(RSF/IFEX) – In a 26 November 1999 letter to Abdul Ghafoor Memon, judge of the Anti-Terrorism Court of Mirpurkhas (southern Sindh province), RSF protested the seventeen-year prison sentences against Zahoor Ansari and Ayub Khoso, chief editor-publisher and columnist, respectively, of the Sindhi-language daily “Alakh”. RSF said it was “deeply concerned by the jailing of Zahoor […]
(RSF/IFEX) – In a 26 November 1999 letter to Abdul Ghafoor Memon, judge of
the Anti-Terrorism Court of Mirpurkhas (southern Sindh province), RSF
protested the seventeen-year prison sentences against Zahoor Ansari and Ayub
Khoso, chief editor-publisher and columnist, respectively, of the
Sindhi-language daily “Alakh”. RSF said it was “deeply concerned by the
jailing of Zahoor Ansari and Ayub Khoso. Their jailing represents a dramatic
step back for press freedom in your country, where journalists are often
victims of harassment and arbitrary arrest. Our organisation has noticed
that the enforcement of Shariah law may be used to silence dissenting
voices. We fear that your court may have passed such a heavy sentence under
pressure from the authorities or a religious group.”
RSF asked Judge Abdul Ghafoor Memon “to personally intervene in order to
ensure that the two journalists are immediately released. We ask Pakistani
judges to respect international standards concerning fair trials.” RSF noted
that, in a document dated 14 July 1992, the United Nations Commission on
Human Rights emphasised that “detention as punishment for the expression of
an opinion is one of the most reprehensible means to enjoin silence, and as
such constitutes a serious violation of human rights”.
The Court sentenced the two men to ten years in jail under sections 295 (A)
and 34 of the Pakistan Penal Code. They were given additional seven year
terms under sections 8 (B) and (D) of the 1997 Anti-Terrorism Act. They were
also fined Rs 17,000 (approx. US$400) each, and in case of non-payment of
the fine, they will have to serve a further two years in prison. According
to RSF’s information, the journalists were sentenced for publishing
derogatory remarks against prophets and “insulting the religious feelings of
Muslims”. The judge observed in his ruling that they had deliberately
published derogatory words in an article published in “Alakh” on 5 September
1998. They also used the word “lust” to talk about the prophets Hazrat Nooh,
Hazrat Dawood and Hazrat Younas.
