Poll: Should Pakistan modify or repeal its blasphemy laws?

[Solomon2]

The laws were put on the books under dictator Zia. Should they remain on the books today?

 

[Kompromat]

Must be kept but they need some changes.

 

[s90]

They should be repealed. State has no business in the religious affairs of the people.

 

[Patriot]

I voted repelled but i think Modifying it is not a bad idea either.It should be modified such that insulting any other religion is not allowed.If any Muslim hurt the feelings of another Chrisitan due to his religion he should be prosecuted.

 

[Realist]

Can you post the laws for us to read?

 

[Solomon2]

Several sections of Pakistan’s Criminal Code comprise its blasphemy laws.[4] § 295 forbids damaging or defiling a place of worship or a sacred object. § 295-A forbids outraging religious feelings. § 295-B forbids defiling the Quran. § 295-C forbids defaming Prophet Mohammed. Except for § 295-C, the provisions of § 295 require that an offence be a consequence of the accused's intent. Defiling the Quran merits imprisonment for life. Defaming Prophet Mohammed merits death with or without a fine. (See below Sharia.) If a charge is laid under § 295-C, the trial must take place in a Court of Session with a Muslim judge presiding.[5]

§ 298 states:

Whoever, with the deliberate intention of wounding the religious feelings of any person, utters any word or makes any sound in the hearing of that person or makes any gesture in the sight of that person or places any object in the sight of that person, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine, or with both.

§ 298-A prohibits the use of any derogatory remark or representation in respect of Muslim holy personages. § 298-B and § 298-C prohibit the Ahmadiyya from behaving as Muslims behave, calling themselves Muslims, proselytizing, or "in any manner whatsoever" outraging the religious feelings of Muslims. Violation of any part of § 298 makes the violator liable to imprisonment for up to three years and liable also to a fine.link

Controversy not just surrounds the laws themselves, but how they are implemented. In 2000 the BBC noted that, far from being considered innocent until proved guilty, "if an individual goes to the police and simply accuses someone of blasphemy, the police have to make an immediate arrest before an investigation." link

Since then, according to the Catholic Church’s National Commission on Justice and Peace, 479 Muslims, 119 Christians, 340 Ahmadis, and 14 Hindus have been indicted and at least 50 Christians have been killed after being accused of blasphemy. link

 

[Paksindhi]

I voted repelled but i think Modifying it is not a bad idea either.It should be modified such that insulting any other religion is not allowed.If any Muslim hurt the feelings of another Chrisitan due to his religion he should be prosecuted.

THAT'S ALL WE MUSLIM'S WANT, MUTUAL RESPECT FOR EACH OTHER'S RELIGION.

FREE SPEECH WITH RESPECT WELCOME

FREE SPEECH WITHOUT RESPECT " GO TO HELL ".

 

[Nahraf]

Pakistan must keep these laws else the extremist groups will hijack them and apply themselves. It is better that the Pakistani courts deal with these cases.

 

[Realist]

Voted to repeal.

I think that these laws are not enforcable effectively, and intrude into the private lives of pakistani citizens. We have enough problems as it is without having to enforce an arrest everytime one accuses another of blasphemy on dubious grounds.

 

[Solomon2]

Pakistan must keep these laws else the extremist groups will hijack them and apply themselves. It is better that the Pakistani courts deal with these cases.

Doubtless Nahraf is thinking of something like the Younus Shaikh case, a doctor accused of blasphemy jailed and thus protected by the authorities from a mob assembled by the Majlis Tahaffuz Khatm-i-Nabuwat. link

(Of course, in most democracies the mob and its leader would be prosecuted for lynching, rather than kow-towed to by the state.)

 

[alibaz]

Devine instructions against blasphemy exist in judism, christianity and Islam. I quote following examples

Jews

In the third book of the Torah, Leviticus 24:16 states that those who speak blasphemy "shall surely be put to death

Christians

The Book of Concord calls blasphemy “the greatest sin that can be outwardly committed”

Muslims

Blasphemy in Islam is irreverent behavior toward holy personages, religious artifacts, customs, and beliefs that Muslims respect. The penalties for such behavior vary by jurisdiction, and can include fines, imprisonment, flogging, amputation or beheading.

So concept of blasphemy exist in three divine religions thus there should not be any question about it being right or wrong. Now how will it be implemented is left to us, the humans. Definitely there are many short comings in ours law to this effect which must be addressed. Decisions can't be left to semi illiterate Mullahs. How the case shall be registered. What protection to life of accused be offered. How will he be tried while ensuring him full opportunity to defend himself.

I feel very strange that champions of human rights do consider for the right of free speech/ expression for a person who commits blasphemy against God, Holy personalities etc but they don't consider for the rights of people whose feelings have been hurt. On the other hand they bar the right of of wearing veil to Muslim women.

This is an unending debate, the point to understand is that there are different social and cultural values/ practices in different part of the world and we need to respect each others values. The people eager to wear veil must respect laws of their countries and if they don't like it don't go to countries where wearing veil is prohibited. At the same time those champions can not be given right to direct us to repeal our laws because they have been prepared as per our values and aspirations.

 

[53fd]

Repeal. It's an evil, manmade, un-Islamic law that is used to settle disputes, & get back at poor people. It has absolutely nothing to do with Islam or civilized behavior.