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CHRISTIAN WOMAN TO BE SENTENCED TO DEATH UNDER PAKISTAN'S CONTROVERSIAL BLASPHEMY LAW
PanARMENIAN.Net
November 23, 2010 - 19:14 AMT 15:14 GMT
Pakistan will not repeal its controversial blasphemy law but may
amend it to prevent abuse because scrapping the legislation could fuel
Islamist militancy, a government minister said on Tuesday, November 23.
The law, which carries the death penalty for insulting Islam or its
Prophet Mohammad, has come under the spotlight this month after a
court sentenced a Christian mother of four, Asia Bibi, to death in
a case stemming from a village dispute.
Widespread media attention on the case has led to renewed appeals
by human rights groups for the repeal of the law but Minister for
Minorities Shahbaz Bhatti said that would not happen.
"(Repeal) is not being considered though we are considering changing
it so that misuse of the law should be stopped," Bhatti told Reuters.
The law enjoys widespread support in Pakistan, which is more than 95
percent Muslim, and politicians are loathe to be seen as soft on the
defense of the religion.
Blasphemy convictions are common although the death sentence has
never been carried out. Most convictions are thrown out on appeal,
but angry mobs have killed many people accused of blasphemy.
Asia Bibi, mother of four, is the first woman to be sentenced to death
under Pakistan's controversial blasphemy law which rights groups
say is often exploited by religious extremists as well as ordinary
Pakistanis to settle personal scores.
The 36-year-old farm worker was taken into custody by police in
June last year and was convicted by a lower court on Nov. 8. She has
been in prison since then, with her case drawing international media
attention as well as appeals by human rights groups, and, according
to Pakistani media, Pope Benedict.
Bibi's brother-in-law George Masih told Reuters that she was arrested
for allegedly insulting the Prophet Mohammad after a dispute with
fellow workers in the town of Nankana in Pakistan's Punjab province.
From: A. Papazian
PanARMENIAN.Net
November 23, 2010 - 19:14 AMT 15:14 GMT
Pakistan will not repeal its controversial blasphemy law but may
amend it to prevent abuse because scrapping the legislation could fuel
Islamist militancy, a government minister said on Tuesday, November 23.
The law, which carries the death penalty for insulting Islam or its
Prophet Mohammad, has come under the spotlight this month after a
court sentenced a Christian mother of four, Asia Bibi, to death in
a case stemming from a village dispute.
Widespread media attention on the case has led to renewed appeals
by human rights groups for the repeal of the law but Minister for
Minorities Shahbaz Bhatti said that would not happen.
"(Repeal) is not being considered though we are considering changing
it so that misuse of the law should be stopped," Bhatti told Reuters.
The law enjoys widespread support in Pakistan, which is more than 95
percent Muslim, and politicians are loathe to be seen as soft on the
defense of the religion.
Blasphemy convictions are common although the death sentence has
never been carried out. Most convictions are thrown out on appeal,
but angry mobs have killed many people accused of blasphemy.
Asia Bibi, mother of four, is the first woman to be sentenced to death
under Pakistan's controversial blasphemy law which rights groups
say is often exploited by religious extremists as well as ordinary
Pakistanis to settle personal scores.
The 36-year-old farm worker was taken into custody by police in
June last year and was convicted by a lower court on Nov. 8. She has
been in prison since then, with her case drawing international media
attention as well as appeals by human rights groups, and, according
to Pakistani media, Pope Benedict.
Bibi's brother-in-law George Masih told Reuters that she was arrested
for allegedly insulting the Prophet Mohammad after a dispute with
fellow workers in the town of Nankana in Pakistan's Punjab province.
From: A. Papazian