Pakistan: Christian nurses arrested for blasphemy
Police in Pakistan’s central Punjab province have taken two Christian nurses into custody after they were accused of committing blasphemy.
The nurses, who work at a local hospital in the industrial region, were accused of blasphemy by their colleagues for the removal of a sticker with a sacred inscription from a cupboard.
The hospital administration found the nurses guilty after an investigation and referred the matter to the police. As word about the incident spread, it triggered protests on Friday.
“We have arrested both the nurses,” said Sohail Ahmad, a local police spokesperson.
Blasphemy is a sensitive topic in Pakistan and those accused can become the targets of Muslim vigilante groups. In some cases, they have been gunned down, burned alive or bludgeoned to death.
Last year, a Pakistani-American man who belonged to the Ahmadiyya faith was shot and killed inside a courtroom during his trial under Pakistan’s blasphemy law.
Hardline Islamists staged massive protests against the 2018 acquittal of Asia Bibi, a Christian woman who was given a death sentence in 2010 over allegations of blasphemy.
Ms Bibi’s case attracted global attention and led to the killing in 2011 of the then-Punjab governor Salman Taseer, who sought to reform blasphemy laws.
(dpa/NAN)
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
NationWide
Nigeria must accelerate urban sanitation reforms, stakeholders say
Stakeholders in Nigeria’s water and sanitation sector have called for accelerated reforms, increased investment and stronger collaboration to tackle urban sanitation challenges.
Rights
Police officers arrested in Ebonyi for assaulting civilian
The police command in Ebonyi has identified and detained officers over the assault on a civilian in the Ohaukwu council area.
Health
EFCC worried about cases of hypertension rising among Nigerian youths
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Clinic has expressed concern over the growing number of young Nigerians being diagnosed with hypertension and diabetes.
States
Ibadan artisan arraigned for fraud, theft
A 30-year-old artisan, Tunde Olaore, was arraigned before the Iyaganku Magistrates’ Court in Ibadan on Tuesday on charges of fraud and theft.
States
I will provide technology for Nigerian security forces to defeat terrorists, bandits: Tinubu
Mr Tinubu says his administration will deploy emerging technologies and intelligence-driven operations to combat contemporary security threats and protect Nigerians’ lives.
World
15 people killed in China’s flooding after torrential rainfall
Heavy rainfall and thunderstorms in parts of China have caused severe flooding, raising the death toll to 15 and leaving more than 300 people injured.
