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PAKISTAN: Aid to the Church in Need speaks out against Blasphemy Laws
By John Pontifex
A map of Pakistan
Aid to the Church in Need has called for action to abolish Pakistan’s Blasphemy Laws.
A statement from the charity describes the laws as "inextricably linked" to the recent attacks that left eight people dead in the country's Punjab province last week.
In the statement, senior figures from Aid to the Church in Need say that the laws threaten the safety of all Pakistanis – not just minorities.
The statement, signed by Marie-Ange Siebrecht, Head of Aid to the Church in Need's Projects in Asia-Africa, and UK National Director Neville Kyrke-Smith, goes on to stress the problems caused by the misuse of the laws, saying that their abuse amounts to a fundamental infringement of human rights.
Under Article 295-B of the Blasphemy Laws, defiling the Qu‘ran carries a sentence of life imprisonment and defaming the Prophet Mohammad (Article 295-C) is punishable by execution.
The Aid to the Church in Need statement reads: "Aid to the Church in Need calls on people of goodwill to work towards the abolition of the Blasphemy Laws.
"As long as these laws are in existence, Pakistan is trapped in an ever-deepening cycle of violence, misery and community breakdown."
The statement continues: "The laws' misuse has meant that they have become an instrument of oppression, a club to beat those who are vulnerable."
It comes after Pakistan's Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani yesterday (Thursday, 6th August) pledged to review laws that are “detrimental to religious harmony”.
Although the Prime Minister did not specify it, his announcement suggests the government may review the Blasphemy Laws.
The Prime Minister made his statement on a visit to Gojra city, in Punjab province, where a week ago eight Christians were killed in an outbreak of violence sparked by an allegation made against children accused of breaking the Blasphemy Laws.
According to reports, the youngsters had been cutting up old school books to make confetti for a wedding, little realising that the pages contained verses of the Qu‘ran.
The allegations prompted 3,000 people to rampage through the streets of Gojra and the nearby village of Korian in an incident in which nearly 140 homes and four churches were damaged or destroyed.
The Pakistan government announced yesterday (Thursday, 6th August) a compensation package of 21 million Rupees (£1.4 million) to repair the damage to property and services.
Soon after the attacks, Pakistan police took 200 people in for questioning in connection with the violence. A further five were arrested yesterday.
Clergy have spoken of the grief and anger of the people mourning the eight killed in the violence. They included nine-year-old Umia Alnaf and Mausa Masih, aged 10.
Many people were injured.
The Aid to the Church in Need statement concludes by calling for prayer – especially for the grief-stricken: "At this time of tragedy and loss – especially for Pakistan’s Christians – Aid to the Church in Need asks people to pray for an end to acts of violence and intimidation.
"May those grieving lost loved ones or fearful of their future be consoled by God."
Aid to the Church in Need is giving £2,500 emergency aid to be administered by Bishop Joseph Coutts of Faisalabad, the diocese where the atrocities took place.
Last year, the charity gave £290,000 in aid to help oppressed and needy Christian communities in Pakistan.