Pakistan minister vows to revise blasphemy law

[Omar1984]

Pakistan minister vows to revise blasphemy law ​

WASHINGTON — Pakistan's minister for minority affairs promised Thursday to work to amend blasphemy laws used to target non-Muslims and said he was ready to die fighting.

Shahbaz Bhatti visited Washington at the invitation of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, which awarded him a first-of-a-kind medallion for championing the rights of minorities in the Islamic state.

"The stand of the Pakistani government is to review, revisit and amend blasphemy laws so it will not remain a tool in the hands of extremists," Bhatti told commissioners from the bipartisan US government agency.

"They are using this law to victimize minorities as well as Muslims of Pakistan. This law is creating disharmony and intolerance in our society."

A longtime Christian community leader, Bhatti was named minister for minorities when civilian President Asif Ali Zardari took over last year, marking the first time the position has carried cabinet rank.

Bhatti said he has received threats for his work. Pakistan's religious affairs minister was wounded earlier this month in an assassination attempt in Islamabad that left his driver dead.

"I personally stand for religious freedom, even if I will pay the price of my life," Bhatti said. "I live for this principle and I want to die for this principle."

Pakistan's law against blaspheming Islam carries the death penalty. While no one has ever been sent to the gallows for the crime, activists say the law is used to exploit others out of personal enmity.

Earlier this week, a 25-year-old Christian jailed on blasphemy allegations died in prison. Authorities said he committed suicide but rights activists suspected he was tortured.

The death came weeks after an angry mob killed seven Christians in an arson attack that destroyed about 40 houses in the town of Gojra in central Punjab province.

 

[Developereo]

Many countries have laws against religious vilification, so if the blasphemy law can be revised to promote religious tolerance for all religions instead encouraging divisiveness and violence, that would be good.

 

[Ghareeb_Da_Baal]

Many countries have laws against religious vilification, so if the blasphemy law can be revised to promote religious tolerance for all religions instead encouraging divisiveness and violence, that would be good.

yeah but you do know that JI etc wont let it happen.
You cannot get bail at all PERIOD, if you get booked
under these laws. Mens rea is not a requirement
in offences committed under these laws.

People have abused these laws to grab land & property against just
about everyone. These laws apply to muslims , not just minorities.

Guess who promulgated these laws??? Hint: this dictator was patronized by uncle Sam for over a decade! received standing ovation in the US congress.....makes you wonder!

 

[Developereo]

yeah but you do know that JI etc wont let it happen.
You cannot get bail at all PERIOD, if you get booked
under these laws. Mens rea is not a requirement
in offences committed under these laws.

People have abused these laws to grab land & property against just
about everyone. These laws apply to muslims , not just minorities.

Like the TTP video in Swat, it will only happen if the media educates people about the abuses and generates enough popular support to allow the government to stand up to JI.

The media has an important role in shaping the country's future. It is a shame more people in the media don't take their responsibiity seriously.

Guess who promulgated these laws??? Hint: this dictator was patronized by uncle Sam for over a decade! received standing ovation in the US congress.....makes you wonder!

The whole Islamization from Zia's era needs to be repealed. Actually it started during ZAB with that stupid Qadyani ruling.

 

[Awesome]

Abolish it, don't revise it. Also while we're at it, remove all laws declaring someone a Muslim/non-Muslim. It is not the business of the state to make such declarations. Thats God's job.

 

[Ghareeb_Da_Baal]

Like the TTP video in Swat, it will only happen if the media educates people about the abuses and generates enough popular support to allow the government to stand up to JI.

The whole Islamization from Zia's era needs to be repealed. Actually it started during ZAB with that stupid Qadyani ruling.

Bhai ji. people know plenty. This is nothing new.
You will need danga fasaad ............. that is the only way. Believe me.
Mush couldnt do & the present govt is lot less stronger than his admin.
The best he could do was to have a senior officer ( sp) investigate & then register the case. But the issue remains, absence of guilty mind is not excused.

 

[Awesome]

Many countries have laws against religious vilification, so if the blasphemy law can be revised to promote religious tolerance for all religions instead encouraging divisiveness and violence, that would be good.

Sooner or later the best defence against religious vilification (like the caricatures from Denmark) is to develop a thicker skin.

If someone says something against Islam or the Prophet, let us defend it with words. If someone is making caricatures, sensible people will ignore them as you'd ignore other lunatics. There is nothing achieved by state punishment for blasphemy.

 

[Ghareeb_Da_Baal]

Abolish it, don't revise it. Also while we're at it, remove all laws declaring someone a Muslim/non-Muslim. It is not the business of the state to make such declarations. Thats God's job.

That brings me to the topic I like ! Eschatology!
I realize this is not a religious forum & elaborate exegesis & such are not really within the scope of the forum but it is interesting to note that based on all 3 ibrahemic religions, the form of government towards the end times is actually theocracy. It would be interesting ............

 

[Developereo]

Bhai ji. people know plenty. This is nothing new.

But the government needs media cover to stand up to powerful interests like the JI. People talking in their homes is not good enough. Media needs to make it a front page issue and keep at it until the laws get repealed.

You will need danga fasaad ............. that is the only way.

Let's try to avoid violent routes to solutions.

 

[Comet]

I think media need to educate people to know their rights and raise their voices against any one who is using law for his own benefit.

A lot of Pakistani laws are being misused. We should raise voice against all misuses instead of all laws themselves.

 

[Durran3]

Abolish it, don't revise it. Also while we're at it, remove all laws declaring someone a Muslim/non-Muslim. It is not the business of the state to make such declarations. Thats God's job.

Bravo Asim.. well said, when i recently got my new Passport it was baffling to see that i had to agree to silly terms like these

DECLARATION IN CASE OF MUSLIM.
I, ___________s/d/w/of___________aged _______adult Muslim, resident of __________ hereby solemnly declare that:

a. I am a Muslim and believe in the absolute and unqualified finality of the Prophethood of Muhammad (peace be upon
him) the last of the prophets.

b. I do not recognize any person who claims to he prophet in any sense of the word or of any description whatsoever after
Muhammad (peace be upon him) or recognize such a claimant as prophet or a religious reformer as a Muslim.

c. I consider Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Quadiani to be an impostor nabi and also consider his followers whether belonging to
the Lahori or Quadiani group, to be NON-MUSLIM.
-----------

Like seriously what the hell is this, how would a non-muslim feel filling up the application form. A second class citizen? not only is it stupid its just illogical

 

[Ghareeb_Da_Baal]

You know the saying" danda pir mushtanda"?
That is what JI has. Plus they are all robots. They will
do what they are told. 1977 is a perfect example.
I dont think media exposure is going to do much.

 

[Developereo]

There is nothing achieved by state punishment for blasphemy.

The state of Victoria (in Australia) has laws against religious vilification, and there has been debate about its merits. There is a fine line between free speech and hate speech, and communities everywhere are trying to find a balance.

That brings me to the topic I like ! Eschatology!
I realize this is not a religious forum & elaborate exegesis & such are not really within the scope of the forum but it is interesting to note that based on all 3 ibrahemic religions, the form of government towards the end times is actually theocracy. It would be interesting ............

I am not sure if its anything new. People have been predicting the end of the world forever. It will be interesting to see many people's faces on December 22, 2012.

Although I do agree that fundamentalist American Christian support for Israel is due to the Rapture prophesy.

 

[Awesome]

Bravo Asim.. well said, when i recently got my new Passport it was baffling to see that i had to agree to silly terms like these

DECLARATION IN CASE OF MUSLIM.
I, ___________s/d/w/of___________aged _______adult Muslim, resident of __________ hereby solemnly declare that:

a. I am a Muslim and believe in the absolute and unqualified finality of the Prophethood of Muhammad (peace be upon
him) the last of the prophets.

b. I do not recognize any person who claims to he prophet in any sense of the word or of any description whatsoever after
Muhammad (peace be upon him) or recognize such a claimant as prophet or a religious reformer as a Muslim.

c. I consider Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Quadiani to be an impostor nabi and also consider his followers whether belonging to
the Lahori or Quadiani group, to be NON-MUSLIM.
-----------

Like seriously what the hell is this, how would a non-muslim feel filling up the application form. A second class citizen? not only is it stupid its just illogical

As a Muslim who actually does believe in that declaration, I find that declaration to the state, highly offensive. I should be accountable for that to Allah, and not Zardari!

Moreover it institutionalizes second class citizenry and intolerance for other faiths. Millions of Pakistanis are declared as lesser Pakistanis...

 

[Ghareeb_Da_Baal]

I am not sure if its anything new. People have been predicting the end of the world forever. It will be interesting to see many people's faces on December 22, 2012.

U r right. 2012 really is the age of aquarius. The correct interpretation of mayan prophecy is " change" not dooms day. It will be interesting though.

As for me I do believe we are living in end times. Orthodox jews say the world is supposed to last 6 centuries. This is the 6th century for them & very near to the end.
Isaac newton wrote a letter in which he siad that doomsday is around 2070. The letter was found 2 years ago & is in the Vatican. A Physicist & a muslim scholar from isloo wrote a book ( 1993) showing planetary movements etc. He suggest around 2050.

Allah knows best ( the exact time)but like I said we are living in very peculiar times.