Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Here’s to you, Aacia Bibi and Govenor Taseer

Ser independiente es cosa de una pequeña minoría, es el privilegio de los Fuertes (It is the business of the very few to be independent; it is a privilege of the strong)


Nietzsche


Here’s to you, Aacia Bibi, Jesus Loves You More Than You Will Know, Woah Woah Woah!



In a hostile environment filled with biases, what chance did poor Aacia Bibi have? ? That’s right, Aacia Bibi. We all feel sorry for Aafia, hell, the “saviour” of the people, the Punjab Government feels sorry for Aafia and goes out of its way to protect her and yet wont touch this one with a ten foot pole. Our conservative politicians and the rightist elements have kept up their practice of disappointing those who champion minority rights. Alternatively, the eloquence of Sherry Rehman’s article on blasphemy laws and her demands in parliament were truly inspirational for the idealistic. There were few others who dared to take a stand against such issues. The Punjab Governor, Salman Taseer had the courage to stand up against "the black law"; something to be applauded considering that most members of parliament were too scared to do anything about it. In a country such as Pakistan where intolerance, xenophobia and extremism is rising, perhaps the politicians are right not to fight for justice because it can end up costing their lives at it did for Governor Taseer.

Right wing fanaticism is on the rise as was proved by The Lahore High Court ex Chief Justice Khawaja Sharif when he deemed Aacia un-releasable because Governors and Presidents apparently cannot pardon blasphemy law victims. A stay order was granted before the president had even had a chance to give her a presidential pardon. A pardon is the right of the official head of state, it goes against the concept of separation of powers for a judge to block it. The Supreme Court Bar Association’s president, member of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and Partner at the law firm come NGO AGHS Asma Jehangir’s criticisms regarding certain judicial norms that were ignored make much sense.

The ex Lahore High Court Chief Justice has ignored justice for the needy. Irony people, or do Mr. Friedrich Nietzsche’s words just start to make sense? The strong right wing Mullahs need only protest on the streets of Islamabad and the government cowers to their demands. With a weak PPP government running the center with thirteen people short in their coalition to maintain a majority, who will have the courage to speak up against a law that discriminates and is easily misused? So why the hypocrisy regarding the save Aaafia but screw Aacia debate? This is where we as a society need to examine ourselves. Why do we not have the will to speak out against a law we know is not just barbaric and easy to manipulate for political purposes and personal biases, but one that is part of a bigger evil, the so called Sharia Law that General Zia gave us that allowed a blind teenage girl to be convicted of sexual promiscuity for being raped. Until we can find someone to rally around, someone with the courage that Governor Taseer displayed, these human rights violations shall continue.

http://www.dawn.com/2010/12/01/asma-jahangir-assails-lhc%E2%80%99s-aasia-order.html

http://www.altmuslimah.com/a/b/a/3448/

http://www.dawn.com/2011/01/05/blasphemy-law-claims-another-life.html