ASIA/PAKISTAN - After attacks at Sangla Hill, Christians call even louder for elimination of blasphemy law exploited by extremists

Monday, 12 December 2005

Lahore (Fides Service) - The anti blasphemy law is indirectly responsible for the December 12 attacks on Christians Sangla Hill, near Lahore where a gang of over 1,000 Muslim fanatics destroyed three churches (one Protestant and 2 Catholic) and Christian schools and homes. The crowd was instigated by unfounded rumours that Christians had profaned the Koran. Article 295/c of Pakistan penal Code punishes any one who insults the holy name of the Prophet in word or deed even with life imprisonment. The law is often used in personal disputes and grievances.
Christians are mobilised and the Catholic Archbishop of Lahore, Archbishop Lawrence Saldanha called on the authorities to guarantee security and find and punish the aggressors, noting the responsibility of the instigators.
The archdiocese organised a Day of Prayer and Protest on 17 November and on Sunday 11 December the Justice and Peace Commission of Lahore archdiocese held a meeting with many different Christian organisations and human rights associations to discuss how to continue the protest campaign and obtain the abolition of the anti blasphemy law.
Christian lament discriminatory attitudes towards religious minorities noting that the government is giving too many concessions to groups of Islamic fundamentalists. The JP Commission called for the law to be abolished rejecting any sort of amendment: the only solution says Archbisop Saldanha is abrogation.
According to the JP Commission the anti blasphemy law undermines social wellbeing and stability and inter-religious harmony. Since 1988 according to a report by the Commission more than 650 have been detained on the grounds of the blasphemy law. At least 20 people were murdered in the same period for the same reason including former supreme court judge Arif Huassain Bhatti who chose to defend people accused of blasphemy.
The law is often used against political adversaries or personal enemies or for revenge and very often Christians are the victims. There are over 80 Christians in prison on charges of blasphemy: a very high number considering that Christians are a small minority in Pakistan. (Agenzia Fides 12/12/2005 righe 30 parole 301)


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