Blasphemy law

In 2010, Asia Bibi, an impoverished farm hand, was sentenced to death after her neighbors accused her of making insulting remarks about the Prophet Muhammad. She is still in prison. Meanwhile her lawyer has appealed to Pakistan's President, Asif Ali Zardari, that she be pardoned. Some months after Asia Bibi's conviction, the governor of Punjab Province, Salman Taseer, was murdered by his bodyguard. The man ostensibly guarding him disagreed with Taseer's vocal opposition to Pakistan's strict blasphemy law. Soon afterwards, in March 2011, Shahbaz Bhatti, Pakistan's minister for minority affairs was assassinated by a religious fanatic for the very same reason.

Neither common people nor influential leaders have been spared from the wrath of extremist religious organizations. In March 2011, Qamar David, a businessman, was murdered in his cell while serving a sentence on two counts of blasphemy. In a similar case, Shaukat Ali, sentenced to jail on blasphemy charges, died during treatment at a hospital. Although officials have denied any possibility of foul play, relatives and lawyers of both victims claim they were targeted by religious extremists.

What constitutes blasphemy?

The now infamous "blasphemy law" is actually Section 295 C of the Pakistan Penal Code, which reads, "Whoever by words, either spoken or written, or by visible representation or by any imputation, innuendo, or insinuation, directly or indirectly, defiles the sacred name of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) shall be punished with death, or imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable to fine."

Nearly 97% of Pakistan's population is Muslim. Asia Bibi is a Christian and after she was sentenced to death, fears that the law might be used against religious minorities have also grown. According to Human Rights Watch, scores of people have been persecuted under Section 295 C and this kind of discrimination against religious communities will continue to escalate unless the blasphemy law is repealed.

Victims everywhere

According to Iqbal Haider, who has served as law minister and in several senior positions during the government of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, the blasphemy law, " is not necessary and, in fact, the manner in which it is being misused has to be prevented." Haider believes that 99% of the cases are based on personal animosity, rivalry, prejudice or jealousies and surprisingly, "most of these cases are registered by Muslims against Muslims, Shias against Sunnis."

Amnesty International also shares this view. Based on its research, the rights organization says that charges against individuals are not only based on their religious minority beliefs but also on "unfounded malicious accusations stemming from personal enmity, often with the motivation to imprison people to gain advantage in business or land disputes."

A bleak future

However, the current political scenario does not seem to be very conducive to any change. As Haider suggests, "It is the lack of the will of the government," a failure in its part to protect the lives and property of its citizens and to "uphold the norms and values and the principles of Islam."

As Haider puts it, those who want the law to protect the honor and respect of the prophet in a country like the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, are in fact committing blasphemy themselves. They are "conveying the message that, in their opinion, the honor, respect and the greatness of the Prophet can only be protected by law," he says.

Author: Manasi Gopalakrishnan
Editor: Grahame Lucas