“The notion of blasphemy is especially sensitive in Pakistan, often igniting violence and outcry even before cases have had the chance to be heard in the house of law.”
By Fox News:
A 30-year-old Pakistani man has been sentenced to death by a counterterrorism court, following the conviction on charges he insulted the Prophet Muhammed and his wives on Facebook, officials said Sunday.
Taimoor Raza, who belongs to the minority Shia sect in the Sunni-dominant country, was arrested last year following an online argument about Islam with someone who turned out to be a counterterrorism agent.
Raza’s defense lawyer, Fida Hussain Rana, stated that his client was initially charged only for insulting remarks about other religious personalities, which carries a maximum two-year punishment, but charges of “derogatory acts against Prophet Muhammad” were later added to ensure the ultimate penalty during the trial in Bahawalpur, 300 miles south of Lahore.
It marks the country’s first ever death sentence in a case pertaining to social media, but as Raza’s trial was handled by the counterterrorism court, he is eligible to appeal the ruling in the High Court and then the Supreme Court.
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March Against ‘Sharia Law’ Nationwide
By Safia Samee Ali; NBC:
CHICAGO — ACT for America, which the Southern Poverty Law Center designates as an anti-Muslim hate group, is spearheading several rallies across the country Saturday in what is slated to be the group’s largest protest against Islam.
The “March Against Sharia” will take place in more than 20 cities, including New York, Dallas, and Atlanta.
In New York City, about 100 protesters and more than 200 counter-protesters verbally clashed in downtown Manhattan Saturday morning, as police officers stood between the groups.
The rally began with ACT for America supporters denouncing Sharia — or Islamic law — and claiming that America was moving in the wrong direction.
While they were were speaking, counter-protesters were trying to drown them out using bullhorns and noise makers.
Some anti-Sharia demonstrators yelled, “Commie scum!,” while counter-protesters shouted, “Nazis!,” according to NBC New York.
The nationwide “March Against Sharia” first gained widespread attention when the mayor of Portland, Oregon, moved to stop the local chapter from rallying. Ted Wheeler’s decision came after two men were fatally stabbed as they tried to protect two women — one of whom was wearing a headscarf — from an anti-Muslim tirade.
The organizers of Portland parade eventually changed the venue to Seattle, citing “safety concerns” in Portland.
In Seattle, opposing groups protested outside City Hall on Saturday, according to NBC affiliate KING 5.
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