Pakistani pop singer appeals for asylum

• Broadcast Date:

  Tuesday, October 13, 2009 on stv

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  375 Views to Date

• Pakistani pop singer appeals for asylum

  A Pakistani pop singer who fled to Glasgow after being targeted by religious extremists is appealing to court officials not to send him back to his death.
  
  His case was highlighted as a leading bishop visited Motherwell to raise awareness of ethnic minorities being persecuted for their faith.
  
  Singer and asylum seeker Bobby Frank got on the wrong side of extremists after a fake tattoo of a cross appeared on his arm in a pop video.
  
  He said: "They said to my wife and me that they were going to cut my throat and my children’s throat and they are going to shoot it on video.
  
  "I used to go to church but I was not that regular. I am now. I have improved myself as a Christian and I think I am more near to god now."
  
  On Tuesday, Pakistan's blasphemy laws were among the issues raised at a meeting in Motherwell. Charity workers heard of the efforts made by Bishop Joseph Coutts from Faisalabad to improve inter-faith relations.
  
  Bishop Coutts said: "We are experiencing the kind of intolerance that we have never experienced before. We always had the fanatic fringe but they were never so strong. Right now they are strong enough to challenge the government."
  
  The Bishop says he has held constructive talks with religious leaders and in the next few days, he'll meet with foreign office officials in London.
  
  Bobby, meanwhile, will have to wait to hear if he is granted asylum in this country.

• Video Tags

  religion, pakistan, christians, bobby frank

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