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CLAAS petitions UN Human Rights Commission on blasphemy law
CLAAS UK has delivered a petition to the United Nations Human Rights Commission seeking the repeal of Pakistan’s blasphemy laws. The petition was signed by 9,356 people and handed to Rory Mungoven at the UNHRC offices in Geneva on October 14.
The petition warns that blasphemy charges are often brought against Christians on false
grounds “to settle private scores” and that victims are often denied the right to a fair trial.
The petition states that those charged with blasphemy – a crime punishable by death - are immediately put in jail where they can remain for months without trial.
“We believe that these laws generate hatred within the Pakistani community as they oppose Muslim to other religious minorities,” it says. “By discriminating on the ground of religion, they create religious hatred and lead to oppression. Too often the hatred turns into attacks.”
The petition tells of the most recent serious outbreak of violence, which occurred in Gojra in August. At least seven Christians were either shot dead or burned alive by a Muslim mob after a local cleric alleged that Christians had committed blasphemy.
“There is a clear correlation between the blasphemy laws and the hatred in the country. Hence our wish to see these laws repealed,” says the petition.
It makes a number of recommendations to the UNHRC. These include repealing the blasphemy laws, abolishing the death penalty for blasphemy, and passing legislation to make false accusations of blasphemy a crime.
It also recommends fair compensation for innocent people forced to spend months in prison because of false blasphemy charges, and urges the international community to support Pakistan in efforts to eradicate the violence and discrimination fostered by the blasphemy laws.
The CLAAS UK delegation included Director Nasir Saeed, Advocacy Officer Sarah Chariau, and Chairperson the Rev Alwin Samuel.
Mr Saeed said: “Pakistan’s blasphemy laws are being used to murder and attack innocent Christians for no other reason than their faith. The UNHRC and the international community must take these violations of human rights seriously and act to help Pakistan build a lasting peace among its religious communities.”
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