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| India-Pakistan |
| Blasphemy law may be amended to prevent abuse: Bhatti |
| 2010-11-24 |
| [Pak Daily Times] The country will not repeal its blasphemy law, but may amend it to prevent abuse because scrapping the legislation could fuel militancy, Minorities Minister Shahbaz Bhatti said on Tuesday. The law, which carries the death penalty for insulting Islam or Prophet Muhammad (PTUI!), has come under the spotlight this month after a court sentenced a Christian mother of four, Aasia Bibi, to death in a case stemming from a village dispute. Widespread media attention on the case has led to renewed appeals by human rights ... which are not the same thing as individual rights, mind you... groups for the repeal of the law. Bhatti said that would not happen. "Repeal is not being considered though we are considering changing it so that misuse of the law should be stopped," Bhatti told Rooters. Blasphemy convictions are common although the death sentence has never been carried out. Most convictions are thrown out on appeal, but angry mobs have killed many people accused of blasphemy. Bhatti said consultations with Islamic holy mans and representatives of religious minorities on amending the law would soon be held. He said repealing it was not being considered because that could provoke religious parties and snuffies who want to topple the civilian government. "We have to analyse what the reaction of those having intolerant attitudes will be," he said. "At this point our aim is to stop its misuse." |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #3 I would like to blaspheme right now just because this article enrages me. Allah doesn't exist. He is made up. A fairy tale, just like Santa Claus only nasty. Mohammed never talked to the angel Gabrielle. He was having hallucinations caused by mental illness or he just made it up to try to give himself divine legitimacy as the bloodthirsty warlord he was trying to win power. So the koran is most likely just a bunch of lies. Second most likely explanation is Mohammed was just schizophrenic, hearing voices and truly believed it. At any rate Mohammed was not the kind of person one should make into a respected prophet. Alive today we would lock him up for murder, inciting racial violence, polygamy and pedophilia. Go to hell, Islam, I don't respect your religion! There you go, now take me to court for blasphemy!! |
| Posted by: anon1 2010-11-24 18:38 |
| #2 blasphemy law is one more reason to NEVER let Sharia law get a toehold in the USA or Australia they are trying then we LOSE freedom of speech. No freedom to criticise Islam, Mohammed or religion. I like criticising religion, religions often have stupid elements that cause people to act irrationally due to belief in a supernatural being that doesn't exist. Stupid. I should be free to criticise and NOT be charged with blasphemy. Kick those holymen OUT |
| Posted by: anon1 2010-11-24 18:32 |
| #1 How about innocent until proven guilty, and the losing party gets the death penalty? |
| Posted by: gorb 2010-11-24 00:23 |