The Ottoman empire? Discrimination exists in Pakistan because of misuse of some laws. Religion isn’t to blame but people who misuse blasphemy laws. When examples such as Rimsha Masih, Asia bibi, Shahbaz Bhatti and Salman Taseer become known worldwide it hurts the image of fair minded Pakistanis. It’s not only minorities that are targeted but they are vulnerable to it.
I mean this is even reported in Al Jazeera so this must not be a small issue. Some minorities are fleeing Pakistan to go elsewhere. They aren’t safe or accepted in their new home because they will always be Pakistani. Shouldn’t there be something done to protect them? A country is judged by the treatment of its minorities. Pakistan minorities flee ‘religious persecution’ - 26 Mar - Hot Latest News - YouTube India offers Pakistani Hindus safe haven - YouTube
Things like this unnecessarily harm the good image of many Pakistanis. Many patriotic pakistani christians, ahmadiya and hindus exist and i feel they shouldn’t be forced to leave because they feel they won’t get justice or they feel they would be treated as second class citizens. Prem Chand We Are Ashamed! | Syed Ali Abbas Zaidi’s Blog
I have a Pakistani friend who blogs about minority issues especially concerning the Ahmadi minority so i know there are Pakistanis who are against this. A while back she told me that at comstats university in lahore people were putting up Anti-Ahmadi posters and when one Ahmadi girl ripped them off she was expelled from school. Might sound small but it was big in the life of that girl as she was finishing her degree. The reason given was due to the blasphemy law.
Pakistan: Ahmadi student expelled on false blasphemy accusation | Al Ufaq | The Horizon
There have been 1000 cases of blasphemy over the last 25 years. how many of them actual cases who knows.
Dr. Faheem Younus: Blasphemy Laws and Pakistan: Whose Islam Is It Anyway?
Pakistan
This is compared to 7 cases from 1927 to 1986 before the law was made stricter and extra provisions meant it only applied to Muslims. Previously it was a secular law to protect all faiths and also found in India. The extra provisions by Zia Ul Haq were quite broad and further sections had harsher punishment including death.
This was the secular definition of the blasphemy law. It is quite comprehensive and covers all religions and was found in both india and pakistan from 1927 onwards and was given by the British:
“Whoever, with deliberate and malicious intention of outraging the religious feelings of any class of the citizens of Pakistan, by words, either spoken or written, or by visible representations insults the religion or the religious beliefs of that class, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, or with fine, or with both.”
Then in 1982 Zia ul Haq added this section which increases punishment and focuses on Muslims only and gives a harsher punishment:
“Whoever wilfully defiles, damages or desecrates a copy of the Holy Qur’an or of an extract therefrom or uses it in any derogatory manner or for any unlawful purpose shall be punishable with imprisonment for life.”
Then PM Junejo added another section to it in 1986- it gets even more vague and the punishment is now death. How much more does it add then the original? Isn’t the intention the same behind the secular and new definitions.
- “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.”*
In what ways was religion not adequately protected in the original blasphemy law? I mean only 7 convictions occurred from 1920s to 1980s but then a 1000 have occurred in 25 years. Either law was working better back then, people have changed and become more blasphemous or new law is being abused. I doubt people have become so blasphemous in 25 years. I have a feeling it is because it is being misused.
It doesn’t even just target minorities who might accidently say the wrong thing, drink from the wrong well or be targeted if someone has a grudge against them, even disabled children can be targeted who may accidentally mention something in their homework which could be defamatory. Even Muslims who defend those minorities, like Salman Taseer, can be targeted.
Even a child like Rimsha, with mental age of 11, was framed and could have faced death penalty but luckily for her she was acquitted with Rs 1000 000 bail and has now escaped to Canada to live her life freely. The guy who accused her was acquitted of wrong doing. Rimsha Masih Case: Cleric