Freethought & Rationalism Archive

marylandnaturegirl · 07-08-2002, 11:47 AM

I was told by a humanist group that Dr. Shaikh's appeal may be today.

Please call the white house comment line at 202 456 1111 and show your support for the release of Dr. Shaikh.

He is a freethinker-humanist that was sentenced to Death for allegedly making blasphemous comments.

For details go to:

<a href="http://www.iheu.org/Shaikh/index.htm" target="_blank">http://www.iheu.org/Shaikh/index.htm</a>

I have received permission from Mary Ellen Sikes of Washington Area Secular Humanists to reprint her message to us here:

Quote:

We have received word that Dr. Younis Shaikh, the Pakistani physician who
is on death row in Pakistan on a charge of blasphemy, will know the result
of his appeal this week -- possibly even today.

Dr. Shaikh's "crime," as you may be aware, is that he answered a question
posed to him by one of his anatomy students. The question: prior to the
revelation of Allah to the prophet Mohammed, would Mohammed's parents have
observed Muslim grooming practices? Shaikh's reported answer: Mohammed's
parents could not have been Muslims prior to their son's revelation, and
would not have been aware of such practices. (As one writer put it, Dr.
Shaikh has been sentenced to death for stating the obvious.)

We expect to hear soon whether Dr. Shaikh has been set free or executed.

This morning I made calls to both the White House and the State
Department's Pakistan desk. From the latter, I heard encouraging words.
They are well aware of Dr. Shaikh's plight and are in close communication
with his attorney, who is actually optimistic that a release will be
ordered. They assured me that the United States government is doing
everything possible to convey to Pakistan the gravity of the situation and
our deep concern for Dr. Shaikh's human rights and safety. I feel that the
State Department is well on top of things. They are even prepared to accept
a request for protection once, and if, Dr. Shaikh is released. (It is very
common for released "blasphemers" to be murdered by fundamentalist mobs in
Pakistan while law enforcement turns a blind eye.)

We all want to hope the attorney is correct. However, I would like to urge
everyone to

CALL THE WHITE HOUSE. Now, as soon as you read this message. Don't wait. It
may already be too late.

Their comment line is 202 456 1111. If you pretend you don't have a
touch-tone phone and wait on the line, you will be able to deliver your
message to a human.

Messages are conveyed to the President every evening by staff. He has one
from me. I would love to know that he will also see many other voices of
support for continued United States intervention in the case of Dr. Shaikh.
His awareness of, and interest in, this situation could bring even more
pressure on Pakistan to release Dr. Shaikh.

Please do it!

Washington Area Secular Humanists
<a href="http://www.wash.org" target="_blank">http://www.wash.org</a>

Activism and Outreach Committee
<a href="http://activism.wash.org" target="_blank">http://activism.wash.org</a>

Toto · 07-08-2002, 02:26 PM

For the history:

<a href="http://iidb.org/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=59&t=000030" target="_blank">Prior Thread</a>

I meant to bump it up.

It does put some of our problems into perspective.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

07-08-2002, 02:26 PM	#2
Toto Contributor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Los Angeles area Posts: 40,549	For the history: <a href="http://iidb.org/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=59&t=000030" target="_blank">Prior Thread</a> I meant to bump it up. It does put some of our problems into perspective.

Freethought & Rationalism Archive

The archives are read only.