Human Rights Watch (HRW) Sunday warned that Pakistan’s “blasphemy laws” are being applied in a discriminatory manner toward non-Muslim minorities, resulting in entire communities being forced from their homes.
In its 29-page report, HRW claimed that individuals and communities affiliated with religious minorities are denied equality before the law. The organization alerted that communities in particular have been exploited for economic motives such as “land grabs.”
Under sections 295-298 of the Pakistani Penal Code, acts such as derogatory remarks against “holy personages” or defiance of the Qur’an can lead to fines, imprisonment for life, or even capital punishment. HRW said that “although no one has been executed for blasphemy… vigilantes have killed dozens of people in mob violence following blasphemy accusations.” Most of the targeted groups are claimed to be Christians and Ahmadis, who, faced with threats, were forced to flee their homes.
Patricia Gossman, Asia director of HRW, stressed that urgent reform is needed, and failure to prosecute the perpetrators would further embolden similar activity:
The Pakistan government’s indifference to the abuses under the blasphemy law and the violence it provokes is discriminatory and violates the rights to fundamental freedoms. The authorities’ failure to hold those responsible for violence against religious minorities to account only encourages extremists and reinforces fear and insecurity among all minorities.
The report cited several examples in support of the alarming developments. In 2017, a journalism student in Mardan was reportedly “dragged out of his hostel room, stripped, beaten and then shot dead.” The student was accused by the mob of promoting the “Ahmadi faith on Facebook, thereby guilty of blasphemy.” HRW stated that police and authorities are hesitant to act against these events and are generally reluctant to offer protection to the affected individuals.
In another instance, HRW interviewed a salon owner who claimed that a mob “vandalized her premises.” Neighbors accused the woman of blasphemy after a local boy found pages of the Qur’an in her trash. Another interviewed individual, head of a private school with both Muslims and Christians, received arson threats after a teacher allegedly made blasphemous comments.
In total, HRW interviewed and recorded the experiences of 14 individuals.
Alongside the alleged human rights infringements in the context of blasphemy laws, the Pakistani government has been criticized by several NGO’s concerning its judicial independence, repression of peaceful protests, as well as censorship and prosecution of journalists.
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