence of adultery, as the complainant could not produce any information to support false allegation. No proper evidence of blasphemy or fraud was produced in the court except a few people’s word against Mr Yusuf Ali’s, including a local newspaper reporter who reported the fabricated stories in the first place. The complainant produced video/audio pieces of several sermons copied onto two cassettes. Nothing objectionable or offensive was found in the sermons. The date of sermons and maker of cassette were unknown, which make the produced evidence highly unreliable and legally inadmissible.
Honourable Judge acknowledges in his verdict that evidence in this case was oral in nature. In his verdict, Judge accepts the complainant’s word against Mr Yusuf Ali’s. He praises the complainant’s religious organization, on record, and gives them credit of bringing provisions of blasphemy law in the Pakistan Penal Code. However, he nullifies the statement of Mr Muhemmed Yusuf Ali in his defence by simply calling him a liar! Mr Muhemmed Yusuf Ali testified during the trial that according to Islamic beliefs all human beings are representative of God Almighty and all Muslims should also strive to be a representative of Prophet Muhemmed (peace be upon him). He advocated that to gain human excellence all human-being should respect each other and live life according to examples set by their great leaders such as Prophet Muhemmed, Prophet Jesus, Prophet Moses, Mahatama Buddha (peace be upon them). Mr Yusuf Ali admitted that he himself lives life according to teachings, examples and guidance of Last Prophet Muhemmed (peace be upon him), strives to fulfil his mission, and considers himself his humble and true representative. However, the judge deduced that the last statement amounts to indirectly committing blasphemy. He declared Mr Yusuf Ali an infidel, an apostate, liable to death, and 35 years of rigorous imprisonment on several counts.
A number of oft consulted Islamic scholars in juristic matters of international repute, have declared the verdict of Pakistani lower court unfounded, invalid and against all norms of dispensing justice. However, Mr Muhemmed Yusuf Ali is again languishing behind bars in a “C” class cell with fast deteriorating health, with no medical facilities, waiting for a fair trial. His family and his own life is in danger from religious extremists.
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