STRASBOURG: The European parliament on Thursday called on Pakistan to overhaul its blasphemy laws with a view to repealing them, saying they were "increasingly used to target" Christians and other minorities.
The European parliament expressed particular concern about the case of Asia Bibi, a Pakistani Christian woman sentenced to death four years ago for making blasphemous statements during an argument with a woman over a bowl of water. Her sentence was upheld last month by a high court in the eastern city of Lahore, dashing hopes the conviction might be overturned or commuted to a jail term.
In a non-binding resolution,
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members of the European parliament in Strasbourg, France expressed their concern that blasphemy laws "are increasingly used to target vulnerable minority groups, including Ahmadis and Christians, in Pakistan."
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The resolution "calls on the government of Pakistan to carry out a thorough review of the blasphemy laws and their current application ... with a review to repealing the laws."
It also "calls on the government of Pakistan to abolish the death penalty, including for blasphemy or apostasy."
Blasphemy is a hugely sensitive issue in Pakistan, with even unproven allegations often prompting mob violence. Pakistan has never executed anyone for blasphemy and has had a de-facto moratorium on civilian executions since 2008. But anyone convicted, or even just accused, risks a violent and bloody death at the hands of vigilantes. |