Governor of Punjab; the law on blasphemy should be abolished
Lahore (AsiaNews) - Abolishing the blasphemy law to protect minorities. This is what has been "suggested" by Salman Taseer, Governor of Punjab, who is urging the central government "to consider the repeal" of a law – a plea that has been repeated on several occasions by the Christian community in Pakistan – a law that is used by Islamic fundamentalists to commit crimes and violence. Christian leaders have reacted positively, but now expect concrete steps from the central government.
"The blasphemy law - said Salman Taseer - should be repealed to protect minorities, particularly the growing violence and persecution against Christians by extremists." Speaking to reporters during a dinner in Lahore, the Punjab Governor adds that "there was an abuse of the blasphemy law. This is what I think. This law should be erased. "
Commenting on the statements of Governor of Punjab, Peter Jacob - Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP) of the Catholic Church - said that "it is an important statement" and "a welcome one". "But what counts most - added the activist Catholic - is that the Prime Minister of Pakistan ought to speak of the matter and explain to the people" what's happening in the country.
In recent months Punjab has experienced an escalation in attacks against Christians and their places of worship, committed in the name of "the alleged desecration of the Quran" On 22 April 2009, a band of extremists attacked a group of Christians in Tias, a suburb of Karachi, burning houses and seriously injuring three people. One of these was Irfan Masih, who died three days later.
A crowd of angry Muslims, on June 30, attacked homes of Christians in the village of Wala Bahmani. About 100 homes were damaged, the assailants also stole jewellery and cash, destroying furniture and other furnishings.
On July 2009 a young Christian, Imram Masih was tortured at length by a group of Muslims, then he was arrested by police for having "burned the Koran." The incident happened at Hajwary, district Faisalabad.
On 30 July, thousands of Muslims in Koriyan set Christian property on fire, burning down 51 houses. The madness of Muslims was unleash by an alleged case of blasphemy. Two days later - the first of August - at least 3 thousand extremists attacked the community of Gojra, burning seven people alive (including two children and three women), wounding 19 and burning dozens of homes.
On September 11, new violence in Sialkot: for an alleged blasphemy case against Masih Fanish, Muslims attacked the local church and some buildings, the 20 year-old Christian was arrested. The night between 14 and 15 September, the young man was found dead by guards, an apparent committed suicide, but the signs of torture present all over his body indicate that the young man died from the violence suffered in the cell.
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