Bishops in Pakistan demand repeal of blasphemy laws

(Aug.06,2009): In Pakistan, Catholic bishops are urging the government to repeal the country's blasphemy laws, saying they are being misused and causing problems for minorities in Pakistan. Church-held press conferences have been taking place around the country expressing concern over recent attacks on Christians in Punjab province.I n an Aug. 4 press conference, chaired by Vicar General Father Arthur Charles at the Karachi Press Club, Archbishop Evarist Pinto of Karachi demanded, that the government abolish the blasphemy laws, make public the findings of its enquiry commission, and provide immediate compensation to victims of the attack on Gojra village on Aug 1st.
Seven Catholics were burnt alive, when a Muslim mob vandalized and looted 68 Christian houses and damaged two Protestant churches in Gojra. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, as well as the Catholic Bishop's National Commission for Justice and Peace said in their Aug. 4 reports that the killing and desecration of houses could have been avoided, if the people and security forces had taken timely action against the militant groups, who constantly threaten the Christian minorities with false allegations and use the blasphemy laws against them.
Archbishop Pinto also said at the press conference that several innocent Christians, who have been charged under these controversial laws, continue to languish in jails, awaiting trial. Father Charles told reporters that a study of the last 1,000 blasphemy cases revealed that 90 per cent of them were against Christians and were mostly untrue.
Christian leaders in Hyderabad have also condemned the attacks and demanded the repeal of the blasphemy laws at an Aug. 5 press conference and protest rally. Meanwhile, the Christian community has announced it will observe a "Black Minority's Day" on Aug. 11 to protest the Gojra killings. The announcement follows the call of Archbishop Lawrence Saldanha of Lahore to observe a period of mourning from Aug. 10-12.