Pakistani Blasphemy Law

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Persecution of Christian in Paksitan

An old blasphemy law, which was written in 1927 during during colonial days, banned insults directed against any religion. In 1986, dictator General Zia-Ul Haw modified the law to protect only Islam. The law require a life imprisonment or a life sentence for anyone who defiled the name of Muhammad or committed other blasphemy. In 1990, a religious court ruled that the penalty for crimes under the law (Section 295-C of the country's Constitution) is execution.  The law states: "Whoever by words, either spoken or written, or by visible representation, or by inputation, innuendo, or insinuation, directly or indirectly defiles the sacred name of the Holy prophet Mohammed...shall be punished with death and shall be liable to a fine." The law is being used in Pakistanto discriminate against religious minorities: largely Christians, and Ahmadis. Under the present law, a Muslim may blaspheme Christianity with impunity. But a Christian doing the same against Islam can theoretically be executed.

Iqbal Haider, then the Law Minister, urged reform of the blasphemy law because several individuals had been falsely accused. There was a suspicion that the motivations of their accusers was to settle old scores or to intimidate others. In response, some extreme Fundamentalist Muslim leaders put a price of $40,000 on Haider's head.

On 1994-JUL-28, Amnesty International urged prime minister, Benazir Bhutto to change the law because it was being used to terrorize religious minorities. The AI press release stated: "Pakistan's blasphemy laws are so vaguely formulated that they encourage, and in fact invite, the persecution of religious minorities or non-conforming members of [the] Muslim majority."

Benazir Bhutto attempted to change the law, but was unsuccessful. She did direct all district magistrates to release any accused persons under this law until their case had first been investigated. A subsequent prime minister, Nawaz Sharif won two thirds of the seats in parliament in 1997-JAN with strong support from Muslim religious fundamentalists. His government has reversed the ruling of the former prime minister. Individuals are now being arrested for blasphemy, and held without bail, while their cases are being investigated. No Christian charged with this crime has every been granted bail.

The government is considering appending to the blasphemy law an amendment that will provide heavy penalties in the event of false accusations.

As of mid-2002, only the testimony of a single Muslim is sufficient to prosecute a non-Muslim on blasphemy charges.

Ayub Masih, a Christian, was convicted of blasphemy and sentenced to death in 1998. He was accused by a neighbor of stating that he supported British writer, Salman Rushdie, author of "The Satanic Verses." Lower appeals courts upheld the conviction. However, before the Pakistan Supreme Court, his lawyer was able to prove that the accuser had used the conviction to force Mashi's family off their land and then acquired control of the property. Masih has been released.

Due to this blasphemy Law in Pakistan Christian are always under the threat of the Muslims and are always facing death in each and every day of their life whether they are working in their office with Muslims, walking on road, in Parks , Parties etc..

They even have no right to react against any one defiling the name of their Lord and savor.

Because of the Blasphemy law Governor of Punjab Salman Taseer was Killed on 4^th Jan 2011 by his own gun man who is police office, only because Salman Taseer requested the Federal government and National Assembly of Pakistan to please revisit the Blasphamey Law and make some amendments so that the innocent people of Pakistan especially the Christians and other minorities of Pakistan may not become the vistums of this law. But the Muslim Fundamentalist killed him. His murdere Mumtaz Qadri is now Nation hero for killing the governor of Pakistan Mr Salman taseer in the name of Islam. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salmaan_Taseer)

In March 2011 the Religious Minister Mr Shahbaz Bhatti for Minorities was killed in Islamabad because if this Law, who was the only person in the National Assembly of Pakistan speaking for the amending this law. (tribune.com.pk/story/126287/shahbaz-bhatti-attacked-in-islamabad/)

This law has so far killed thousands of Christians and other non Muslims, and it is the fact the Muslims are using this law just for the personal revenge or to threat their opponent etc…

This law is the biggest Weapon of the Satan and its followers against the Christians in Pakistan, so please pray for this law to be cancelled in the mighty name of lord Jesus and for the protection Church in Pakistan.

The Christian in Pakistan are being persecuted because of their Faith in Christ and because of this Blasphemy Law in Pakistan. The History of Christians of Pakistan is full of persecution and deprivation. Few famous incidents like Burning of Whole village of Shanti nagar in 1997, Burning of Bamni wala village in June 2009 along with a Cathiloc church there, Burning Christian villages in Gojra on 26 july 2009.

In all these incidents almost more than 100 Christians have been burnt and killed so far but the brutal hands of Extremist Muslims. Please on praying for the protection of the Christians in Pakistan and for this Law to be cancelled in the name of Jesus.

God Bless you.

Pastor Sohail Peter

Pakistan