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