A delegation from Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) has just returned this week from a visit to Pakistan. Through meetings with former blasphemy prisoners in hiding, as well as church leaders, Parliamentarians, human rights activists, lawyers and women victims of sexual harassment and violence, CSW expressed their deep concern over the threat of the blasphemy law on the rights of religious minorities in Pakistan, especially the Christian population.

Pakistan is a Muslim dominated country. Adopted in 1986, Pakistan’s Blasphemy law imposes life imprisonment on anyone insulting the Qu‘ran and the death penalty on anyone defiling the name of Mohammed. However, one of the major complaints about the law is it is often misused to settle personal vendettas and arguments over property or money, particularly against the minority Christian community.

According to the National Commission for Justice and Peace of the Catholic Bishops Conference, between 1986 and 2003 at least 280 blasphemy cases were registered, more than 4,000 people have been accused of blasphemy. Of these, 254 cases were against Muslims; 203 Ahmadis; 78 Christians; 8 Hindus. There are currently over 30 blasphemy cases under trial or awaiting trial, including several Christians. Currently, some 560 people have been charged.

Minority and human rights activists have repeatedly called for the law’s repeal. One prominent campaigner for the rights of religious minorities told CSW, “We Christians are living among the hunting dogs. They want to see us dead. People who criticise the authorities, who are bold and active, are on a hit list.”

The CSW team met former blasphemy prisoner Aslam Masih, who spent almost five years in jail under two life sentences for blasphemy. He was seriously tortured in the prison, and even though he has now been released, he has to live a life of hiding.

His lawyer said, “He has no choice but to live in hiding. He lives in danger. A normal life is not possible for a former blasphemy prisoner in this society, even if he has been acquitted.”

Some reports even said that anyone charged with blasphemy in Pakistan, even if they are found innocent, becomes a target for Islamic extremists for the rest of their lives.

A lawyer who has represented many people, Muslim and non-Muslim, who are accused of blasphemy, was told by militant Islamists who beat him, held a gun to his head and warned, “We will not leave you. You are an enemy of Islam.”

In North-West Frontier Province (NWFP), which is governed by the pro-Taliban extremist group, the Muttahia Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), Islamic practices have been imposed on the province, despite reservations by the Council on Islamic Ideology.

The Director of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, I.A. Rehman, argues that the law will create “a vigilante force that will interfere in ordinary people’s lives. The weaker elements in society - women, minorities, children and workers – will be hit hardest. It will create a climate of fear.”

The All Pakistan Minorities Alliance (APMA), a prominent human rights advocacy organisation representing all religious minorities, has launched a campaign against the law in NWFP. As a result, activists such as APMA Chairman Shahbaz Bhatti have received threats from extremists and have been warned to halt the campaign immediately.

CSW is campaigning for the repeal of the blasphemy laws, and has urged President Musharraf to use his authority to prevent the implementation of the Hisba Act in NWFP.

“The blasphemy laws have been so widely abused for so long. Muslims and non-Muslims are affected by these unjust laws, and lives are torn apart,” said CSW’s Advocacy Director, Alexa Papadouris.

“We welcome the reformist tone that President Musharraf has set, but we urge him to go further. Procedural reform will not achieve anything. These laws must be repealed. If the President wants Pakistan to become an outward-looking, modern society accepted by the international community, then he must prevent the Hisba Act and curb the growth of extremism.”