The National Commission for
Justice and Peace (NCJP) of the
Catholic Bishops' Conference of
Pakistan has reiterated its demand
for repeal of blasphemy laws. This
statement was issued following the
Blasphemy charge of an illiterate
man, Mr. Yousaf Masih, for allegedly
desecrating the Quran in June 2005.
After the news of the alleged
desecration, extremists of the
locality reportedly ransacked a Hindu
Temple on the same night (28 June)
and local Christians and Hindus fled
to the police station to seek
protection. This temple was
reportedly the same one damaged
following the destruction of the
Babri Mosque in Ayodhya, India in
1992.
In the statement, the NCJP condemned
the destruction of the place of
worship over the allegation of Quran
desecration, and demanded effective
measures to check violence in the
name of religion.
In another statement in September,
the NCJP has held the government
responsible of their passivity in
repealing the blasphemy law and
allowing violence to take place on
minorities. Recent incidents where
minority communities were subjected
to harassment, threats and looting of
their properties were emphasized. The
NCJP calls for an urgent repeal of
the Blasphemy Laws, and the need for
an awareness drive to inculcate
culture of religious tolerance among
the masses. They also demanded a
close monitoring of blasphemy cases
and speedy action to ensure social
harmony.
In the NCJP's first half year report
of 2005 on situation of minorities in
the country, an alarming 60
prosecutions were reported, with
victims including women and children.
The recent procedural amendments
announced in August 2004 were also
proved to have no effect as
registration of false cases under
blasphemy provisions continued.
Hotline Asia has been issuing Urgent
Appeals that call for the repeal of
Blasphemy Laws since 1998. Individual
cases of victims sentenced to death
under the Blasphemy Laws have since
been acquitted after years of
opposition and calls for
investigation, while many cases
involving both Christian minorities
and Muslims, are still believed to be
pending in the courts. Efforts were
also made to amend the Blasphemy Laws
in the Parliament but recent
proposals were considered
insufficient by NGOs who are calling
for the repeal of the Laws.
More information about the injustice
of the Blasphemy Laws can be found in
UA980505(3),
UA000525(8),
UA001103(16),
UA010905(9),
SUA010113(1)
and SUA010802(3)
issued by Hotline Asia.
Sources:
National Commission for Justice and
Peace