Blasphemy Laws in Pakistan
According to Pakistan’s blasphemy laws, individuals convicted of disrespecting religion or religious figures may face severe penalties, including the death penalty. Despite no executions being carried out for blasphemy so far, mere allegations can incite riots.
Case of Aasiya Bibi
A Pakistani court sentenced a Muslim woman to life imprisonment after finding her guilty of burning pages of the Islamic holy book. The government prosecutor Mohazib Awais stated that Aasiya Bibi, arrested in 2021, faced blasphemy charges following accusations from residents that she had burned pages of the Quran, leading to her arrest. The judge announced the verdict in the eastern city of Lahore, and Bibi, who has the right to appeal, denied the charge during her trial.
Previous Case and Human Rights Concerns
It is worth noting that a Christian woman with the same name was acquitted of blasphemy in 2019 after spending eight years on death row in Pakistan. She later moved to Canada to escape death threats from Islamic extremists upon her release. The recent case involving Aasiya Bibi highlights the ongoing challenges faced by individuals accused of blasphemy in Pakistan.
Human rights organizations both domestically and abroad argue that accusations of blasphemy are often used as a means of personal vendetta against religious minorities and a tool for intimidation. In a separate incident, a court in Gujranwala, Punjab province, found two teenagers guilty of insulting Islam’s Prophet Muhammad and handed down severe sentences, further raising concerns about the misuse of blasphemy laws.
