RELIGION AND COMMON SENSE: IS GOD IN TROUBLE?

The U.N. can recognize that anti-blasphemy laws have nothing to do with civilized government and thus protect the rights and freedom of speech of the citizens of the world.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | Around the Net
Source & Credit: Richmin-Times Dispatch | January 21, 2010
By Qasim Rashid | Richmond, VA

As if there weren't enough endangered species already, some seek to add God to the list. In 1999, Pakistan and the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) introduced an anti-blas phemy measure to the U.N. that "stresses the need to effectively combat defamation of all religions and incitement to religious hatred, against Islam and Muslims in particular." Consecutive U.N. sessions in 2007 and 2008 approved Resolution 62/145, appropriately dubbed the "anti-blasphemy law." While on the surface this resolution seems noble, historically such initiatives have proven to persecute, not protect, religious groups.

Proponents of the Pakistan-OIC-introduced measure cite the Global Anti-Semitism Review Act of 2004. In a seeming bid for international sibling parity proponents argue, "They get one so why can't we?" Satire aside, six years have passed since the implementation of the Anti-Semitism Act and little empirical evidence exists to demonstrate any actual positive impact. On the contrary, the Pew Global Attitudes Project, 2008, reported a significant increase of unfavorable opinions in Europe toward Jews, from 18.2 percent in 2005 to 27.2 percent in 2008.

Another Pew study conducted in 2009 indicates that roughly 70 percent of the world lives under religious suppression by societal and/or governmental restrictions. It is no coincidence, therefore, that the three countries leading the world in religious suppression are also three leading advocates of Resolution 62/145, namely Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Iran. Public policy dictates that a law pass only after thoroughly understanding its future ramifications. In Pakistan, the world can already see a microcosm of the effect of anti-blasphemy laws.

In 1974, the Pakistani government passed an anti-blasphemy constitutional amendment that banned all religious literature of the minority Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and ruled them non-Muslim. Ten years later, proponents of that amendment added Section 295-C, which declares, "use of derogatory remarks, etc. in respect of the Holy Prophet . . . shall be punished with death, or imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable to fine."

Amnesty International annually reports that Ahmadi Muslims live peacefully in Pakistan and throughout the world. However, due to anti-blasphemy laws, any utterance that offends the sentiments of the majority subjects Ahmadi Muslims to the above-mentioned punishments. Pakistan's minority Christian community hasn't escaped unscathed either. Numerous examples testify to the suppression of their religious rights. Societal persecution against religious minorities, and vigilante justice in general, have sharply increased.

In February 2009, the BBC reported on four Ahmadi Muslim children, age 14-16, who were charged, arrested, and imprisoned under anti-blasphemy law 295-C. Though finally released on bail nearly six months later, they still face blasphemy charges. On March 13, 2009, 15 Ahmadi Muslims were charged, arrested, and imprisoned under blasphemy law 298-C for "posing" as Muslims. Two days later an Ahmadi Muslim husband and wife doctor couple were tortured and murdered in their home after receiving death threats on account of their faith. The attackers were never apprehended. On Aug. 2, 2009, six Christians were burned alive after angry mobs attacked their village. Under the guise of protection of religion, hundreds of adherents to religious minorities in Pakistan have been brutally murdered.

Kevin Hasson, president of the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, a public interest law firm in Washington, sums up the absurdity of Resolution 62/145. He opines, "[T]he whole idea of the defamation of religion is a Trojan horse . . . .When you talk about defamation, you talk about people being defamed and people being libeled, but ideas can't be defamed. Ideas don't have rights, people have rights."

Blasphemy is not a legal crime but at best an offense against religion. Education, not legal intimidation, is the solution. The U.N. can recognize that anti-blasphemy laws have nothing to do with civilized government and thus protect the rights and freedom of speech of the citizens of the world. Pakistan's actions against religious minorities make clear the correct future decision -- a firm rejection of Resolution 62/145.

As for God, rumor has it He can take care of Himself.

Read here: Is God In Trouble?

Qasim Rashid is a contributing member of Majlis Sultanul Qalm, USA (MSQ USA) and regularly writes for Examiner.com and various other publications on topics ranging from Islam to human rights. Leave your thoughts and comments, or email Qasim at 1muslim.examiner@gmail.com