After Tahir Naseem, a 57-year-old school bus driver from Illinois, U.S., was charged with blasphemy and murdered in Pakistan in July 2020, his 21-year old daughter Mashal Naseem is now running an online campaign to raise awareness about her father’s unjust murder.
What Happened: Naseem, who had moved from Pakistan to the U.S. as a teenager, traveled to Peshawar at the invitation of an Islamic madrassa student named Awais Malik in 2018. He’d invited Naseem for a discussion and then reported that Naseem had claimed to be the last prophet of Islam. Naseem was arrested and charged with blasphemy based on Malik’s statement. He had been awaiting trial for two years when, in July last year, a 15-year-old student named Faisal Khan shot him dead in a Peshawar courtroom.
An American citizen was shot dead in Pakistan. Why?
Tahir Ahmed Naseem had been charged with blasphemy, a crime punishable by death under the Pakistan penal code. And before a judge could decide on his fate, he was assassinated by an Islamist thug. https://t.co/bpXnUQCvnC— Family Research Council (@FRCdc) August 5, 2020
What Now: Naseem’s 21-year old university-going daughter in Illinois, Mashal, is now using social media to raise her voice against the unjust murder of her father and demand the reformation of Pakistan’s blasphemy laws, despite facing threats from Islamic extremists.
Opposition : A lot of Pakistanis stay resolute that Naseem’s murder was warranted.
Yeah he was your father. I understand your sentiments but he was a blasphemist. He said disgraceful words against our last Prophet PBUH even in the court trial room. He is no hero for ordinary Pakistani muslims. So we wont sign the petition.
— Sadia A (@DrSadiaAz) August 7, 2020
It's very ok that you are seeking justice for your father. It's understandable. But, to my surprise, how can a man hurt thousands of Muslims by claiming being prophet and blah blah. We Muslims love our Prophet SAW more than our parents- so, it was your father mistake.
— Engr. Syed Azam Shah (@SYEDAZA70858862) August 7, 2020
How can a muslim fight for a murtad. His murder was right.
— Pukhtoon (@pukhtoon_yasir) August 7, 2020
The Other Side: Some sympathized with her and showed support for her cause.
Thoughts and prayers go out to your family, Mashal! You’re so strong! May God give you and your family even more strength. Your father deserves justice. Looks like he was a beautiful human being. I hope he rests in peace and finds justice
— Sinan K. Waheed (@skwaheed07) August 7, 2020
No human should be killed by the hands of another!
Sickened by the comments under this tweet!
You might disagree with a lot of religions & their followers but you have no right to kill anyone! At all!
This was not the way of our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)! #Tahirahmadnaseem— Natasha Kundi نتاشا کُندی (@NatashaKLondon) August 7, 2020