Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Islamabad (Agenzia Fides) – A moratorium on applying the blasphemy law in Pakistan: this is the new proposal circulating in Pakistani civil society, finding support among intellectuals, journalists and the well-educated, also globally. In Pakistan, Muslim activists for human rights, speaking to Fides, call the idea “good and interesting”, noting that it could become an official proposal by civil society to the Government.
Mehdi Hasan, President of the Human Rights Commission for Pakistan told Fides: “we are on the whole in favour of a moratorium on applying the blasphemy law in Pakistan, but our official position is to ask for its abolition. It needs to be remembered that prior to 1986 there were no cases in Pakistan and now in the last 20 years there have been about 1,000, while about 70 people, only accused of blasphemy were murdered.
Representative of the All Pakistan Minorities Alliance in Punjab, Christian Najmi Saleem, tells Fides: “Our objective is to stop the abuse of this law, which especially affects Christian minorities. If a moratorium will help then it is welcome. But we believe that some changes are needed. We hope that the work of the Minister for Religious Minorities, Shahbaz Bhatti, will bring results.”
Fr Mario Rodrigues, Director of the PMS in Pakistan, tells Fides that “the blasphemy law is called “the black law”. Anyone who opposes or challenges it today risks their life. The idea of a moratorium on its application is a favourable one. At least it may dissuade people from making false accusations. Nut I think it will be difficult for the Government to pass it.”
Haroon Barket Masih, head of the Masihi Foundation, providing legal support to Asia Bibi, the Christian woman condemned to death for blasphemy, says to Fides, “We fully support this proposal. It would be an important first step in stopping this law from creating further harm. It has hurt many people and still others may suffer. I also think it would be a balanced move from a political perspective: with a temporary moratorium, on the one hand the Government could say to radical Islamic groups that the law remains in force, but in the meantime they stop its misuse and exploitation.”
According to Peter Jacob, Secretary of the Commission for Justice and Peace of the Pakistani Bishops, “The solution does not seem feasible from a strictly legal point of view, because you can not stop the police or judicial authorities from investigating or prosecuting those who commit a crime. Also,” he told Fides, “the innocent victims currently in prison or on trial would not benefit. We continue, therefore, our campaign to abolish it.”
In Europe, the proposed moratorium on blasphemy has been launched by the Italian Catholic daily Avvenire. Prof. Mobeen Shahid, Pakistani Christian scholar, Professor at the Pontifical Lateran University, advocates: “Since there are precedents before judges, in which the authenticity of the charges is in doubt, I believe that the Supreme Court of Pakistan or the Government could issue a moratorium on lawsuits related to art. 295 of the Pakistan Penal Code (which includes the so-called blasphemy laws, ed).” (PA) (Agenzia Fides 25/2/2011)
