Pakistan legalizes persecution of Christians and others through blasphemy laws

Yet the West is much more concerned about "Islamophobia." "Pakistan 'legalises' persecution through blasphemy laws," from Asia News, October 10 (thanks to C. Cantoni):

Islamabad (AsiaNews) - The introduction of the notorious blasphemy laws in 1986, during the dictatorship of General Zia ul-Haq of Pakistan, has led to an exponential increase in complaints for "desecration of the Koran" or "defamation of the Prophet Muhammad." Between 1927 and 1986, when the "black law" was approved, there were only seven cases of blasphemy. Instead, the victims since 1986 have risen to over 4 thousand and the figure continues to rise: in fact, from 1988 to 2005, the Pakistani authorities indicted 647 people for offenses relating to blasphemy, but in recent years, there have been thousands of cases of Christians, Muslims, Ahmadis, and members of other religions accused by word of mouth, without the slightest scrap of evidence.
The crime of blasphemy provides for life imprisonment or the death penalty. However, the 30 confirmed victims of blasphemy have died as a result of extra-judicial killings perpetrated by fanatics with the endorsement - or complicity - of the authorities and police forces. Complaints and killings are mostly the result of jealousy, personal enmities, economic or political interests that have nothing to do with Muhammad and Islam. This long trail of blood caused by the norms 295 B and C of the Pakistan Penal Code are signs of the "Islamization" of the nation, founded in 1947 on the principles of secularism, equal rights and religious freedom. Today the Christian community - around 2% of the population, concentrated mostly in the Punjab province - is seen as a threat for three fundamental reasons: Christianity is regarded as a "Western" religion, members of religious minority are considered liberal and representatives of a middle class - especially Protestants - educated, associated with the leadership of the colonial past, what is done by or against the Christians is "exaggerated" or overestimated.

The "Black Law" in the last 20 years has resulted in attacks against entire communities, as happened in Shantinagar and Multan (1997), or in the recent past in Gojra (2009), with deaths and dozens of houses torched. Pakistani Christians and civil society mourn three prominent figures, regarded as "martyrs": the Catholic Bishop John Joseph, who committed suicide in 1998 in protest against the death sentence of two Christians, the Punjab Governor Salman Taseer, a Muslim murdered by his bodyguard on January 4 this year, the Minister for Religious Minorities, the Catholic Shahbaz Bhatti, killed by an armed commando on March 2 last year. The last two had requested the cancellation of the law and the liberation of Asia Bibi, a 45 year old Christian mother of five children, sentenced to death under the black law.

Many Christians and non-Pakistanis protest against the violence and human rights violations perpetrated under the law. For Basharat Gill the blasphemy law "protects the killers and promotes street violence," revealing the "weakness of the judiciary." Nadeem Raphael adds that "no religion permits violence and cruelty" against other human beings. "It is not enough that Islam is tolerant - Sadaf Saddique comments - we all need to promote peace, regardless of faith." Bonnie Mendes warns that "it is absolutely right to stop the killings in the name of Islam", but he also emphasizes that "even those who kill are wrong in trying to export their model of democracy."

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11 Comments

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Thomas Pellow | October 10, 2011 9:28 AM | Reply

How should Britain respond to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan:

a.) by reciprocating, with Britain legalizing the persecution of Muslims through changes to UK blasphemy laws?

b.) by ending all foreign aid to Pakistan from British taxpayers immediately?

c.) by ending all Muslim immigration from Pakistan to UK?

d.) by pretending, dhimmi-like, that nothing important is happening?

Aprilyn | October 10, 2011 10:20 AM | Reply

The Christian and the non-muslims community in Pakistan have suffered greatly at the hands of muslims. This law is a "blasphemy" in and of it's self in the fact that it even exists. It will only lead to more false charges against non-muslims, which will end in the injustice of non-muslims in their imprisonment and/or death.

This is an outrage which should be addressed by our governmental leaders. Obama should stand against this outrage. And we the American people should hold him accountable. All monies/aid to Pakistan and any other muslim country who legalizes "blasphemy laws" should end immediately.

I personally don't want to support muslim countries at all. We have concerns of our own which we need to address, ASAP, - we don't have the money to give. Our own economy is in a "911". Muslim countries have shown time and time again they are not our friends. We need to see them for what they are, and treat them as the enemies they are. If our governmental officials don't know or can't see the difference, they need to be replaced ASAP. IMPEACHED, REMOVED - HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE.

Stop support to these muslim countries!! Are you listening Obama, governmental officials? Your support ratings are falling with each breath you take and each decree you make.

Oh, .... get off the "Islamiaphobia" crap, - a phobia is an "irrational fear" - and it's not an irrational fear if they really are trying to kill you. While all muslim are not terrorists, all terrorists are muslim. Is that profileing, NO! Thats reality.

The immigration of non-muslims from muslims countries should be encouraged.

DP111 | October 10, 2011 10:37 AM | Reply

If the death penalty for blasphemy is not implemented by the state, because of international pressure or Pakistan become mindful that the death sentence is causing great harm to Islam, then the poor person is released.

Soon after, the condemned person is killed by enraged mobs (who BTW had been made excitable by the imams who wanted the sentence carried out).

Now everyone is happy.

The authorities are satisfied, and so are the imams.

The international community is satisfied that the condemned was not executed, but just happened to be murdered by Islamic fanatics. And as we all "know", most Muslims are moderate, and only al Qaeda types are the problem.

Buraq | October 10, 2011 11:01 AM | Reply

Of course, what makes the bizarre laws worse is the fact that under Sharia, you are guilty until proved innocent. A fundamental difference that Imam Rauf seems to have overlooked in his assertion that secular western law and Sharia are somehow compatible.

Clowns!

PorkFatRules | October 10, 2011 11:57 AM | Reply

Hey Pakis!

1) islam sucks!

2) muhammad sucks!

3) allah sucks!

I blaspheme, therefore I am.

salah | October 10, 2011 1:31 PM | Reply

And yet.. the number of Christians in Pakistan has jumped from 80 thousand Christians in 1947 to 6 million in 2000.. and counting. This is the last gasp of a dying religion.
http://crossmuslims.blogspot.com/2010/05/dying-islam-lislam-mourant.html

ala sux | October 10, 2011 1:53 PM | Reply

What worries me is the deafening silence by pakistani muslims in canada because when they came to canada in the 70's they cried racism to the point that the Government set-up a special Department to educate non-muslims and all white people. Even the CBC did a special about how Muslims are just like everyone else and play hockey too and love canada and all non-muslims.

All 3 of the alleged and the proven Terrosits cells calught in canada were either pakistani visitors or born in canada of pakistan background and had ties to CAIR,ISNA,MSA,ICNA and the radical pro-hamas Mosques in Mississauga that is friendly with Palestine House that is pro-hamas and supports Hizballah as well.
The Muslims in canada that rush out to protest israel are never there to denouce Iran or saudi Arabis or hamas when they murder gays in public right in gaza by slicing of their face skin or beating then to death.

Please listen closely to what CAIR and Muslim DON'T say about islam and Jihad , because it speaks volumes from their silence and infers a tacit approval of the 9/11 attack and the 18'000+ acts of terrosim since that day.
I actually think Obama wants a civil war and embraces bring back slavery if it means that islam enslaves the people under his crusade for a caliphate to replace the USA Constitution.

BTW
I'm still waiting for the President to replace Bush since his 2-term limit ended in 2008, your current Hoowdy Doody orator puts on a good show in the mean time but you still need a leader and not a wooden puppet that repeats what he's told or reads from a script on a teleprompter.

St. Patrick replied to comment from PorkFatRules | October 10, 2011 9:57 PM | Reply

Phoque Pakist-an-y.THING,Y..pack-its-stanee(no it ain't stayin')..

Coherent no..Sane yes..

St. Patrick replied to comment from St. Patrick | October 10, 2011 10:07 PM | Reply

Thanks PfR..Inspiring..Very..To say the least..

gravenimage | October 12, 2011 3:13 PM | Reply

And remember—this is what they want, first throughout Dar-al-Islam, and then *everywhere*. They want to see any criticism of Islam deemed "blasphemy", and all "blasphemy" rigorously prosecuted.

Mikey Mallonee | October 12, 2011 9:47 PM | Reply

Well the United Nations assisted in this travesty. Writing a blasphemy law for making it a crime to discriminate against Islam. Nothing for Christians or other religions mind you. just Islam, as Pakistan President Zardari requested.

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