blasphemy laws in Pakistan

[javedk]

Re: blasphemy laws in Pakistan

If we did not need the law till 1984, we dont need the law now. The law is an insult to all the Muslims of Pakistan from before 1984. Zia brought the law not to make Pakistan a better islamic state, but to portray himself as a real Ameer-ul-momineen. His agenda was selfish and every amendment that he made in the constitution was based on that selfishness.

These are comments about Zia-ul-haq shaheed(r.a.) are in bad taste, sir! These laws are absolutely needed. non-muslims who inhabit the country and come to visit(although I think Pakistan should completely disallow any non-muslim tourism) the country routinely ridicule Rasool-ul-nabi(SAW) and youngsters who go on to the internet get some bad information accuse their own religion. My head hangs in shame when Saudis laugh at Pakistan.

[javedk]

Re: blasphemy laws in Pakistan

Oh dont get me started on Rushdie. He is one of the lousiest author I've ever read, but thanks to the wisdom of us Muslims, the useless publicity we gave him, his book became new york best sellers.

I am sure that in his down time, he must be thanking Khumeni and likes, as because of that fatwa and smilair ones, he became a millionaire and bought himself a hot wife.

Rushdie is some gora who converted to Islam and started talking bad about Islam. He never even visited any muslim country. How can a gora know about Islam? Is wife a muslim? which book became new york times best seller?

[shami2k]

Re: blasphemy laws in Pakistan

^ Do YOU think we need the law. Why? or why not? (given conditions mentioned in OP)

We have beaten this topic to death many times over, but let me say this. BL has nothing to do with Islam, but its there to project mullah power. This law was there long before Pakistan, and it was changed to please mullahs by Zia and make it possible for mullahs to abuse it.

[kakaballi]

Re: blasphemy laws in Pakistan

^ what if somehow the law is amended to eliminate any chances of abuse? Nothing to do with Islam but do we need such a law (if properly implemented) ?

[shami2k]

Re: blasphemy laws in Pakistan

^^^ No, you can never amend this law, and anyone who tries will meet same fate as Salam Taseer. The bill that was introduced by Shari Rehmans in the Parliament was going to make changes similar to what you suggested on the front page, but she was forced to withdraw it after facing death threats from mullahs.

[kakaballi]

Re: blasphemy laws in Pakistan

^^ but you have not problems with the law itself? only its abuse, right?

[shami2k]

Re: blasphemy laws in Pakistan

^^^I don't personally have problem with this law or any law as long as its not used for settling personal scores. As I said, this law has been there since 1860s, and there was good reason behind the law when British passed it. The law still exist in India even today, but you don't hear about people being sentence to death under this law.

[blessed2006]

Re: blasphemy laws in Pakistan

I am not exactly sure what islam says about a blasphemer (so much has been written and argued). if there is a punishment written then it must go on but full and thorough investigations should be conducted to make sure

1) that there are not any allegations just cause of personal fights/problems
2) that the person who said it wasnot forced to say it like making someone soooo much angry on purpose that he ends up insulting your religion or insulting someone's religion that in return s/he insults your religion, or putting someone in such a situation that they are bound to say bad about islam.

also if someone is badmouthing about islam then perhaps a warning should be given first before any sentence is imposed.

[Sa1eem]

Re: blasphemy laws in Pakistan

Would you guys support a law in Pakistan which penalizes blasphemy (disrespecting religious holy figures, orally or through any action) with a guarantee that (improbable but for sake of argument):

1. safeguards will be designed and implemented to prevent misuse
2. cases will go through proper scrutiny before punishment is handed out
3. blatantly false allegation of blasphemy will be prosecuted and punished.

I am against Blasphemy law because of several reasons:
1: It is against Order of Allah in Quran.
2: It is against Islamic principles.
3: It is against human nature.

I can prove (to those who can understand) each and every one of the reasons I mentioned above from Quran, from quoting Islamic principles, and from referring to human nature. I sincerely believe that since such law hinders spread of Islam and is totally against command of Allah, those who support Blasphemy laws would be answerable to Allah on judgment day and could even get severe punishment due to their support.

^ effectively 'free speech'? everyone should be allowed to go around insulting religious figures if they choose to do so?

Yes, effectively free speech as far as religion and religious figures are concerned, as that is not only accordance to Islam but it helps Islam and human being. Only people whose religion is based on flawed and absurd beliefs would be worried with free speech when it comes to religion and religious figures.

Anyhow, even if anyone abuses and insults a religion and religious figures, what is big deal about that?

We can love our religious figures but we do not own them, as they belong to all humanity. People who feel threatened about their own religion and absurd beliefs may start abusing and insulting religion and religious figures of beliefs they feel threatened from, but it is a process towards learning and coming to truth, and such process is created by Allah. Kuffar of Mecca did the same with Islam and Prophet (SAW), and same was felt by all true religion and prophets of Allah whenever they were sent to people calling them towards Allah.

Example: Many Kuffars during the time of Prophet (SAW) who opposed Islam, abused and insulted Islam as well as Prophet (SAW), but in the end, many became Muslim.

Umar (RA) is classic example of the case: When Umar (RA) was one of the Kuffar (before accepting Islam), he used to abuse and insult Prophet (SAW) the most amongst Kuffars, such that at one time he decided to (nauzobillah) Kill Prophet (SAW), but Allah gave him guidance, so he became Muslim. If there was blasphemy law then he would have got killed for his insults and abuses towards Prophet (SAW), before he even converted to Islam.

Actually, many Kuffars (even today) who convert to Islam fall in this category that they start by abusing and insulting Islam and Islamic figures, as that is the way they get involved with Islam. Anyhow, while they abuse and insult, in their heart they start comparing and justifying their abuses and insults, so they start learning, and in the end find that their abuses and insults were based on ignorance, so they convert. Same happened with Umar (RA) when he read Quran in his sister’s house [on his way to fight with Muslims and attack Prophet (SAW)]

Many non-Muslims who convert to Islam, may not even abuse and insult Islam and Islamic religious personalities openly, but when they hear such abuses and insults it attracts them towards Islam, so they feel to learn about Islam, and in process accept Islam. Same could be seen once western media started a campaign of abuses and insults towards Islam, as instead of making people abhor Islam in west, many in west got interested towards Islam and converted to Islam.

So ... this is a way of Allah, a process that Allah has created in humans that once abuses and insults towards a belief and personalities associated to that beliefs (in our case, Islam and Islamic personalities) starts it attracts people towards that beliefs, and if people find that those abuses and insults were absurd, they learn more about that beliefs, and in the end could (not necessarily but could) even convert to that belief. On the other hand, if such abuses and insults were true (as in case of absurd beliefs), people who follow that beliefs or personalities associated to those beliefs learn from those abuses and insult, and leave their false/absurd beliefs. 

And that is why, people following true/logical beliefs (Muslims) hate such laws as it hinders in spreading their beliefs, but 'Iblis' and people with false/absurd beliefs (misguided) love such laws, as it protects their absurd beliefs and personalities.

[yazdi]

Re: blasphemy laws in Pakistan

[mod]If you want to discuss the theological/religious aspects of the topic in this thread please open a thread in the religious forum to discuss the topic. Do not derail the discussion going on here by bringing religious angle to the topic..[/mod]

[TLK]

Re: blasphemy laws in Pakistan

These are comments about Zia-ul-haq shaheed(r.a.) are in bad taste, sir! These laws are absolutely needed. non-muslims who inhabit the country and come to visit(although I think Pakistan should completely disallow any non-muslim tourism) the country routinely ridicule Rasool-ul-nabi(SAW) and youngsters who go on to the internet get some bad information accuse their own religion. My head hangs in shame when Saudis laugh at Pakistan.

No disrespect to Zia ul Hque but all I want to know that how did he determine that the law was needed. Its not that he went through National Assembly to get the approval. It was a presidential order. That was a political move dude, sorry to say - and like all of his political moves, this one also back fired with in 2 decades.

Rushdie is some gora who converted to Islam and started talking bad about Islam. He never even visited any muslim country. How can a gora know about Islam? Is wife a muslim? which book became new york times best seller?

You can learn about Salman Rushdie and his book by doing Google.

[Spock]

Re: blasphemy laws in Pakistan

^ TLk you do realize you're talking to Mr. moin-ul-atiq haha!

[ravage]

Re: blasphemy laws in Pakistan

The whole "properly implemented" bit is complete nonsense. Can someone please specify what exactly was improper about the recent well-publicized cases of the implementation of the blasphemy laws? On what basis do they call it an improper implementation. Likewise the question of 'scrutiny' etc. They form weasel words where it will always be easy to sneak out and say oh this is an improper implementation every time one is confronted with a new achievement of the blasphemy laws.