Tag: Blasphemy

US designating Pakistan a ‘Country of Particular Concern’ would be ‘ineffective’

November 21, 2017 Pakistan Blasphemy, Minorities, Pakistan, Religious freedom

A week after the US State Department missed its legal deadline for designating ‘Countries of Particular Concern’ (CPC) – given to “systematic, ongoing and egregious” violators of religious freedom – a Pakistani journalist has suggested adding her country to the list would be “ineffective” anyway. Pakistan was one of 16 . . . Read More

Mauritania: death penalty for blasphemy ‘even if they repent’

November 21, 2017 Mauritania Apostasy, Blasphemy, Mauritania, West Africa

Mauritania announced on Friday (17 November) that showing repentance will no longer be a reason to repeal a death sentence handed out for blasphemy and apostasy. The government of the West African nation said in a statement it would introduce a new bill to “harden up expected sentences for blasphemers”, . . . Read More

Euro MPs visit Asia Bibi’s family and press Pakistan for blasphemy law reform

November 15, 2017 Pakistan Asia Bibi, Blasphemy, Pakistan

Three European Parliament Members have visited senior Pakistani government officials and the family of Asia Bibi, the Christian mother-of-five on death row, in a bid to change the country’s controversial blasphemy legislation. Dutch MEP Peter van Dalen told the Christian news website BosLifeNews that he and colleagues from Poland and . . . Read More

Pakistani Christian sent to prison for ‘insulting Islam’ despite mental ill-health

November 10, 2017 Pakistan Blasphemy, Islamic extremism, Lahore, Pakistan

A Christian man was arrested on the day of his son’s funeral in Pakistan last weekend, and charged with insulting Islam – blasphemy – despite being recognised as mentally ill. He is now in prison. Iqbal Masih, 65, a retired father of nine, is from the Fazlia Colony of Lahore, . . . Read More

Indonesia High Court in ‘milestone’ ruling for religious freedom

November 9, 2017 Indonesia Ahok, Blasphemy, Indonesia, Islamic extremism, Religious freedom

Young men joining the protest march against Jakarta's former Governor Ahok in December 2016. (Photo: World Watch Monitor)

In a “milestone” ruling, Indonesia’s High Court on Tuesday (7 November) said all religious groups should be treated equally before the law in the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation, and that failing to do so would be “unconstitutional”. A law adopted in 2013 requires Indonesian citizens to declare their religious . . . Read More

Pakistan: Christians flee village after death threats against teenager accused of blasphemy

November 7, 2017 Pakistan Blasphemy, Gujranwala, Islamic extremism, Pakistan

Five Christian families in rural Pakistan have gone into hiding after death threats were made against an 18-year-old because of his alleged blasphemy against Islam. Sonu Arshad, who lives in the remote village of Sukheki, 200 kilometres north of Lahore, belongs to one of the families – the only Christians . . . Read More

‘Pakistan’s blasphemy law here to stay’ – Minister of Religious Affairs

November 2, 2017 Pakistan Blasphemy, Islamic extremism, Minorities, Pakistan

Pakistan’s Federal Minister of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony says the country is under “no pressure” to scrap its controversial blasphemy laws and that religious minorities enjoy equal rights. “The law cannot be revoked,” Sardar Muhammad Yousuf said at a Pakistan-American Press Association dinner. “It’s there to stay, as it has . . . Read More

Indonesia: ‘zero flexibility’ for adoptions by religious minorities

October 27, 2017 Indonesia Bekasi, Blasphemy, Children, Indonesia, Religious freedom, Santa Clara, Sumatra

Religious minorities in Indonesia are discriminated against when they want to adopt, according to Human Rights Watch’s report, which highlights the case of a Christian policewoman from North Sumatra. Ida Maharani Hutagaol, took a month-old boy, found abandoned in a ditch in Binjal, to hospital and ensured he was well cared for. In . . . Read More

Indonesia: Jakarta’s new governor urged to protect rights of religious minorities

October 27, 2017 Indonesia Ahok, Blasphemy, Indonesia, Islamic Defenders Front, Jakarta, Nahdlatul Ulama, Religious freedom, UN

New Governor of Jakarta, Anies Baswedan and his running mate, the new Vice Governor of Jakarta, Sandiaga Salahudin Uno arrived at Jakarta City Hal for the inauguration ceremony on 16 October 2017. (Photo: Getty Images)

As Jakarta’s new governor, Anies Baswedan, starts his new job, he should use his role “to protect and promote human rights in the Indonesian capital”, writes Human Rights Watch in a letter addressed to him. The rights group urges him to ”use the powers at your disposal to defend the . . . Read More

UN Special Rapporteur: ‘repeal blasphemy laws that invite hatred’

October 27, 2017 Global News -- No Particular Country ASEAN, Blasphemy, New York, Pakistan, Religious freedom, UN, Uzbekistan

Banner protesting against changes to the blasphemy laws, Peshawar 2017 (World Watch Monitor)

The UN’s Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief (FoRB), Ahmed Shaheed, has said that states that have blasphemy laws “should repeal them because of their stifling impact on the enjoyment of the right to freedom of religion or belief, and on the ability to engage in a healthy . . . Read More

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