The blasphemy laws of Pakistan are not divinely ordained. These are man-made laws, imposed on Pakistan by a military dictator. Gen Ziaul Haq added various clauses to the original Article 295 of the British law (shared by India and Bangladesh) that dealt with injuring religious sentiment. While criminalising other aspects of injuring religious sentiment, the critical word intent was quietly dropped. Intent or neeyat is crucial when someone is accused of such crimes. If the intent was not to defile or injure religious sentiments, there is no case. Its time to openly debate these issues and stop this senseless violence. We made the law, why cant we change it? Even if someone burnt some pages of the Quran, that is not grounds to kill them. There is widespread outrage in Pakistan against the latest blasphemy murder committed after such an accusation against a young couple Shama (she was pregnant) and Shehzad. They were poor brick kiln workers. A mob lynched and burnt them to death leaving behind three young children. The motive was not religious but financial (as often happens). Rule of law MUST be imposed and the culprits caught, charged, tried and punished. Enough of this culture of impunity for crimes committed in the name of religion. Many groups are holding protest demos in different cities of Pakistan. Some people have started a collection drive to sponsor the lifelong education and other needs of the three children (details coming up). Also tune into Ejaz Haiders Belaag on Capital TV tonight at 10 pm. He takes up up the issue of these blasphemy laws, using the Kot Radha Kishan outrage as a peg, the sheer inhumanity of it all as he puts it. Lets appreciate those channels that are allowing space to speak on this sensitive matter, and those journalists who are speaking up.
Posted on: Thu, 06 Nov 2014 14:28:41 +0000
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