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Alleged Assassin of Pakistani Governor Has Supporters

By Howard M. Friedman

As previously reported, in Pakistan on Tuesday Salman Taseer, governor of Punjab province, was assassinated by one of his own security guards who was angered by Taseer's support for a pardon for Aasia Bibi, the Christian woman recently sentenced to death for blasphemy. While police charged the shooting suspect, Malik Mumtaz Hussain Qadri, with murder, terrorism and violence, Qadri also has supporters. AP reported yesterday on Qadri's first appearance in court:

A rowdy crowd slapped Malik Mumtaz Hussain Qadri on the back and kissed his cheek as he was escorted inside the court today. Lawyers not involved in his case tossed rose petals, while hundreds of sympathisers chanted slogans in his favour and one gave him a flower necklace.

According to a report from 660 News Radio,  a group of influential clerics and scholars from the anti-Taliban Barelvi sect praised Taseer's assassination. A statement from their organization, Jamaat Ahle Sunnat, said: "The supporter is as equally guilty as one who committed blasphemy," and warned that a lesson should have been learned from Taseer's "exemplary death."

Full post as published by Religion Clause on January 06, 2011 (boomark / email).