by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) - Alarmed at the number of people charged and incarcerated for blasphemy in Pakistan, rights advocates are demanding legislative charges to protect against blatant Islamic extremist abuse of blasphemy laws to persecute not only those of minority faiths but Muslims as well, Christian Daily reports.
The Lahore-based Center for Social Justice (CSJ) has reported that at least 329 persons were accused of blasphemy in 2023, Christian Daily said. Those charged included 247 Muslims, 65 Ahmadis, 11 Christians and one Hindu. Critically, judges in such cases tend to adjourn hearings, leading to the extended imprisonment of the accused even before conviction.
Remarking that the situation is one of grave injustice, Lahore High Court attorney Lazar Allah Rakha told Christian Daily: “The state must legislate against false accusations of blasphemy, because this abuse hangs like the sword of Damocles on the heads of all citizens regardless of their faith affiliations.”
“The situation has aggravated to the extent that people are now being targeted over minor disputes on almost a daily basis. The entire system needs to be reviewed in the larger interest of justice.”
In a statement to Christian Daily, CSJ Executive Director Peter Jacob said there are concrete steps that can be taken to address the issue: “We should now draw closer to a comprehensive policy which should include legislative review of the blasphemy laws, educational and awareness programs, etc.”
“The first step in this direction should be the formation of a commission of inquiry, not against one incident, but the whole phenomenon of religious intolerance in relation to the abuse of the blasphemy law,” Jacob said.