Pakistan Government Pressured To Uphold Blasphemy Law
Tuesday, November 3, 2009 (11:31 am)
By Worthy News Asia Service
ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN (Worthy News)-- A major rights group expressed concerns Tuesday, November 3, that prominent Islamic political parties are obstructing efforts to amend of repeal Pakistan's blasphemy legislation under which Christians have been detained across the country.
U.S.-based International Christian Concern (ICC) said it learned that on October 31, the influential Jamaat Ahl-e-Hadith Pakistan and the Tehreek Tahafuz-e-Haqooq Ahl-e-Sunnat parties, told the government not to amend the law “if it wants to remain in power.”
Pakistan’s blasphemy law stipulates that defaming the Islamic prophet Mohammed or desecrating the Koran, deemed a holy book by Muslims, is punishable by death or life imprisonment.
"Muslims have used the law to repeatedly incite violence against Christians. In August, a Muslim mob killed 11 Christians and burned down over 40 Christian homes following false allegation of desecration of the Koran an in the Pakistani city of Gojra," ICC said.
MUSLIM VICTIMS
Muslims also have been the victims of the blasphemy law. According to the State Department’s report on International Religious Freedom, in 2008 alone, 17 Muslims and 25 Ahmedis were arrested for allegedly violating the blasphemy law, ICC said.
"It’s unfortunate that political parties stand in the way of repealing the blasphemy law which has been misused against Christians, Muslims, and Ahmedis," said ICC’s Regional Manager for Africa and South Asia, Jonathan Racho.
"We urge the government of Pakistan to end the misuse of blasphemy laws by repealing it once and for all."
- There is pressure on the mainly government of mainly Muslim Pakistan not to change Blasphemy legislation.
ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN (Worthy News)-- A major rights group expressed concerns Tuesday, November 3, that prominent Islamic political parties are obstructing efforts to amend of repeal Pakistan's blasphemy legislation under which Christians have been detained across the country.
U.S.-based International Christian Concern (ICC) said it learned that on October 31, the influential Jamaat Ahl-e-Hadith Pakistan and the Tehreek Tahafuz-e-Haqooq Ahl-e-Sunnat parties, told the government not to amend the law “if it wants to remain in power.”
Pakistan’s blasphemy law stipulates that defaming the Islamic prophet Mohammed or desecrating the Koran, deemed a holy book by Muslims, is punishable by death or life imprisonment.
"Muslims have used the law to repeatedly incite violence against Christians. In August, a Muslim mob killed 11 Christians and burned down over 40 Christian homes following false allegation of desecration of the Koran an in the Pakistani city of Gojra," ICC said.
MUSLIM VICTIMS
Muslims also have been the victims of the blasphemy law. According to the State Department’s report on International Religious Freedom, in 2008 alone, 17 Muslims and 25 Ahmedis were arrested for allegedly violating the blasphemy law, ICC said.
"It’s unfortunate that political parties stand in the way of repealing the blasphemy law which has been misused against Christians, Muslims, and Ahmedis," said ICC’s Regional Manager for Africa and South Asia, Jonathan Racho.
"We urge the government of Pakistan to end the misuse of blasphemy laws by repealing it once and for all."
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Increase
Decrease
Blasphemy
“And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;
Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.” 1 Timothy 1:12-13
And Salvation
“And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.” 1 Timothy 1:14-15
Praise The Name Of Jesus
“And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Acts 2:21