A 60-year-old Catholic lady receiving therapy for psychological sickness has been jailed on blasphemy fees in Lahore, Pakistan, her son stated.
Jameela Khatoon was arrested on June 4 from her residence in Lahore's Cantonment space on a criticism by Muslim businessman Asif Ali, her son, 41-year-old Sunny Gill, stated.
Ali registered a First Info Report (FIR) on the North Cantt police station beneath Part 295-C of the Blasphemy Act towards blasphemy, which carries the obligatory loss of life penalty.
Native retailers are so aware of Khatoon's psychological sickness that they permit her to take issues with out paying, realizing her family members pays them later, and Ali was additionally conscious of her situation when she got here into his store and allegedly began saying derogatory issues about Muhammad afterwards , which Gill stated he observed a Muslim prayer taped to the wall.
“Ali additionally is aware of about her sickness and we’re shocked why he filed a case towards her,” Gill informed Christian Day by day Worldwide-Morning Star Information.
His mom observed the Arabic Durood Shareef An Islamic prayer on the wall behind the counter when she allegedly began making derogatory remarks about Muhammad, stated Christ was larger than the prophet of Islam and began screaming and yelling, he stated.
“Within the FIR, Ali claimed that when he and another Muslims tried to cease my mom from blaspheming towards their prophet, she began going to her home however saved insulting Muhammad,” Gill stated.
Gill, the eldest of Khatoon's 4 kids, was not at residence when police arrived at their shared residence two hours after the incident and arrested her.
“My spouse and I went to purchase groceries when the police got here to our home and informed my youthful brother's spouse that they had been taking my mom for theft,” he stated. “Till then, nobody in our household knew what actually occurred.”
Gill stated his mom's psychological well being started to deteriorate 4 years in the past.
“We took her to the Punjab Institute of Psychological Well being for therapy a number of instances, however she didn’t enhance a lot,” he stated.
Gill, who works as a cleaner on the Lahore Cantonment Board, stated the household tried to cease Khatoon from harming herself, however they didn’t anticipate she can be arrested for blasphemy.
“We tried our greatest to maintain her in the home, however she refuses to remain confined and turns into violent,” he stated.
Gill stated he hoped police and the courts would take his mom's psychological sickness under consideration and dismiss severe fees.
“My mom didn't know what she was saying or doing,” he stated. “It could be very unfair to maintain her in jail with such a medical situation. We hope the courtroom will drop the fees towards her on compassionate grounds.”
Lawyer Liaquat John, who’s defending Khatoon, stated he would apply to the medical board to establish Khatoon's psychological well being.
“If the board confirms Khatoon's psychological dysfunction, the courtroom can not proceed with the trial,” John Christian informed Day by day Worldwide-Morning Star Information.
Pakistani legislation supplies safety for individuals with psychological sickness or incapacity.
Part 464 of the Legal Code states that individuals of “unsound thoughts” who’re unable to help within the protection can’t be tried.
Equally, Part 84 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) states that “the accused can’t be held criminally liable for an act if, on the time of its fee, the person was by motive of unsound thoughts incapable of realizing the character of the act, or that the act was wrongful or unlawful.”
John additional stated that the FIR didn’t point out the derogatory phrases he allegedly uttered towards the Prophet of Islam, which is a powerful foundation for getting bail except the fees are dropped on medical grounds.
“The complainant didn’t point out the precise phrases which Khatoon stated constituted blasphemy, whereas the Supreme Court docket in its judgments clearly stated that the FIR should include the spoken phrases,” John stated.
Earlier than making use of for bail, the lawyer is ready for the police investigation report and cost sheet. About 40-45 Christian households lived of their neighborhood of Bael Ahata and most of them fled their properties fearing a mob assault.
“Our precedence now could be to make sure the security and secure return of the Christian residents of the locality who concern mob violence,” John stated. “Though the world police have assured us that Muslims is not going to protest, we’ve requested them to deploy personnel within the neighborhood, particularly on Fridays when Muslims collect for his or her weekly mass prayers.”
Gill stated the household has not obtained any threats from space residents.
“Though Muslims didn’t protest towards this incident, nonetheless many Christians moved to safer locations,” he stated.
As within the earlier yr, Pakistan was ranked seventh on the record of essentially the most tough locations for Christianity within the Open Doorways 2024 World Watch Listing.
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