USA: USCIRF Chair highlights cases of Pakistani Ahmadi Abdul Shakoor and Christian Asia Bibi

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Ahmadis in Pakistan are subject to severe legal restrictions, both in the constitution and criminal code, and suffer from officially-sanctioned discrimination.

Picture: Twitter:@USCIRF

Times of Ahmad | News Watch | US Desk
Source/Credit: TOA / USCIRF
By Staff Report | July 15, 2016

Rev. Thomas J. Reese, S.J., Chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom testified yesterday, July 14, 2016, before the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission on "Blasphemy Laws and Censorship by States and Non-State Actors: Examining Global Threats to Freedom of Expression."

After customary greeting, in his written testimony, Rev. Reese said:

Today’s hearing could not be timelier. Blasphemy laws lie at the intersection of two crucially important freedoms–the freedoms of religion and expression, bothof which are being challenged today. In addition, blasphemy laws often lead to instability and violence in countries around the world, with negative consequences for individuals, communities, and nations.

Recounting the victims of Pakistan's blasphemy laws, Rev. Reese said USCIRF is aware of nearly 40 individuals currently sentenced to death or serving life or long prison sentences for blasphemy in Pakistan.

Rev. Reese highlighted the cases of Asia Bibi, a Catholic mother of five, who was sentenced to death in November 2010 for blasphemy, the first such sentence for blasphemy handed down against a woman. In July 2015, Pakistan’s Supreme Court suspended her death sentence pending a resolution of her appeal. Bibi remains imprisoned and in October 2015 was put into isolation "due to concerns for her safety".

Rev. Reese also spoke about Abdul Shakoor, an Ahmadī Muslim, who was sentenced on January 2, 2016, to five years in prison on blasphemy charges and three years on terrorism charges for propagating the Ahmadiyya Muslim faith, which is banned in Pakistan, by selling copies of the Qur’an and Ahmadiyya publications. His Shi’a Muslim store manager, Mazhar Sipra, was sentenced to 5 years on terrorism charges.

Ahmadis in Pakistan are subject to severe legal restrictions, both in the constitution and criminal code, and suffer from officially-sanctioned discrimination. Ahmadis also continue to be murdered in religiously-motivated attacks that take place with impunity. Pakistan’s constitution declares Ahmadis to be “non-Muslims,” and the penal code makes it criminal for Ahmadis to refer to themselves as Muslims; preach, propagate, or disseminate materials on their faith; or refer to their houses of worship as mosques.

USCIRF is an independent, bipartisan U.S. federal government commission created by the 1998 International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA). The Commission uses international standards to monitor the universal right to freedom of religion or belief abroad and  makes policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress.


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The above report is adopted from the written testimony of Rev. Thomas J. Reese, S.J., Chair, USCIRF

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