Fifty-one people accused of blasphemy have been murdered before their trial. Those accused are not even safe in police custody as policemen themselves turn on them by taking justice into their own hands
Source/Credit: Daily Times
By Iffat Almas | November 12, 2015
Fifty-one people accused of blasphemy have been murdered before their trial. Those accused are not even safe in police custody as policemen themselves turn on them by taking justice into their own hands
Blasphemy laws are those laws that have exacerbated the situation of violence in the country. General Ziaul Haq introduced draconian clauses to these laws, which had been formulated by the British Raj in 1860. Before the introduction of additional clauses into these laws from 1980 to 1986, only 14 blasphemy cases were reported. But from 1980 to 2015, the number of such cases comes to around 1,300.
The British meant to protect all places of worship without any discrimination through these laws. The laws enacted by the British made it a crime to disrupt a religious assembly, insult the faith of any communal group or destroy or defile a place or an object of worship. The objective of the British Raj was to promote harmony and religious tolerance among the masses.
From 1980 to 1886, under military dictatorship, a number of clauses were added to these laws. The laws were amended in 1982 when defiling the holy Quran was included by Presidential Ordinance One. The life sentence was imposed upon finding any person involved in defiling the Quran. This addition creates discrimination as only Muslim holy scriptures are protected. Later, in 1986, again an amendment was made to add blasphemy against the holy Prophet (PBUH). The death penalty was made mandatory for the offence of desecrating the name of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
These laws only protect the interests of the Sunni majority. The blasphemy laws are controversial and discriminate as they protect the interests of the party that is already in majority and power. More than 50 percent cases have been registered against religious minorities. And the Muslims who have been booked under these laws also happen to be Shia, Zakri or Ahmedi. A total of 633 Muslims, 494 Ahmedis, 187 Christians and 21 Hindus have been accused under various clauses of the blasphemy law since 1987. These laws are used by people to settle personal scores. They have been used to take over properties and businesses or to forcefully wed women of the Christian or Hindu faith. These laws are also used in forced conversions to Islam.
A mere accusation is enough to make someone the target of radicals. There have been many such cases wherein a person becomes the target of mob violence over just an accusation. Reacting to mere allegations of blasphemy, mobs recently lynched a Christian man and his pregnant wife. Fifty-one people accused of blasphemy have been murdered before their trial. Those accused are not even safe in police custody as policemen themselves turn on them by taking justice into their own hands. They are denied bail to forestall mob violence. It is common for those accused of blasphemy to be put in solitary confinement for their protection from other prisoners and guard. Even the lawyers face intimidation, taking up the cases of such people. The Rashid Rehman Khan case is one such example. Rashid Rehman was killed because he took up the case of a university professor accused of blasphemy. Gunmen even opened fire at the lawyer who took his place defending the accused after Rashid Rehman’s sad demise. The man accused was guilty of just holding left liberal views. It is hard for the accused to find a lawyer now to defend him because of mob justice. Only being accused is enough to condemn someone to death. Even trials are unfair as judges and lawyers work under pressure and death threats.
Nobody is safe from such violence. Even the people opposing these laws are not safe. Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer was murdered brutally by his bodyguard just because he advocated repealing these laws. His bodyguard was hailed as a hero instead of being condemned by the general public. The lawyers’ community played a critical role in turning the bodyguard Mumtaz Qadri into a hero. Similarly, Christian minority minister, Shahabaz Bhatti, was gunned down in Islamabad because of his opposition to these laws
There is a serious need to review these laws as they are propagating hatred and violence in society. They are also an embarrassment on the international front. When there are so many other Muslim countries without blasphemy laws, why does Pakistan need them?
The writer is a freelance columnist
Read original post here: Perspective: Pakistan's blasphemy laws | Iffat Almas
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