SOF 47 / May 2001 SHAIKH APPEAL...
Those of our readers who generously responded to our appeal to contribute to Dr Younus Shaikh's defence fund may be interested in the following update from the International Humanist and Ethical Union.
Dr Shaikh, founder and president of a Pakistan-based humanist organisation called Enlightenment, was arrested by the Islamabad police last October and charged with blasphemy for questioning clerical statements about the Prophet. Blasphemy carries the death penalty.
Dr Shaikh has appeared in court and has been refused bail. There have been religious demonstrations calling for him to be punished severely. Robin Cook, the UK Foreign Secretary, and other European foreign ministers have contacted the Pakistan Govenment expressing concern.
Amnesty International has taken up his case. However, sections of the press have made an issue out of the fact that Dr Shaikh is supported by "foreign elements". He still awaits trial in Islamabad. Meanwhile, he is understood to have said that Enlightenment is not an anti-religious organisation and that he himself remains a Muslim. For further updates, email campaign@iheu.org Dr Shaikh has been invited to SoF's Leicester conference in August. It remains to be seen whether he can take up the invitation.