Mashal Khan’s Tragic Murder
By Sabiha Basit
Virginia, USA
On a calm afternoon at a small university in Pakhtunkhwa, a journalism student sought to go about fulfilling his dreams. He was a pious person and had many goals, which sadly didn’t take effect. Nevertheless, he strived to open minds, spread ideas, and shut the doors of ignorance, only for his doors to be opened to violence and hatred that afternoon.
Twenty-three year-old Mashal Khan suffered a heinous and inhumane death, and for what price? Mashal was beaten with rods and shot to death; however, the extensive torture was not enough for his sadistic killers. After his death, he was dragged and paraded around bythe mob, as they continued to strike his body with weapons. He went through all this gruesome pain in the name of Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessing be upon him).
It is sickening to know that some Muslims around the world heavily involve themselves in acts of persecution, terror, and even murder, all in the name of our beloved Prophet and God. One of the very first verses of the Holy Qur’an says: ‘Al-Fitnatu ashad-du minal qatl’, which means that in the eyes of Allah, ‘persecution, or making people constantly fear for their lives, is much worse than killing (surah Al-Baqarah)’. Even after Mashal repeatedly denied being an Ahmadi, he was still subjected to die. This should be a wakeup call to the Pakistani government. How many more innocent people will continue to die? How many more will suffer in the dark, their pleas and cries for outreach silenced by hate-driven mobs?
Instead of creating an anti-blasphemy hysteria, the Pakistani government should take action and start protecting basic human rights. A nation cannot solve problems by exercising greater control over religion and freedom of expression; what it can do is diminish religious and public intolerance by granting freedom of belief and expression to everyone.
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