Younus Shaikh

Dr. Younus Shaikh (Urdu: یونس شیخ) (May 30 1952 in Chishtian, Pakistan) is a Pakistani medical doctor, human rights activist, rationalist and free-thinker. In October 2000, following a lecture, he was charged with blasphemy and ultimately after 11 months in jail sentenced to death. The verdict was later turned over in November 2003, after some further years in jail, following a high degree of international awareness.

Personal background

Dr Shaikh studied and qualified as a medical doctor in Multan. From 1981 to 1988 he did post-graduate studies and worked as a trainee surgeon in Dublin and London. On his return to Pakistan he taught in a medical college in Islamabad.

As a Human Rights activist in Pakistan he attracted the attention of the Islamic fundamentalists. He took part in the Pakistan-India Forum for Peace and Democracy, and was a member of the South Asian Fraternity, South Asian Union and the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan. In 1990 he started a Humanist organisation called “The Enlightenment”, inspired by the ideas of the European Enlightenment and the Renaissance.

Dr Shaikh currently lives in Switzerland. Dr. Shaikh is an Honorary Associate of Rationalist International and an Honorary member of Mukto Mona, a secular organization for Bengali humanists & freethinkers. [ [http://www.mukto-mona.com/news/shaikh_free.htm Mukto-mona.com: Special News - Shaikh free now] ] [ [http://www.iheu.org/node/271 Younus Shaikh Free!] ] [ [http://www.dawn.com/weekly/cowas/20040314.htm In the name of the law] ] [ [http://www.rationalistinternational.net/Shaikh/dr__younus_shaikh.htm Dr Younus Shaikh] ] [ [http://www.wluml.org/english/actionsfulltxt.shtml?cmd%5B156%5D=i-156-3121 Pakistan: Demand the overturning of death sentences in blasphemy cases] ] [ [http://www.exorthodoxforchrist.com/islam_-_apostasy.htm The application of Islamic apostasy law (SHARIA) in the world today] ]

Pakistani blasphemy trial

Trial

During a lecture in October 2000 at the Capital Homeopathic College in Islamabad Dr Younis Shaikh made some remarks which were considered blasphemous by a small number of the listeners. 11 students reported him to a local private group called the Committee for the Protection of the Finality of the Prophet, which has a history of lodging blasphemy charges against religious minorities [http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,539348,00.html Blasphemy doctor faces death] ] . The group immediately reported Dr Younis Shaikh who was arrested. Dr Younis Shaikh maintained that his words had been misunderstood. Dr Younis Shaikh was sentenced to death [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/1498121.stm Pakistani sentenced to death for blasphemy] ] [ [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2001/08/22/wblas22.xml Doctor faces death for blasphemy] ] [ [http://web.archive.org/web/20011215125332/http://www.dawn.com/2001/08/19/top14.htm Sentenced to death for blasphemy] ] [ [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FA0C13FB355A0C738EDDA10894D9404482 Pakistani Sentenced to Death for Blasphemy] ] in August 2001, after 11 months being held in the Central Gaol in Rawalpindi [ [http://www.iheu.org/node/271 Younus Shaikh Free!] ] [ [http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2000/326/ Dr. Shaikh may face Death Sentence for Blasphemy] ] .

An international campaign was started to try to obtain the release of Dr. Shaikh. The campaign, run by the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) and Amnesty International held demonstrations in several cities around the world; Birmingham., Oslo, Paris, New Delhi, Washington.

In July 2002 the case was referred to a referee judge. In October 2003 the judge found that the original judgment was unsound and sent the case back to the lower court for retrial.

The retrial was held in November 2003. Dr Shaikh held his own defence and was finally acquitted on 21 November 2003.

Charges

Dr Younis Shaikh was accused of defying the Prophet Muhammad by stating that the Prophet did not become a Muslim until the age of 40 (i.e., until he supposedly had received the first message from God) and that the Prophet’s parents had been non-Muslims because they died before Islam existed. He was also accused of saying that the Prophet was unlikely to have shaved under his armpits and his pubic hair [ [http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,539348,00.html Blasphemy doctor faces death] ] since the custom was probably unknown to his tribe at the time.

In Pakistan, blasphemy is tried under Article 295/C of the Pakistan Penal Code and if the accused is pronounced guilty, they face a mandatory death sentence. They are also unable to obtain bail and are held in custody awaiting trial.

ee also

* List of former Muslims
* Apostasy in Islam

References

External links

* [http://www.rationalistinternational.net/associates/y_shaikh.htm Short Biography in Rationalist International site]
* [http://www.faithfreedom.org/oped/YounusShaikh50331.htm Islam and women af Younus Shaikh]
** fi icon [http://www.rationalistinternational.net/article/20041120_fi.html Islam and women by Dr Younus Shaikh]
* [http://www.mukto-mona.com/Articles/Younus_Sheikh/index.htm Articles by Dr. Younus Shaikh: My Journey through Hell and Islam and the Woman]
* [http://www.rationalistinternational.net/Shaikh/blasphemy_laws_in_pakistan.htm Blasphemy Laws in Pakistan]
* [http://www.rationalistinternational.net/Shaikh/enlightmentprinciples.htm The Enlightenment]
* [http://atunion.free.fr/actuali2.html IN Pakistan Younus Shaikh is sentenced to death for blasphemy]
* [http://www.islamresources.org/ Short biography]