Trying to prevent abuse of laws that are themselves an abuse. The U.S. State Department provides this summary of Pakistan's blasphemy laws, Section 295 of the Pakistan Penal Code:
Section 295(a), the blasphemy provision of the Penal Code, originally stipulated a maximum 2-year sentence for insulting the religion of any class of citizens. This sentence was increased to 10 years in 1991. In 1982 Section 295(b) was added, which stipulated a sentence of life imprisonment for "whoever willfully defiles, damages, or desecrates a copy of the holy Koran." In 1986 another amendment, 295(c), established the death penalty or life imprisonment for directly or indirectly defiling "the sacred name of the Holy Prophet Mohammad." In 1991 a court struck down the option of life imprisonment. These laws, especially Section 295(c), have been used by rivals and authorities to threaten, punish, or intimidate Ahmadis, Christians, and even orthodox Muslims. Since 1996 magistrates are now required to investigate allegations of blasphemy to see whether they are credible before filing formal charges.
Sharia Alert. "Blasphemy laws: Steps being considered to prevent abuse," by Sajjad Malik for the Daily Times:
ISLAMABAD: The government is considering a number of measures to stop the abuse of blasphemy laws to victimise minority communities, Pakistan told the European Union during a Joint Commission meeting on May 23 and 24.
"The government is formulating measures to forestall abuse of the blasphemy laws in Pakistan ... Efforts are being made to address the causes of religious prejudice through education, economic development and adherence to the rule of law," documents seen by Daily Times quoted Pakistani officials as telling EU delegates.
The Pakistani officials defended the blasphemy laws, saying they had been part of South Asia's legal system for over a hundred years. They accepted that the laws were being abused, but noted that the majority of cases registered under the laws were against Muslims.
They rejected EU concerns that there was organised intolerance towards minorities in Pakistan. "Many cases involving members of the minority communities are on account of personal enmity emanating from disputes over property, and other family related problems, and due to social and economic factors like illiteracy and poverty," the EU side was informed.
Pakistan officials also warned that too much external pressure on human rights issues could impinge on the government's ability to move forward with new initiatives since such public pressure could generate the impression that the government was acting under western pressure.
During the meeting, Pakistan complained of a rising tide of racism and "Islamophobia" in Europe and demanded the EU take steps to contain them. The EU was also urged to take steps to address a growing perception among Muslims that human rights were western political instruments meant solely to target Muslim societies.
Dang, there goes my idea for an Origami Koran Day in Islamabad!
Islamo-Killjoys!
'EU was also urged to take steps to address a growing perception among Muslims that human rights were western political instruments meant solely to target Muslim societies."
Well now, perhaps we in the west no longer have to put up with Muhammadians' Rights Preasure Groups like CAIR dropping lawsuits on every John/Jane Doe they can find or screaming about "Islamaphobia" when critics analyze their behavior (just like any other religion must face).
Muslim society doesn't accept human rights only allah rights. So they shouldn't be crying... Oh wait.. they're crying because we're not good Dhimmis and rolling over (or chopping or own heads off for them). What a bunch of Najis Kafir we are for expecting them to drop their typical double standard.
off topic, but this is what happens at "Paki Alley" in England
http://www.24dash.com/communities/21015.htm
growing perception among Muslims that human rights were western political instruments meant solely to target Muslim societies.
of course they would think this
what we consider to be human rights to a Middle Eastern Muslim they consider to be a bunch of nonsense that is not in the Koran and they apparently do not consider anyone who is not either Muslim and a member of their tribe to be human they cannot understand as they do not have the mindset that human rights in the West are something we take for granted hell all we have to do is look at the way they treat women and the disabled to see they have no respect for what we believe our fundamental rights as humans! Unfortunately these people are still mired in the seventh century mindset of their cult
"Pakistan officials also warned that too much external pressure on human rights issues could impinge on the government’s ability to move forward with new initiatives since such public pressure could generate the impression that the government was acting under western pressure."
This is a variation of something I frequently see in the Saudi press: "We must find our own solutions in our own time."
This is a fancy way to say, "We are too stupid to learn from someone else's mistakes."
"The EU was also urged to take steps to address a growing perception among Muslims that human rights were western political instruments meant solely to target Muslim societies."
I think the scrutiny of their outrageous laws & punishments is embarrassing them. They know such sharia laws are horrid but their “faith” stops them from admitting it.
Their clerics, of course, want to insist on extreme punishments for criticizing Islam, Muhammad, or committing apostasy because they know that if open & free discussion of Islam and it’s obviously con-man prophet were allowed in Islamic societies, Muslims would leave the oppressive nonsense in tidal waves.
Again, the Muslims must twist everything so that they, and only they, can be victims. The Christians, Hindus and other minorities really are not victimized by the cruel practice of Islamic apostasy laws or by Muslims. No. The Pakistani minority groups are victims of social and economic problems..ultimately caused by policies in the West. Muslims in the West are victimized by Islamophobia. Muslims are even victimized and marginalized by the mere suggestion that they need improvements in their human rights policies! Muslims never play fairly or peacefully with the other children on the block. They all need to return to their own neighborhoods (Islamic countries) and allow non-Muslims to enjoy Muslim-free lives.
"The EU was also urged to take steps to address a growing perception among Muslims that human rights were western political instruments meant solely to target Muslim societies."
This statement would be really funny if those loonies weren't dead serious about it.
The penalty for messing up a Quran is life in prison.
The penalty for insulting the prophet is death, or life in the slammer.
This tends to show , once again, that muslims, at least in Paki, are more concerned about the 'Prophet' than the Quran. Prophet worship. Mohammadans, is the right name for these faux Allah worshipers...
They got the major part right, that human rights are western political instruments. The Islamic world has never experienced anything close to the Age of Enlightenment. Where is the Muslim Voltaire, the Muslim Thomas Paine, the Muslim Thomas Jefferson, the Muslim David Hume? There are none and there never will be for the great ideas that have inspired the course of western civilization for more than two centuries are anathema to Islam and utterly impossible to reconcile with the tribal warrior code of Muhammad.
From the U.S. State Department summary, it is clear that Pakistan has become more strict and more violent against "blasphemers" (Christians, Ahmadis, and not-Muslim-enough-Muslims) over the past few decades. This while we treated them as our "staunch allies" in the GWOT, while we gave them large amounts of foreign and military aid. But I'm sure someone can explain how it's all our (the infidels') fault.
"Section 295(a), the blasphemy provision of the Penal Code, originally stipulated a maximum 2-year sentence for insulting the religion of any class of citizens. This sentence was increased to 10 years in 1991."
..........sure, when was the last time a Muslim was sentenced under this guideline for insulting a Jew, a Catholic, or a Hindu?......
We have seen several attempts to enact "religious hatred" laws in the UK. Interestingly, or predictably if you will, the main proponents are the muslims who insist the law punish anyone who "insults" islam (for "insults" read, "uses facts"). However, in the UK it is muslims who routinely and publicly tout their hatred for all things non-muslim.
Wake up and smell the sharia.
The pakistani muslims are really ignorant. Blasphemy laws are stupid just like the people who impose them on other people.
The Pakistani officials defended the blasphemy laws, saying they had been part of South Asia's legal system for over a hundred years. They accepted that the laws were being abused, but noted that the majority of cases registered under the laws were against Muslims.
And so laws that are unfairly registered against other muslims is okay?
And this is the legal system (sharia) the jihaddists are struggling to introduce in the west?