Blasphemy law in Pakistan

The Pakistan Penal Code prohibits blasphemy (Urdu: قانون توہین رسالت) against any recognized religion, providing penalties ranging from a fine to death. From 1987 to 2014 over 1300 people have been accused of blasphemy, mostly non-Muslim religious minorities. The vast majority of the accusations were lodged for desecration of the Quran.[1]

Over 60 people accused of blasphemy have been murdered before their respective trials were over,[2][3] and prominent figures who opposed blasphemy law of (Pakistan) being black law (Salman Taseer, the former governor of Punjab, and Shahbaz Bhatti, the Federal Minister for Minorities) have been assassinated.[1] Since 1990, 62 people have been murdered as a result of blasphemy allegations.[4]

According to one religious minority source, an accusation of blasphemy commonly subjects the accused, police, lawyers, and judges to harassment, threats, attacks and rioting.[5] Critics complain that Pakistan's blasphemy law "is overwhelmingly being used to persecute religious minorities and settle personal vendettas,"[6] but calls for change in the blasphemy laws have been strongly resisted by Islamic parties - most prominently the Barelvi school of Islam.[4]

Pakistan's laws became particularly severe between 1980 and 1986, when a number of clauses were added to the laws by the military government of General Zia-ul Haq, to "Islamicise" the laws and deny the Muslim character of the Ahmadi minority.[1] Prior to 1986, only 14 cases pertaining to blasphemy were reported.[2]

There has also been at least one case of an attack on a non-Muslim faith registered under the blasphemy laws.[7][8]

The Constitution

By its constitution, the official name of Pakistan is the "Islamic Republic of Pakistan." More than 96% of Pakistan's 167 million citizens (2008) are Muslims.[9] Among countries with a Muslim majority, Pakistan has the strictest anti-blasphemy laws. The first purpose of those laws is to protect Islamic authority. By the constitution (Article 2), Islam is the state religion. By the constitution's Article 31, it is the country's duty to foster the Islamic way of life. By Article 33, it is the country's duty to discourage parochial, racial, tribal, sectarian, and provincial prejudices among the citizens.[10] Under Article 10A of constitution it is also the state's duty to provide for the right of fair trial.[11]

Laws

Several sections of Pakistan's Penal Code comprise its blasphemy laws.[12]

Religious Offences and Punishments

PPC Description Penalty
§ 298 Uttering of any word or making any sound or making any gesture or placing of any object in the sight with the deliberate intention of wounding the religious feelings of any person. 1 years imprisonment, or fine, or both
§ 298A Use of derogatory remarks etc., in respect of holy personages. 1980 3 years imprisonment, or fine, or both
§ 298B
(Ahmadi blasphemy law) Misuse of epithets, descriptions and titles etc., reserved for certain holy personages or places, by Ahmadis. 26 April 1984 3 years imprisonment and fine
§ 298C
(Ahmadi blasphemy law) Aka Ordinance XX: f a Muslim, or preaching or propagating his faith, or "in any manner whatsoever" outraging the religious feelings of Muslims, or posing himself as a Muslim. 26 April 1984 3 years imprisonment and fine
§ 295 Injuring or defiling places of worship, with intent to insult the religion of any class Up to 2 years imprisonment or fine, or both
§ 295A Deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs. 1927[13] Up to 10 years imprisonment, or fine, or both
§ 295B Defiling, etc., of Quran. 1982[14] Imprisonment for life
§ 295C Use of derogatory remarks, spoken, written, directly or indirectly, etc. defiles the name of Muhammad (S.A.W). 1986 Mandatory Death and fine (Feb. 1990[15])

Trial must take place in a Court of Session with a Muslim judge presiding.[16]

Except for § 295-C, the provisions of § 295 require that an offence be a consequence of the accused's intent. (See below Sharia.)

§ 298 states:

Whoever, with the deliberate intention of wounding the religious feelings of any person, utters any word or makes any sound in the hearing of that person or makes any gesture in the sight of that person or places any object in the sight of that person, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine, or with both.

Between 1986 and 2007, Pakistani authorities charged 647 people with blasphemy offences.[17] Fifty percent of these were non-Muslims, who represent only 3% of the national population.[17] No judicial execution for blasphemy has ever occurred in Pakistan,[18][19] but 20 of those charged were murdered.[17][20]

The only law that may be useful in countering misuse of the Blasphemy law is PPC 153 A (a), whoever "by words, either spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible representations or otherwise, promotes or incites, or attempts to promote or incite, on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, caste or community or any other ground whatsoever, disharmony or feelings of enmity, hatred or ill-will between different religious, racial, language or regional groups or castes or communities" shall be fined and punished with imprisonment for a term that may extend to five years.

On 12 January 2011, Prime Minister of Pakistan Yousuf Raza Gilani once again said that there would be no amendments to the blasphemy law.[21]

Sharia

The Federal Shariat Court (FSC) is a religious body which rules on whether any particular law is repugnant to the injunctions of Islam. If a law is repugnant to Islam, "the President in the case of a law with respect to a matter in the Federal Legislative List or the Concurrent Legislative List, or the Governor in the case of a law with respect to a matter not enumerated in either of those Lists, shall take steps to amend the law so as to bring such law or provision into conformity with the Injunctions of Islam" (Constitution, Article 203D). In October 1990, the FSC ruled that § 295-C was repugnant to Islam by permitting life imprisonment as an alternative to a death sentence. The Court said "the penalty for contempt of the Holy Prophet ... is death."[22][23] The FSC ruled that, if the President did not take action to amend the law before 30 April 1991, then § 295-C would stand amended by its ruling.

Promptly after the FSC's ruling in 1990, Bishop Dani L. Tasleem filed an appeal in the Supreme Court of Pakistan, which has the power to overrule the FSC. In April 2009, the Shariat Appellate Bench of the Supreme Court considered the appeal. Deputy Attorney-General Agha Tariq Mehmood, who represented the federal government, said that the Shariat Appellate Bench dismissed the appeal because the appellant did not pursue it. The appellant did not present any argument on the appeal because the appellant, according to reports, was no longer alive. Consequently, it appears to be the law in Pakistan that persons convicted under § 295-C must be sentenced to death with or without a fine.[24]

Vigilantism

Those who are accused of blasphemy may be subject to harassment, threats, and attacks. Police, lawyers, and judges may also be subject to harassment, threats, and attacks when blasphemy is an issue.[25][26] Those accused of blasphemy are subject to immediate incarceration, and most accused are denied bail to forestall mob violence.[23][25] It is common for those accused of blasphemy to be put in solitary confinement for their protection from other inmates and guards. Like those who have served a sentence for blasphemy, those who are acquitted of blasphemy usually go into hiding or leave Pakistan.[19][25][27]

United Nations

Pakistan's opposition to blasphemy has caused Pakistan to be active in the international arena in promoting global limitations on freedom of religion or belief and limitations on freedom of expression. In March 2009, Pakistan presented a resolution to the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva which calls upon the world to formulate laws against the defamation of religion.[25] See blasphemy.

Internet censorship

In May 2010, Pakistan blocked access to Facebook because the website hosted a page called Everybody Draw Muhammad Day. Pakistan lifted the block after Facebook prevented access to the page. In June 2010, Pakistan blocked seventeen websites for hosting content that the authorities considered offensive to Muslims. At the same time, Pakistan began to monitor the content of Google, Yahoo, YouTube, Amazon, MSN, Hotmail, and Bing.[28][29]

Public opinion

Anti-Pakistani blasphemy law protest in Bradford, England (2014).

On 19 March 2014, Pakistani English-language newspaper, "The Nation", conducted a poll of its readers that showed 68% of Pakistanis believe the blasphemy law should be repealed. Details of the survey, such as its sampling methodology, are unknown.[30]

On the other hand, the International Crisis Group reports that

... the Islamic parties are most successful in galvanising street power when the goal is narrowly linked to obstructing reforms to discriminatory religious laws that often provoke sectarian violence and conflict and undermine the rule of law and constitutionalism.[31]

Selected cases

Arrests and death sentences issued for blasphemy laws in Pakistan go back to the late 1980s and early 90s. Despite the implementation of these laws, no one has yet been executed by the order of the courts or governments as to date, only imprisoned to await a verdict or killed at the hands of felons who were convinced that the suspects were guilty.[32][33]

Some of the widely reported cases were:

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "What are Pakistan's blasphemy laws?". BBC News. 6 November 2014. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  2. 1 2 "Timeline: Accused under the Blasphemy Law". Dawn.com. 18 August 2013. Retrieved 10 December 2014.
  3. Hashim, Asad (17 May 2014). "Living in fear under Pakistan's blasphemy law". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 21 November 2014. In Pakistan, 17 people are on death row for blasphemy, and dozens more have been extrajudicially murdered.
  4. 1 2 "Bad-mouthing: Pakistan’s blasphemy laws legitimise intolerance". The Economist. 29 November 2014.
  5. Lee, Morgan (20 August 2013). "Muslim Cleric Accused to Framing Christian Girl of Blasphemy is Freed By Pakistan Court Amid Witness Death Threat Rumors". CP World. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  6. Hanif, Mohammed (5 September 2012). "How to commit blasphemy in Pakistan". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 December 2014.
  7. Attack on Hindus prompts blasphemy case in Pakistan| AP| 30 September 2012| dawn.com
  8. Rabia Ali (30 September 2012). "Attackers of Hindu temple charged with blasphemy]". Express Tribune. In an extraordinary turn of events, Section 295-A was used to register a blasphemy case against Muslim men for damaging a Hindu temple during riots on Ishq-e-Rasool Day.
  9. "Committee on Elimination of Racial Discrimination considers report of Pakistan". Press Release. United Nations. 20 February 2009. Retrieved 27 June 2009.
  10. http://www.pakistani.org/pakistan/constitution/part1.html
  11. fundamental rights under constitution of Pakistan
  12. http://www.pakistani.org/pakistan/legislation/1860/actXLVof1860.html
  13. "PAKISTAN BLASPHEMY LAWS ENDING THE ABUSE OF THE BLASPHEMY LAWS". pakistanblasphemylaw.com. Retrieved 13 December 2014.
  14. "PAKISTAN BLASPHEMY LAWS ENDING THE ABUSE OF THE BLASPHEMY LAWS". pakistanblasphemylaw.com. Retrieved 13 December 2014. This law was amended further in 1982 as 295-B, defiling the Holy Qur’an, was added by Presidential Ordinance 1
  15. Talbot, Ian (1998). Pakistan, a Modern History. NY: St.Martin's Press. p. 282. ... following the judicial amendment of the Federal Shariat Court in February 1990, [the Blasphemy Law] carried with it a mandatory death penalty.
  16. "Section 295C Pakistan Penal Code". Report on the Situation of Ahmadi Muslims in Pakistan. Persecution.org. 4 November 1994. Retrieved 28 June 2009.
  17. 1 2 3 "Christians often victims under Pakistan's blasphemy law". The Evangelization Station. FIDES/CWNews. 13 May 2005. Retrieved 22 June 2009.
  18. "Swearing by reforms: Time to put Pakistan's blasphemy laws on trial". HRF/52/02. South Asian Human Rights Documentation Centre. 15 February 2002. Retrieved 28 June 2009.
  19. 1 2 "Pakistan: Use and abuse of blasphemy laws". AI Index: ASA 33/008/1994. Amnesty International. 27 July 1994. Retrieved 19 February 2010.
  20. Siddiqi, Tabinda (19 Sep 2012). "Timeline: Accused under the Blasphemy Law". Dawn. Retrieved 7 November 2012.
  21. Mughal, Aftab Alexander (12 January 2011). laws-4684.html "Prime Minister of Pakistan rejects Pope's call on Islamic blasphemy laws" Check |url= value (help). Continental News. Retrieved 12 January 2011.
  22. 1 2 3 4 5 "Petition To: United Nations Working Group On Arbitrary Detention – in the Matter of Ayub Masih, Citizen of Pakistan v. Government of Pakistan". Freedom Now. 8 October 2001. Retrieved 26 June 2009.
  23. 1 2 3 Ahmed, Akbar S. (19 May 2002). "Pakistan's Blasphemy Law: Words Fail Me". The Washington Post. Retrieved 28 June 2009.
  24. "Pak SC rejects petition-challenging death as the only punishment for blasphemy". PakistanNews.net. 22 April 2009. Retrieved 28 June 2009.
  25. 1 2 3 4 "Annual Report of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom May 2009" (PDF). Pakistan. United States Commission on International Religious Freedom. May 2009. Retrieved 24 June 2009.
  26. United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (8 October 2008). "Asma Jahangir". United Nations. Retrieved 27 June 2009.
  27. "Christian Cleared of Blasphemy Charges Fired from Job, Facing Death Threats". International Christian Concern. 22 February 2008. Retrieved 27 June 2009.
  28. "Pakistan to monitor Google and Yahoo for 'blasphemy'". BBC News. 25 June 2010. Retrieved 21 July 2010.
  29. Ahmer Jamil Khan. "An Assessment of Pakistan’s Human Rights Record". Ahmer Jamil Khan. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
  30. http://www.nation.com.pk/E-Paper/lahore/2014-03-19/page-7
  31. Islamic Parties in Pakistan Crisis Group Asia Report N°216, (PDF). International Crisis Group. 12 December 2011. p. 26. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
  32. http://www.religionnews.com/2013/09/24/pakistans-blasphemy-laws-require-death-sentence-false-accusers/
  33. http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304655304579550030970480094
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  35. "Pakistani Woman arrested for declaring herself a Prophet". Retrieved 4 September 2013.
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  37. 1 2 Katie Hunt and Nasir Habib (22 August 2012). "Girl held in Pakistan, accused of burning Quran pages". CNN. Retrieved 22 August 2012.
  38. Rick Dewsbery (20 August 2012). "'Down's syndrome girl', 11, faces death penalty for desecrating Koran in Pakistan". Daily Mail. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
  39. "Pakistani girl accused of Qur'an burning could face death penalty". The Guardian. 22 August 2012. Retrieved 22 August 2012.
  40. AFP (26 August 2012). "Blasphemy suspect: Vatican prelate says Rimsha can’t read". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
  41. "Pakistan minorities minister 'shot dead in Islamabad'". BBC. 2 March 2011. Retrieved 2 March 2011.
  42. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7L18cmAf6k
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  44. The Associated Press (1 August 2009). "6 Pakistani Christians die in riots with Muslims". Toronto Star. Retrieved 1 August 2009.
  45. "Pakistan: Christians Burned to Death in Islamist Attacks". Compass Direct News. 1 August 2009. Retrieved 1 August 2009.
  46. Maqbool, Aleem (12 August 2009). "Sectarian violence hits Pakistani town". BBC News. Retrieved 12 August 2009.
  47. "Pakistan bans Da Vinci Code film". BBC News / South Asia. 4 June 2006. Retrieved 4 June 2006.
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  51. McCarthy, Rory (20 August 2001). "Blasphemy doctor faces death". The Guardian (UK). Retrieved 19 June 2009.
  52. "Mukto-mona special News: Younus Shaikh Free!". Mukto-mona. 23 January 2004. Retrieved 19 June 2009.
  53. "Blasphemy Prisoner Acquitted After Six Years in Prison". International Christian Concern. 16 August 2002. Retrieved 27 June 2009.
  54. "Blasphemy Prisoner Acquitted After Six Years in Prison". International Christian Concern. 15 August 2002. Retrieved 26 June 2009.
  55. Olsen, Ted (8 August 2002). "Pakistan frees Christian prisoner as country mourns attacks". Christianity Today Magazine. Retrieved 26 June 2009.

Further reading

External links


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