The human rights body of Pakistan raised its concern over the amendments made to the controversial laws regarding blasphemy in the country, stating that the laws will exacerbate the religious minorities' persecution.&nbsp;The Criminal Laws (Amendment) Act 2023 was unanimously passed by the National Assembly of Pakistan on Tuesday which increased the minimum punishment of those found guilty of insulting Islam's revered personalities from three to 10 years of imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 1 million.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistans-obsession-with-blasphemy-laws-leads-to-extrajudicial-killings-mob-violence-379868">Pakistan's obsession with blasphemy laws leads to extrajudicial killings, mob violence</a> 
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The chairperson of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) Hina Jilani issued a statement from Lahore on Friday which stated that the enactment of the amended law would increase minorities' persecution.&nbsp;

"While the stated aim of this bill is to curb sectarianism, HRCP believes it is likely to exacerbate the persecution of Pakistan’s beleaguered religious minorities and minority sects," read her statement.

The HRCP stated that the offence has also been made non-bailable by the bill and hence, is in direct violation of the right to personal liberty which has been guaranteed constitutionally under Article 9.&nbsp;

"Given Pakistan’s troubled record of the misuse of such laws, these amendments are likely to be weaponised disproportionately against religious minorities and sects, resulting in false FIRs, harassment and persecution,” the bill stated.&nbsp;

WATCH | Gravitas: Pakistan, protests &amp; blasphemy

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The human rights body added that an increase in the penalty in cases of blasphemy will increase the law's misuse for personal vendettas, as is generally with cases of blasphemy. 
&nbsp; 
"At a time when civil society has been calling for amendments to these laws to prevent their abuse, strengthening this punishment will do the exact opposite," it added.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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The human rights body of Pakistan raised its concern over the amendments made to the controversial laws regarding blasphemy in the country, stating that the laws will exacerbate the religious minorities' persecution.

The human rights body of Pakistan raised its concern over the amendments made to the controversial laws regarding blasphemy in the country, stating that the laws will exacerbate the religious minorities' persecution. The Criminal Laws (Amendment) Act 2023 was unanimously passed by the National Assembly of Pakistan on Tuesday which increased the minimum punishment of those found guilty of insulting Islam's revered personalities from three to 10 years of imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 1 million. ALSO READ | Pakistan's obsession with blasphemy laws leads to extrajudicial killings, mob violence The chairperson of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) Hina Jilani issued a statement from Lahore on Friday which stated that the enactment of the amended law would increase minorities' persecution. "While the stated aim of this bill is to curb sectarianism, HRCP believes it is likely to exacerbate the persecution of Pakistan’s beleaguered religious minorities and minority sects," read her statement. The HRCP stated that the offence has also been made non-bailable by the bill and hence, is in direct violation of the right to personal liberty which has been guaranteed constitutionally under Article 9. "Given Pakistan’s troubled record of the misuse of such laws, these amendments are likely to be weaponised disproportionately against religious minorities and sects, resulting in false FIRs, harassment and persecution,” the bill stated. WATCH | Gravitas: Pakistan, protests & blasphemy The human rights body added that an increase in the penalty in cases of blasphemy will increase the law's misuse for personal vendettas, as is generally with cases of blasphemy. "At a time when civil society has been calling for amendments to these laws to prevent their abuse, strengthening this punishment will do the exact opposite," it added. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Pak blasphemy law amendment to worsen minorities’ persecution, says rights body

On Sunday, a mob assaulted and set fire to a police station in the Charsadda region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, demanding the release of a man imprisoned for allegedly desecrating the Holy Quran.&nbsp;

To disperse an angry throng that vandalised a police station, authorities resorted to firing into the air and teargas shelling, injuring at least one individual.

Witnesses say the outraged protestors broke into the Mandani police station property, set fire to at least 17 parked cars and motorbikes, and destroyed official records.

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Mob outside Mandni police station in Tehsil Mangi, Charsadda, baying for blood of a man who has a MENTAL ILLNESS and allegedly tore off pages of Islamic holy scripture. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Charsadda?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Charsadda</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/blasphemy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#blasphemy</a> 
[Videos via <a href="https://twitter.com/AbdullahMomandJ?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AbdullahMomandJ</a> ] <a href="https://t.co/zRod6iurNL">pic.twitter.com/zRod6iurNL</a>
— Rabia Mehmood - رابعہ (@Rabail26) <a href="https://twitter.com/Rabail26/status/1464990756997791749?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 28, 2021</a></blockquote>
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A violent mob setting fire to Mandni Police station in reaction to an alleged blasphemy in Tehsil Tangi of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Charsadda?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Charsadda</a>. 
 
A mentally unwell man allegedly tore off pages of Islamic holy scripture. 
 
The blasphemy law will burn down the sanity of this country.<a href="https://t.co/CUoKmzK6Zn">pic.twitter.com/CUoKmzK6Zn</a>
— Mona Farooq Ahmad (@MFChaudhryy) <a href="https://twitter.com/MFChaudhryy/status/1464997012420579337?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 28, 2021</a></blockquote>
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The officers left the station and fled.&nbsp;

Local leaders of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl held a protest march at Mandani market later that day, demanding that the accused be punished.

Blasphemy is a highly sensitive issue in deeply conservative Pakistan, where mere allegations have led to extrajudicial killings and mob violence.

Human rights campaigners have long sought the repeal of blasphemy laws, arguing they are used to victimise religious minorities or settle personal scores.

From 1987 to December 2020, at least 1,855 persons have been alleged under the offences related to religion, mostly under Sections 295B, C to 298C, of the Pakistan Penal Code known as Blasphemy laws.

(With inputs from agencies)

On Sunday, a mob assaulted and set fire to a police station in the Charsadda region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, demanding the release of a man imprisoned for allegedly desecrating the Holy Quran.

On Sunday, a mob assaulted and set fire to a police station in the Charsadda region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, demanding the release of a man imprisoned for allegedly desecrating the Holy Quran. To disperse an angry throng that vandalised a police station, authorities resorted to firing into the air and teargas shelling, injuring at least one individual. Witnesses say the outraged protestors broke into the Mandani police station property, set fire to at least 17 parked cars and motorbikes, and destroyed official records. Mob outside Mandni police station in Tehsil Mangi, Charsadda, baying for blood of a man who has a MENTAL ILLNESS and allegedly tore off pages of Islamic holy scripture. #Charsadda #blasphemy [Videos via @AbdullahMomandJ ] pic.twitter.com/zRod6iurNL — Rabia Mehmood - رابعہ (@Rabail26) November 28, 2021 × A violent mob setting fire to Mandni Police station in reaction to an alleged blasphemy in Tehsil Tangi of #Charsadda. A mentally unwell man allegedly tore off pages of Islamic holy scripture. The blasphemy law will burn down the sanity of this country.pic.twitter.com/CUoKmzK6Zn — Mona Farooq Ahmad (@MFChaudhryy) November 28, 2021 × The officers left the station and fled. Local leaders of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl held a protest march at Mandani market later that day, demanding that the accused be punished. Blasphemy is a highly sensitive issue in deeply conservative Pakistan, where mere allegations have led to extrajudicial killings and mob violence. Human rights campaigners have long sought the repeal of blasphemy laws, arguing they are used to victimise religious minorities or settle personal scores. From 1987 to December 2020, at least 1,855 persons have been alleged under the offences related to religion, mostly under Sections 295B, C to 298C, of the Pakistan Penal Code known as Blasphemy laws. (With inputs from agencies)

Pakistan: Mob sets police station on fire in search for man accused of Quran desecration

Blasphemy is a highly sensitive issue in deeply conservative Pakistan where mere allegations have led to extrajudicial killings and mob violence.

In February 2021, Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), an NGO based out of Lahore, Pakistan, released data that showed the abuse of blasphemy laws had increased exponentially in Pakistan, reported Pentapostagma.

Human rights campaigners have long sought the repeal of blasphemy laws, arguing they are used to victimize religious minorities or settle personal scores.

Watch |

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From 1987 to December 2020, at least 1,855 persons have been alleged under the offences related to religion, mostly under Sections 295B, C to 298C, of the Pakistan Penal Code known as Blasphemy laws, said the advocacy group CSJ in its press release.

Christians, one of the largest religious minority groups in Pakistan with a population of around 2.8 million have faced the major burnt of blasphemy laws, reported Pentapostagma.

Pakistan was ranked as the world`s fifth-worst persecutor of Christians by Open Doors USA, a California-based non-profit organization, in its 2021 World Watch List.

In 1997, the twin villages of Shantinagar-Tibba colony under Multan Division, were looted and burnt by 20,000 Muslim citizens and 500 policemen acting together after an incident of desecration of the Quran was reported.

The police had first evacuated the Christian population of 15,000, and then helped the raiders use explosives to blow up their houses and property, reported Pentapostagma.

Several incidents of arson and loot of Christian properties have been reported ever since. In 2005, a mob of 3,000 led by a local politician and the police burnt down three churches, a missionary run-school, two hostels and several houses belonging to Christians in Sangla Hill in Nankana district in Punjab.

The false allegations of blasphemy are often rooted into personal grudges, conflicts in workplaces and in communities.

Recently, a board member of ACAT (the Action of Christians for the Abolition of Torture), Belgium-based organization working for the betterment of Christians worldwide, wrote a letter to Pakistan PM Imran Khan drawing attention to the case of Shafqat Emmanuel and Shagufta Kausar, a Christian couple convicted of "blasphemy" and sentenced to death in 2014 for allegedly sending "blasphemous" text messages to the Imam of a mosque, reported Pentapostagma.

According to the October 2019 report of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, at least 80 people have been convicted of blasphemy in Pakistan and many of them face death penalty.

In December 2020, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution calling the worldwide repeal of blasphemy, heresy and apostasy laws, some of which have resulted in the imprisonment and/or deaths of Christians accused of speaking against Islam.

Pakistan`s blasphemy laws, both in content and application, are contrary to Pakistan`s human rights obligations to respect and protect the right to life, freedom of thought, conscience and religion or belief, freedom of opinion and expression, equality before the law, prohibition of discrimination and the right to life.

These blasphemy laws violate Article 6(1) of the International covenant on Civil and Political Rights that states that the automatic and mandatory death penalty constitutes an arbitrary deprivation of life.

Therefore, these laws do not comply with human rights law and standards, nor do they contain basic safeguards to limit the risk of further human rights violations and abuses, and are emblematic of the dangers faced by religious minorities in the country, wrote Pentapostagma.

Blasphemy is a highly sensitive issue in deeply conservative Pakistan where mere allegations have led to extrajudicial killings and mob violence. In February 2021, Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), an NGO based out of Lahore, Pakistan, released data that showed the abuse of blasphemy laws had increased exponentially in Pakistan, reported Pentapostagma.

Blasphemy is a highly sensitive issue in deeply conservative Pakistan where mere allegations have led to extrajudicial killings and mob violence. In February 2021, Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), an NGO based out of Lahore, Pakistan, released data that showed the abuse of blasphemy laws had increased exponentially in Pakistan, reported Pentapostagma. Human rights campaigners have long sought the repeal of blasphemy laws, arguing they are used to victimize religious minorities or settle personal scores. Watch | From 1987 to December 2020, at least 1,855 persons have been alleged under the offences related to religion, mostly under Sections 295B, C to 298C, of the Pakistan Penal Code known as Blasphemy laws, said the advocacy group CSJ in its press release. Christians, one of the largest religious minority groups in Pakistan with a population of around 2.8 million have faced the major burnt of blasphemy laws, reported Pentapostagma. Pakistan was ranked as the world`s fifth-worst persecutor of Christians by Open Doors USA, a California-based non-profit organization, in its 2021 World Watch List. In 1997, the twin villages of Shantinagar-Tibba colony under Multan Division, were looted and burnt by 20,000 Muslim citizens and 500 policemen acting together after an incident of desecration of the Quran was reported. The police had first evacuated the Christian population of 15,000, and then helped the raiders use explosives to blow up their houses and property, reported Pentapostagma. Several incidents of arson and loot of Christian properties have been reported ever since. In 2005, a mob of 3,000 led by a local politician and the police burnt down three churches, a missionary run-school, two hostels and several houses belonging to Christians in Sangla Hill in Nankana district in Punjab. The false allegations of blasphemy are often rooted into personal grudges, conflicts in workplaces and in communities. Recently, a board member of ACAT (the Action of Christians for the Abolition of Torture), Belgium-based organization working for the betterment of Christians worldwide, wrote a letter to Pakistan PM Imran Khan drawing attention to the case of Shafqat Emmanuel and Shagufta Kausar, a Christian couple convicted of "blasphemy" and sentenced to death in 2014 for allegedly sending "blasphemous" text messages to the Imam of a mosque, reported Pentapostagma. According to the October 2019 report of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, at least 80 people have been convicted of blasphemy in Pakistan and many of them face death penalty. In December 2020, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution calling the worldwide repeal of blasphemy, heresy and apostasy laws, some of which have resulted in the imprisonment and/or deaths of Christians accused of speaking against Islam. Pakistan`s blasphemy laws, both in content and application, are contrary to Pakistan`s human rights obligations to respect and protect the right to life, freedom of thought, conscience and religion or belief, freedom of opinion and expression, equality before the law, prohibition of discrimination and the right to life. These blasphemy laws violate Article 6(1) of the International covenant on Civil and Political Rights that states that the automatic and mandatory death penalty constitutes an arbitrary deprivation of life. Therefore, these laws do not comply with human rights law and standards, nor do they contain basic safeguards to limit the risk of further human rights violations and abuses, and are emblematic of the dangers faced by religious minorities in the country, wrote Pentapostagma.

Pakistan's obsession with blasphemy laws leads to extrajudicial killings, mob violence

A university professor in Pakistan was handed death sentence under the controversial blasphemy law on Saturday.&nbsp;

Junaid Hafeez was a university professor when he was arrested in March 2013 for allegedly posting derogatory remarks against Prophet Mohammed on Facebook.

A fine of Rs 3557.07 USD was also imposed on the doctor, along with a sentence to life imprisonment. Under another section of the Pakistan Penal Code, Junaid is given another sentence of 10 years and a fine of Rs 711.41 USD.&nbsp;

Junaid's lawyer Asad Jamal described the verdict as "most unfortunate".&nbsp;

"We will appeal against this verdict," Jamal said.&nbsp;

In conservative Muslim-majority Pakistan, blasphemy is a hugely sensitive issue and in many cases, the death sentence was also given. Even unproven claims have also caused mob lynchings and vigilante murders.&nbsp;

The 33-year-old professor's earlier lawyer was killed in 2014 after receiving death threats during a hearing.&nbsp;

Nearly 40 people convicted under this law are on death row in Pakistan, as per a 2018 estimate by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom.

Last year, the acquittal of Asia Bibi, who was facing death row under the Blasphemy law has led to a lot of violent protests in Pakistan. Bibi, a Christian woman who had spent eight years in jail, now lives in Canada with her family.&nbsp;

(with inputs from AFP)

A university professor in Pakistan was handed death sentence under the controversial blasphemy law on Saturday. Junaid Hafeez was a university professor when he was arrested in March 2013 for allegedly posting derogatory remarks against Prophet Mohammed on Facebook.

A university professor in Pakistan was handed death sentence under the controversial blasphemy law on Saturday. Junaid Hafeez was a university professor when he was arrested in March 2013 for allegedly posting derogatory remarks against Prophet Mohammed on Facebook. A fine of Rs 3557.07 USD was also imposed on the doctor, along with a sentence to life imprisonment. Under another section of the Pakistan Penal Code, Junaid is given another sentence of 10 years and a fine of Rs 711.41 USD. Junaid's lawyer Asad Jamal described the verdict as "most unfortunate". "We will appeal against this verdict," Jamal said. In conservative Muslim-majority Pakistan, blasphemy is a hugely sensitive issue and in many cases, the death sentence was also given. Even unproven claims have also caused mob lynchings and vigilante murders. The 33-year-old professor's earlier lawyer was killed in 2014 after receiving death threats during a hearing. Nearly 40 people convicted under this law are on death row in Pakistan, as per a 2018 estimate by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom. Last year, the acquittal of Asia Bibi, who was facing death row under the Blasphemy law has led to a lot of violent protests in Pakistan. Bibi, a Christian woman who had spent eight years in jail, now lives in Canada with her family. (with inputs from AFP)

Pakistan: University professor sentenced to death for blasphemy