ONLINE-
Politicians and academics in Britain have called for the release of a mentally ill Briton Mohammad Asghar, who was sentenced to death in Pakistan for blasphemy.
In an open letter published on Thursday, the group raised concerns about Mohammed Asghar’s well-being and urged the President of Pakistan to intervene.
Signatories to the open letter, published in the Independent newspaper, include Labour’s shadow Justice Secretary Sadiq Khan, Scottish human rights lawyer Aamer Anwar, academics from the Muslim Institute, the Islamic Society of Britain and a host of charities.
The letter is addressed to Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain.
The 70-year-old retired grocery shop owner, who lived in Edinburgh for 30 years, had moved to Rawalpindi in 2010 after being diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia.
Shortly afterwards the father-of-five was arrested for claiming to be a Prophet.
Asghar was convicted of blasphemy last month and his family immediately launched a campaign for him to be released from custody in order to receive medical help.
Kate Higham, a case worker for Reprieve, the charity that is representing Asghar in Pakistan, said, ‘His family are very distressed at this situation and concerned about his treatment, but they are doing everything they can to make sure he receives what he needs.
The letter read that Asghar needed medical attention for his illness and should therefore be released from Adiala jail.
‘We respectfully urge you to consider using your discretionary powers as President to pardon Mr Asghar and to allow him to be released from jail so that he can receive his treatment and be reunited with his loving family,’ it added.
The blasphemy complaint was brought against Mr Asghar by a tenant with whom he was having a dispute.
His family have appealed to the UK Government to do everything it can to make sure he is safe.
Accusing mentally ill people of blasphemy is a travesty of justice…when will honest people stand up against the mullahs and this stupid barbaric law that makes Pakustan the laughing stock of the civilized world?
You can't hang a mentally il person, even shaiya doesn't allow this. This is a misuse of law. Ask for a fatwa to Mufti Rafi Usmani Sahib as your judges are not trustworthy!
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