Tabitha Nazir Gill, a renowned Christian evangelical singer who works as a nurse at Sobhraj Maternity Hospital in Karachi, was accused of blasphemy on the 28th of January by her colleagues. She was beaten and tortured by hospital staff and visitors until police officers arrived and took her into custody.

After investigating the case, the police officers of the Aram Bagh police station released the woman without formalizing any charges. On the afternoon of the 29th of January, a crowd gathered in front of the police office protesting the woman’s release. The police officers then registered the complaint against the woman.

Fr. Nazir John, Chaplain of the Christian Doctors of the Archdiocese of Karachi, speaking to Fides said: “I am very sad to hear of what happened to Tabitha. I know her personally, she is a woman of deep faith, and she loves to sing religious hymns. I have seen videos of her where they beat and torture her to get her to confess her crime and write an apology. I honestly do not believe in the accusations against her: I do not believe that, as a dedicated and responsible person, she hurt the religious feelings of others; moreover, in the nursing profession, she has always worked without any discrimination of creed and caste”.

The case presents itself as yet another exploitation of the blasphemous law since everything seems to have sprung from a quarrel among the nurses in the hospital. Some Muslims recognise this and defend Tabitha.

Source: Fides.org