While the myopic ‘liberals’ and ‘seculars’ in India constantly sing praises of the Pakistani society, a very high number of people from that very society bays for the blood of anyone who commits “blasphemy”. Proof of it was the hashtag #HangAyazNizami which continued trending across Pakistan on Sunday.
A protest calling for the killing of blasphemers.
Ayaz Nizami is the pseudonym of an atheist blogger who has been sentenced to death for blasphemy. Nizami was arrested on March 24 and was quickly charged by a counter-terrorism court in Islamabad.
Many called for the execution of the blogger, with at least one of them even claiming that if he not legally hanged he’ll be killed by a mob.
You can take our lives, but can’t take away from our hearts the love of our Holy Prophet Muhammad SAW.#HangAyazNizami
— Muhammad Bilal Khan (@TheBilalKhan1) March 26, 2017
The grudge against Islam is very obvious, filth minded people shouting on us but we will remain keep insisting the govt to #HangAyazNizami
— Hudi Khuwan (@Hkn092) March 26, 2017
If Ayaz is not brought to justice legally, people will restore to ‘self justice’ -‘ Mumtaz Qadri style’ which is dangerous #HangAyazNizami
— MJ (@maahajay) March 25, 2017
Listen; Blasphemy is NOT your ”freedom of speech” !!
— Aashoor Asim (@AashoorPK) March 25, 2017
We have patience for those who have patience of controlling their tongue.
— A Transient (@Ahadurikab) March 25, 2017
One nation!
One demand!#HangAyazNizami— Mohammad Saad (@hafizsaadriaz) March 25, 2017
But some sane people in Pakistan retaliated by condemning the bloodthirsty death call.
They also question why Twitter was not stopping the hashtag from trending.
See this hashtag #HangAyazNizami & learn what ordinary Pakistanis want done to a secular blogger now in serious peril. This is NOT a fringe. https://t.co/vgJHkaI0wC
— Ali A. Rizvi (@aliamjadrizvi) March 26, 2017
Blogger Ayaz Nizami was arrested in Karachi for blasphemy, now #HangAyazNizami is trending in Pakistan. (Part 1) pic.twitter.com/ss8bGN3T6f
— Lalo Dagach (@LaloDagach) March 26, 2017
This is an example of the Followers of the Religion of Peace.. They should not be in Britain at ALL #Bluehand #HangAyazNizami << No DONT!! pic.twitter.com/DCXF8oBgBM
— James Bond (@bluehand007) March 26, 2017
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There are 13 nations around the world that kill #atheists with impunity, and yet you wonder why we’re a little angry.
Don’t #HangAyazNizami
— Michael A. Sherlock (@sherlockmichael) March 27, 2017
A faith that cannot withstand disagreement or mockery shows weakness, not strength. Blasphemy is freedom.
Don’t #HangAyazNizami, free him.— Andrew Seidel (@AndrewLSeidel) March 26, 2017
Pakistan showing its ugly face again with #HangAyazNizami trending on social media. He’s a secularist blogger arrested for blasphemy.
— Julie Lenarz (@MsJulieLenarz) March 26, 2017
Those tweeting #HangAyazNizami for “blasphemy” are insecure, petty, weak little cowards. @Jack & @Twitter should take note.
— Maajid (@MaajidNawaz) March 26, 2017
@twitter trend #HangAyazNizami is call to violence not freedom of expression. Ayaz Nizami is under arrest in #Pakistan. You should stop it
— Mohammad Taqi (@mazdaki) March 25, 2017
Cannot be stressed enough: this is not a minority view. I know people in my own family in Pakistan that would gladly tweet #HangAyazNizami.. https://t.co/MEw6xdKw56
— Muna Adil (@munazainab) March 26, 2017
With #HangAyazNizami, It’s Clear the Anti-Atheist Sentiment in South Asia is Getting Worse https://t.co/mAcNGbuljA pic.twitter.com/uv9gAspChn
— Hemant Mehta (@hemantmehta) March 26, 2017
Being charged for blasphemy means death in Pakistan.
The charge alone is enough to attract mob violence. Minorities in Pakistan have been butchered and their homes and shops burnt by huge mobs on charges of blasphemy, often false. The latest was just a few days ago when a fanatic mob killed a seven-year-old, a baby, and an old woman from the Ahmadiyya community for alleged blasphemy.
A mob violently protests on the streets of Pakistan.DailyPakistan
The mullahs in Pakistan use blasphemy as a tool to target anyone opposed to their control on the society.
The radicals who dominate the society in Pakistan and exert immense influence over the elected government have been demanding death penalty for all the bloggers who write or speak against Islamic fundamentalism, the powerful military and the intelligence agencies.
Five bloggers, including secular poet, Salman Haider, had mysteriously disappeared and then reappeared after they wrote against home-grown terrorists, Pakistani military and ISI. Rational thinkers in Pakistan had pointed at the State’s hand in their disappearance. Radicals in the country are now demanding that they be punished.
Students of Islamic seminaries in Pakistan raise slogans in support of blasphemy laws on March 8, 2017. AP Photo/Anjum Naveed
Reports say that Nizami is also the vice president of an organization called Atheist & Agnostic Alliance of Pakistan (AAAP).
So serious is Pakistan about blasphemy that it officially urged Facebook and Twitter to reveal details of the users who post alleged blasphemous content so that they could be brought to justice – in other words, death.
The Islamabad High Court had ordered the government to be ready to ban Facebook in the country if the latter does not remove “blasphemous” content.
Protesters demanding the release of Asia Bibi, a Pakistani Christian woman sentenced to death for blasphemy, at a rally in Karachi in 2010. Akhtar Soomro/Reuters
On Monday, the Pakistani government told the court that the social networking giant has already removed 85 percent of such content upon Pakistan’s request.
Since many of those posting such content are Pakistani citizens living abroad, Islamabad wants the countries where they live to deport them for punishment.
