26-Year Prison Sentence for Pakistani Actress for 'Blasphemy'

A Pakistani anti-terrorism court has sentenced a female actress named Veena Malik to 26 years in prison for 'blasphemy against Islam'. According to media reports, she danced on a television program alongside a religious song about the marriage of the daughter of the Prophet Muhammad, which has incited outrage among many in Pakistan. The court has also sentenced Malik's husband, Asad Bashir Khan, and Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman, the owner of the 'Geo' television network that aired the program, to 26 years in prison. The list of convicted individuals also includes 'Shaista Wahidi', the host of the program. The English-language newspaper 'India Today' reports that Veena Malik, who has now left Pakistan for Dubai, claims her innocence and stated, 'As a Muslim, I have a strong belief in Islam, and my husband and I hold the utmost respect for the Prophet (peace be upon him), his family, and his dear companions.' According to the newspaper, Malik and her husband have appealed the court's decision, and Amnesty International and human rights groups have expressed their support for them. The 'Independent' newspaper notes that the Geo television program, aired in May, sparked a wave of controversy in Pakistan, whereas similar programs in the past had faced indifference from the public or minimal reactions. Veena Malik is currently promoting her new film '50-50 Life' in Mumbai, India. The newspaper also mentions that some have gone further, suggesting that the Pakistani military may be behind this incident, intending to incite a religious war against this television network. In a recent interview with the English-language 'Gulf News' published in Dubai, Malik reacted to her prison sentence, saying, '26 years! Stop it. 26 years means a lifetime... but I trust the higher courts of Pakistan. When their final ruling is issued, justice will be served for me. Nothing bad will happen.' A part of the judge's ruling from the Gilgit court in the Baltistan region of northern Pakistan states: 'Considering that the antagonistic actions of the defendants have hurt the feelings of Muslims in the country and caused them distress, and also given that such crimes cannot and should not be dealt with leniency, the court's ruling is to deal severely with such tendencies...' However, there is a possibility that Ms. Malik may not go to prison despite the court's ruling, as the ruling was issued by a court in Gilgit, which is under joint governance of Pakistan and Indian-administered Kashmir; therefore, rulings issued in this region may not be enforceable in other parts of Pakistan. Meanwhile, Ms. Malik, who is currently in Dubai, has stated her intention to return to her country: 'I have always been a person who has faced challenges, and I have seen many ups and downs in my life, and this time I am sure that I have done nothing wrong.'