Press releases
On the International Human Rights Day CLAAS condemns the abuse of the Blasphemy Laws in Pakistan and calls for change
On the commemoration of International Human Rights day Nasir Saeed, CLAAS UK Coordinator, expressed his concern about the violation of the human rights of religious minorities in Pakistan.
Furthermore, Saeed urged the Government of Pakistan to make serious efforts to improve the situation. The religious minorities in Pakistan, he said, are often targets of persecution and little is being done to protect them. The worst violation of human rights in Pakistan stems from the abuse of the Blasphemy law. In 2008 the number of cases of individuals from minority groups, especially Christians, falsely accused of blasphemy increased.
During the these last six months that least six blasphemy cases were registered against Christians. These cases include Dr. Robin Sardar for not allowing Mohammad Rafique to open a shoe stall in front of his surgery, Reverend Frank John for using a loud speaker at a religious gathering, Danish Masih for refusing to convert to Islam and Imran Masih and his wife for allegedly tearing an Islamic book.
Nargis Bibi’s life turned upside down when an angry mob attacked the clinic and accused her of blasphemy while a 27 year old, Jagdesh Kumar was murdered by his factory co-workers.
The Blasphemy law ignites religious extremism, feeds intolerance and is open to abuse. The very existence of this law encourages hostility against the religious minorities, especially Christians. Many Christians in Pakistan today feel insecure and anxious in their own towns, villages and homes living in fear of being falsely accused of crimes they did not commit by Muslims who might have scores to settle with them.
The Blasphemy law provokes hatred and hostility towards religious minorities, particularly against Christians, who are blamed by fanatic Muslims as connected to Christians in the West and therefore responsible for the wars and suffering in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere.
The use of this law promotes religious intolerance. Often when one Christian is accused of blaspheming his or her family, friends and even the whole Christian neighbourhood, is attacked. In the recent years, several churches and homes have been attacked and set to fire, even whole villages have been targeted by mobs of angry Muslims.
I urge the present Government of Pakistan, who view themselves as liberal, moderate and enlightened, said Saeed, to bring changes to this infamous law to stop further devastation to the religious minorities in Pakistan.
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