UN criticizes application of Pakistan’s blasphemy laws

(June 01, 2012) Pakistani judges are often pressured to convict people accused under the country's blasphemy laws that call for the death penalty for anyone insulting Islam, a special United Nations representative said earlier this week. Gabriela Knaul, the U.N.'s Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, told a news conference on Tuesday in Islamabad that lawyers are also reluctant to defend clients accused under the blasphemy laws because of intimidation. Pakistan's blasphemy laws call for the death penalty for anyone insulting Islam, its holy book or the Prophet Muhammad. The notorious laws are often abused against minorities, especially Christians, and also to settle personal scores. Knaul said he has received reports that judges have been coerced to decide against the accused even without supporting evidence. ``They are afraid of reprisals by local communities because of their interpretation of the law,'' she added. Last year, two prominent Pakistani political figures who spoke out against the blasphemy laws were killed in attacks that raised concerns about the rise of religious extremism in Pakistan. Liberal politician Salman Taseer was shot and killed by one of his own guards in January 2011, and in March 2011, militants gunned down Shahbaz Bhatti, the only Christian minister in Pakistan's Cabinet. Knaul made the comments as she was wrapping up an 11-day trip to Pakistan looking at the country's judicial system.