Pakistan: March 22, 2012. (PCP) A Christian woman in the Bahawalnagar District of Punjab has become the latest victim of false blasphemy charges. A factfinding team sent to Chak 170/7R to investigate the allegations against Shamim Bibi has concluded that they are without foundation. Shamim’s husband, Bashir Masih, explained to CLAAS that his sister Naziran Bibi and her children converted to Islam last month. He reports that she received a financial reward for her conversion from Muslims in the town and was promised more if she could convince other local Christian families to convert. After that time, Naziran started to put pressure on Shamim to embrace Islam but an argument broke out between the two women when Shamim flatly refused the invitation. Following the dispute, Naziran went to her Muslim neighbor, Hamad Ahmad, and told him that Shamim had blasphemed against the Prophet Muhammad. The two then went to Syed Azhar Ali Shah, who leads prayers at the village mosque, and reported Shamim’s alleged blasphemy. Without bothering to ascertain the facts, Syed lodged a First Information Report against Shamim at the police station in Khechiwala. The police conducted their own investigation and Shamim was arrested later in the day. She was then detained in Bahawalnagar’s district jail. Local pastor and former district councillor, Dr Kanwal, lodged an application against the blasphemy charges before the District Police Officer in Bahawalnagar and called for another investigation. A fresh investigation was granted, which the CLAAS team was permitted to join. Investigators heard evidence from more than 20 people. They included Syed, who told them that Hamad Ahmed had not seen Shamim blaspheming against the Prophet, but allegedly only heard it through a wall. Investigators decided that Hamad had been pressurised by local Muslim leaders into bringing the charges against Shamim. They advised local Muslims not to put pressure on Hamad, and to refer to the injunctions of Islam, which states that one witness is not enough to bring a blasphemy charge against an individual. The investigation is ongoing. Muslims in the village, who did not want to give their names for security reasons, told CLAAS that the Christians were peace-loving. They also admitted they were concerned about religious leaders in the village promoting hatred. One Muslim told the CLAAS investigating team: “According to my belief, Islam is a religion of peace and I believe that the blasphemy allegations are totally false and according to the injunctions of Islam one witness is not sufficient to accuse a person of blasphemy.” CLAAS is following the case closely and is offering its full support to Shamim’s family.