ANI
26 Nov 2021, 07:48 GMT+10
Islamabad [Pakistan], November 26 (ANI): Pakistani police have arrested four men charged with blasphemy following an argument with a religious cleric, Al Jazeera reported on Thursday.
Media reports say that the arrest was made in the eastern city of Lahore after an argument about whether a funeral announcement for a Christian neighbour could be made from a mosque.
The report said that the four men were charged under sections 295 and 298 of Pakistan's penal code, which carry penalties of up to two years in prison.
The case occurred in the village near Lahore on November 18, Al Jazeera reported citing a local police official Faryad. "The men have been detained and we have presented them before the court," he said.
According to the police report, the men argued with a local cleric after he refused to make a funeral announcement for a Christian man from his mosque.
Nadeem Anthony, human rights activist and lawyer has rebuked the case against four men as being unfounded.
"If there was a Muslim who in good faith wants to have an announcement such as this made in the community, it's not an attack on someone's faith, it's a good cause," said Anthony.
This comes as the increasing cases of blasphemy registered in Pakistan which continues to be a cause of concern for rights activists.
Pakistan has registered around 1600 blasphemy cases, which are mostly against religious minorities like Hindus, Christians, Shia and Ahmadiya Muslims from 1987 till today, according to several reports by rights groups.
A large number of these blasphemy cases in Pakistan are still awaiting justice. (ANI)Get a daily dose of Kenya Star news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Kenya Star.
More InformationNew Delhi [India], July 2 (ANI): Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri visited the Republic of Mauritius on Tuesday where he called on Mauritus...
Accra (Ghana) [India], July 2 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming visit to Ghana will be the first by an Indian Prime Minister...
Bulawayo [Zimbabwe], July 2 (ANI): After a majestic century in the first test against Zimbabwe on Tuesday, South Africa batter Lhuan-dre...
Bulawayo [Zimbabwe], July 1 (ANI): South African all-rounder Corbin Bosch on Tuesday became just the fourth from his country and first...
Bulawayo [Zimbabwe], July 1 (ANI): Following his side's win over Zimbabwe in the first Test, South African skipper Keshav Maharaj hailed...
Bulawayo [Zimbabwe], July 1 (ANI): A sensational century from debutant Lhuan-Dre Pretorious and an all-round performance from Corbin...
VILNIUS, Lithuania – A growing body of research suggests that selectively restricting a single nutrient in our diet could have profound...
SYDNEY, NSW, Australia - , Australian Federal Police (AFP) have shut down a secret drug lab in Sydney's west and seized more than 100kg...
Washington DC [US], July 2 (ANI): United States President Donald Trump on Tuesday (local time) said that Israel has agreed to the necessary...
Washington DC [US] July 2 (ANI): US President Donald Trump on Tuesday (local time) reaffirmed that India-US will soon strike a trade...
U.S. Senate passes Trump's landmark mega-bill The GOP-led Senate on Tuesday passed U.S. President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful...
(250701) -- WASHINGTON, July 1, 2025 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the press at the White House in Washington,...