Pakistan Woman Narrowly Escapes Lynching for Alleged Blasphemy, Others

A woman in Lahore, Pakistan, narrowly escaped a mob lynching after being falsely accused of blasphemy.

The incident, stemming from a misunderstanding over a dress she wore, highlights the volatile and dangerous implications of blasphemy accusations in the country.

The woman, whose identity remains protected, found herself at the center of controversy while dining at a restaurant in Lahore, the bustling capital of Punjab province.
Meanwhile, the dress in question featured Arabic calligraphy that was mistakenly believed to represent verses from the Quran. However, it was later clarified that the script actually spelled out “Halwa,” a term for a sweet dish in Arabic.

As word of the supposed blasphemy spread, a crowd of around 300 individuals quickly amassed outside the restaurant, demanding action against her. The situation escalated rapidly, with videos circulating on social media showing the terrified woman cornered by the mob, as they called for her to be punished.

In a commendable display of courage and professionalism, Assistant Superintendent Syeda Shehrbano and her team intervened, forming a human barrier to protect the woman from the enraged crowd. Shehrbano managed to negotiate with the mob, promising that the woman would be held accountable under the law, thereby defusing a potentially lethal situation.

The intervention led to the woman being escorted safely out of the area, covered in a black robe and headscarf for her protection.
She was then taken to a police station, where religious scholars were invited to examine the contentious dress. Upon review, they confirmed that the garment bore no Quranic verses, thus exonerating the woman of any blasphemous intent.

Following the incident, the woman issued a public apology, emphasizing her devotion to Islam and her lack of intent to commit blasphemy.
This event has since sparked discussions on the ease with which blasphemy accusations can lead to mob violence in Pakistan, a country where such allegations can carry the death penalty.

Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi, a former advisor on religious affairs, pointed out the irony in the situation, suggesting that the apologizing party should have been the men in the crowd, not the wrongly accused woman.

The incident also highlighted the growing concern over the increasing number of similar occurrences, as noted by Assistant Superintendent Shehrbano.