Blasphemy law is causing Pakistani society more harm than good. It has promoted intolerance and violence. Today’s incident in Lahore is a proof of that.
Whats your take on it? It has to be either revamped to protect misuse or abolished completely
second question: does anybody have the guts to do it?
Re: Blasphemy Law
This one is a no brainer. Abolish it.
When educated folks in this forum make statements attacking secularism as a cause for problems, when the leadership is either moderate or right of center, when leadership thinks there are two sides to all issues and thereby coddles the religious right, it reflects the attitude of the public at large - that blasphemy law wont be abolished any time soon.
Re: Blasphemy Law
The issue is that the law is there, but no one is willing to put it to use.
If the people want to serve justice like this then its better to scrap the law altogether, or start prosecuting the people carrying out these activities with the same law.
Re: Blasphemy Law
The blasphemy law is not the root of the problem. The problems are much deeper. This perverse ,roting, religious yet Godless society has become in itself a blasphemy to the holy name and character of our holy prophet. I am sure no such incident of blasphemy has occurred. if it had, the 'devout muslims' should have kept their emotions under control and let the authorities do their job. Where is the patience that our prophet (pbuh) and his disciples preached and practiced against odds. Where is the teaching that the reaction should never exceed action. if one idiot had done or said something why 100 houses were burnt.
The 'devout muslims' will not get any punishment for the horrendous things they have done to many fellow pakistanis. In case, judiciary / law apprehend them, the maulanas will come to their rescue. Ahhh What to do?
Re: Blasphemy Law
The issue is that the law is there, but no one is willing to put it to use.
If the people want to serve justice like this then its better to scrap the law altogether, or start prosecuting the people carrying out these activities with the same law.
Ali, if I understand your post, you are saying the blasphemy law by itself is not bad. The fact that no one is using it ( I assume you meant to add the way it should be use) is the problem.
Why according to you, is the blasphemy law good as written? Does it treat all citizens and faith equitably?
Re: Blasphemy Law
The issue is that the law is there, but no one is willing to put it to use.
If the people want to serve justice like this then its better to scrap the law altogether, or start prosecuting the people carrying out these activities with the same law.
The issue might not even be so bad if the law applied to everyone equally. Unfortunately, blasphemy committed against Christians, Hindus and Ahmadis is not punishable under this law. And in the case of the Ahmadis, the govt is actively involved in discriminating against them.
if the govt were secular, it would be neutral in such cases, and render justice impartially. but seeing as how its not, it empowers and emboldens people to commit such crimes as the belief that this nation is made to serve them and their faith (their interpretation) exclusively is reinforced. The reason we have this madness is that the govt indulged in religious politics. Its this lack of secular laws that has created the lack of law and order in my opinion, at least in the realm of interfaith relations.
Re: Blasphemy Law
The idea of blasphemy itself is very stupid. Its a idea of insecure and weak on faith people.
Re: Blasphemy Law
When are you going to ask your beloved country India to remove this law? Ever read IPC?
Pakistan has been at the receiving end of international outrage over its blasphemy laws that can fetch the death sentence. The latest victim was a Christian teenager who was booked under the law, apparently at the behest of an Islamic cleric, on charges of the “desecration of Quran”.
**But if you thought Indians can take the high moral ground in this matter, think again. **For though few are aware of it, this country too has blasphemy laws that can throw an alleged offender into jail.
Section 295A of the Indian Penal Code says, “Whoever, with deliberate and malicious intention of outraging the religious feelings of any class of citizens of India, by words, either spoken or written, or by signs or by visible representations or otherwise, insults or attempts to insult the religion or the religious beliefs of that class, shall be punished with imprisonment… which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.”
When Shaheen Dhada and Renu Srinivasan of Palghar, Maharashtra, were arrested last month for criticising the total shutdown of Mumbai for Bal Thackeray’s death on Facebook (**Srinivasan merely clicked “like”)**, Section 295A was one of the charges they were slapped with. Although it was dropped soon after — the equally egregious Section 66A of the **Information Technology Act was what they were finally booked under **— the entire episode shows the thoughtlessness with which the “blasphemy” law may be applied against individuals.
Earlier this year, rationalist Sanal Edamaruku **fled the country and sought exile in Finland because he faces arrest in India under Section 295A.** His crime? He proved that a statue of Jesus Christ at a Mumbai church that was found to be “weeping” was no miracle. The water trickling down it was actually due to faulty plumbing, he showed.
Several Catholic organisations in Mumbai retaliated by lodging an FIR against Edamaruku. **He was charged under Section 295A of the IPC and would have faced arrest had he not fled the country. **
Re: Blasphemy Law
I am against religion based laws whether they are in India or Pakistan or anywhere else. Got that? Wrong is wrong.
Unlike you I have absolutely no problems criticizing unjust laws whether they are in my country of origin or across the border.
Re: Blasphemy Law
Did you notice houses being burned and people killed/displaced because of that law in India?
Secondly, this I heard straight from a policeman’s mouth - these arrests are made because:
Also, if you read the IPC that you quoted above, it says “religious feelings of any class of citizens of India, by words, either spoken or written, or by signs or by visible representations or otherwise, insults or attempts to insult the religion or the religious beliefs of that class, shall be punished with imprisonment”. This should prove that the govt does not (rather should not) side with any particular religion or class of people.
From a personal point of view, I do believe that this act is stupid. But to be honest, I haven’t seen this law being misused in India. Is it misused in Pakistan, that is for you to decide. As per me, this blasphemy law is leading to a jungle law in your country. And that is very sad.
Re: Blasphemy Law
I think policing religion is futile. You should make laws against hate speech and incitement, and let a judge decide whether an action/comment is blasphemous or simply academic debate. If the law exists, it should apply equally to all offenders.
I also agree with others that the problem goes deeper than that.
Re: Blasphemy Law
is it really about the blasphemy law? or is it about having national heros like "ghazi" ilm deen, who killed a blaspheming publisher, was lauded by the public, and was defended by none other than Jinnah in court and the personal request of Iqbal himself? Is this sort of ideology that new, or has it been part and parcel of it all with the founding fathers?
Re: Blasphemy Law
*Did you notice houses being burned and people killed/displaced because of that law in India? * Secondly, this I heard straight from a policeman's mouth - these arrests are made because: 1) People should believe that the govt will not tolerate this kind of nonsense, so people get a feel that the govt is interested in preventing their faith/emotions from being hurt. 2) Being in police custody for the offenders is safe as the mobs do not have access - this acts as a protection mechanism also.
Also, if you read the IPC that you quoted above, it says "religious feelings of any class of citizens of India, by words, either spoken or written, or by signs or by visible representations or otherwise, insults or attempts to insult the religion or the religious beliefs of that class, shall be punished with imprisonment". This should prove that the govt does not (rather should not) side with any particular religion or class of people.
From a personal point of view, I do believe that this act is stupid. But to be honest, I haven't seen this law being misused in India. Is it misused in Pakistan, that is for you to decide. As per me, this blasphemy law is leading to a jungle law in your country. And that is very sad.
Do not spread confusion here.
The law does not promote any houses to burn and kill people by mob.
People take the law in to their hands and that is wrong.
Other confusion you tried to promote is as if Pakistan does not have the similar law as IPC has,... which covers ALL and ANY CLASS of citizens without ANY discrimination.
Read Pakistani law 295, 295A and 298.
Re: Blasphemy Law
is it really about the blasphemy law? or is it about having national heros like "ghazi" ilm deen, who killed a blaspheming publisher, was lauded by the public, and was defended by none other than Jinnah in court and the personal request of Iqbal himself? Is this sort of ideology that new, or has it been part and parcel of it all with the founding fathers?
You have no idea of what you are talking about.
Jinnah was not really a trial lawyer for that case. He was appointed as an appalent for a 19 year old man who was convicted of murder of death penalty and he wanted the man to have life imprisonment instead.
Jinnah was not to defend or refute Blasphemy law.
Before Ilm Deen, the law was not encompassing all groups (but then IPC was changed to include 295A to cover similar blasphemous acts), since the Session court judge Daleep Singh judge had used IPC 153 (only provision available for this type of case) and acquitted the blasphemer publisher.
Re: Blasphemy Law
Did you notice houses being burned and people killed/displaced because of that law in India?
Secondly, this I heard straight from a policeman's mouth - these arrests are made because: 1) People should believe that the govt will not tolerate this kind of nonsense, so people get a feel that the govt is interested in preventing their faith/emotions from being hurt. 2) Being in police custody for the offenders is safe as the mobs do not have access - this acts as a protection mechanism also.
Also, if you read the IPC that you quoted above, it says "religious feelings of any class of citizens of India, by words, either spoken or written, or by signs or by visible representations or otherwise, insults or attempts to insult the religion or the religious beliefs of that class, shall be punished with imprisonment". This should prove that the govt does not (rather should not) side with any particular religion or class of people.
From a personal point of view, I do believe that this act is stupid. But to be honest, I haven't seen this law being misused in India. Is it misused in Pakistan, that is for you to decide. As per me, this blasphemy law is leading to a jungle law in your country. And that is very sad.
these two statements are contradictory.......
Re: Blasphemy Law
A stupid law and should be scrapped.
Re: Blasphemy Law
Blasphemy law is causing Pakistani society more harm than good. It has promoted intolerance and violence. Today's incident in Lahore is a proof of that.
Whats your take on it? It has to be either revamped to protect misuse or abolished completely
second question: does anybody have the guts to do it?
When courts fail to serve justice, does it matter what laws do/do not exist? It's like putting the cart in front of the horse. When were laws ever respected and adhered to in Pakistan like they're meant to that it will make any behavioural difference in the country if you eradicate/revamp one of them.
Re: Blasphemy Law
*Kargis kay hatoon main hay uqaboon ka nashaiman
*This is due to incompatible baydeen rulers of our country who do not know /wish to properly implement shariah related laws. From the time i heard the news i knew that this is a planned step to bring down blashphemy law.
Nothing is left for muslims if some one has insulted our beloved Prophet:saw2: , something breed of samesex/wife exchange club era can never understand.
Moto baghaizekum
PS - i am in favour of severe punishment for those who torched houses of innocents and am against blaming innocent people without sufficient proofs.
Re: Blasphemy Law
The issue might not even be so bad if the law applied to everyone equally. Unfortunately, blasphemy committed against Christians, Hindus and Ahmadis is not punishable under this law. And in the case of the Ahmadis, the govt is actively involved in discriminating against them.
if the govt were secular, it would be neutral in such cases, and render justice impartially. but seeing as how its not, it empowers and emboldens people to commit such crimes as the belief that this nation is made to serve them and their faith (their interpretation) exclusively is reinforced. The reason we have this madness is that the govt indulged in religious politics. Its this lack of secular laws that has created the lack of law and order in my opinion, at least in the realm of interfaith relations.
Yes the people carrying out acts on their own (without relying on the state to make decisions) should also be tried under the same blasphemy laws, similarly these laws should be applied on those muslims who desecrate the graves of non muslims, and destroy their places of worships.
Re: Blasphemy Law
Yes the people carrying out acts on their own (without relying on the state to make decisions) should also be tried under the same blasphemy laws, similarly these laws should be applied on those muslims who desecrate the graves of non muslims, and destroy their places of worships.
Either do that and be fair about it or throw out the law all together. They wont do either.