Preserving Blasphemy Laws Intact Into the 21st Century

While the fate of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani in Iran, who narrowly escaped being stoned to death earlier this year, still hangs in the balance, another gruesome Islamo-fascist punishment is on the verge of being carried out in Pakistan. Asia Bibi, a 45-year-old field worker and member of Pakistan's much persecuted Christian minority, was sentenced to death for blasphemy. Yes, blasphemy. In 2010.

Asia Bibi has been in jail for the past year and a half, since she was accused of insulting the Muslim prophet "after she got into a heated argument with Muslim co-workers who refused to drink from a bucket of water she had touched" according to The Freethinker.

She remains in prison, though an appeal to the country's president may mean she will get a stay of execution. Still, she could face a lengthy imprisonment and would be in grave danger of being killed by freelancing fanatics, furious that she was not executed by the government. Following threats, her family is now in hiding, in fear of their lives, according to a recent update on the case.

Meanwhile in other news from countries where religious minorities and atheists are treated like crap, in the increasingly extremist Indonesia, the Indonesian Constitutional Court upheld a blasphemy law earlier this year which Indonesian filmmaker Garin Nugroho has called "the biggest setback for democracy and pluralism in the history of our nation." Nugroho was verbally assaulted as he left the courtroom in April by hardline extremists who favour the law. Other experts who criticized the backwards law in their testimony were physically assaulted, perhaps a sign to the Court that Indonesia could stand for more tolerance in its society, not less.

Christina Schott of Qantara.de explains how intolerance is codified in Indonesian law:

Six religions are officially recognized in Indonesia, which has the largest Muslim population in the world: Islam, Protestantism, Catholicism, Hinduism, Buddhism and Confucianism. Followers of minority religions, such as Sikhs or animists, are tolerated, but those who do not profess one of the six official religions cannot hold an identity card or obtain a marriage certificate.

In practice this means that it is illegal for a citizen's faith to fall outside of any religious practices that diverge from the above, such as Ahmadi Muslims, and it is legally impossible to be an atheist. In 2008, Ahmadi Muslims were banned by the government, under pressure from conservative extremists, from undertaking any activities.

Schott explains how the law is generally used to go after Muslims who deviate from the mainsteam interpretations of Islam. Like in Pakistan, mere verbiage deemed to be insulting to Islam, according to no clearly defined criteria, whips Indonesian fanatics into a violent frenzy:

In December 2008 a Christian primary school teacher was arrested on the Moluccas because she was said to have made disparaging remarks about Islam during class. On the basis of this rumour alone, hundreds of furious Muslims destroyed 67 houses, a church, and a meeting hall. Five people were injured. Only two of the rioters were arrested.

Here is a video on youtube of a mosque ablaze, burned down by a mullah because Ahmadis practiced there.

When an evident lack of tolerance for religious diversity and freedom of religion presents a danger to citizens and their property, as in the examples above, one would think the Indonesian Government might be compelled to take measures to foster pluralism. Instead, they have opted to codify intolerance towards religious minorities and atheists into their legal system, adding fuel to the fire. It's a situation that will likely only further destabilize the country and lead to further conflict- something that Indonesia could stand less of in light of its recent history.

Though you would never know it, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which obliges member states to protect freedom of religion, is binding on both Pakistan and Indonesia. Back in 1948, Pakistan had even voted for the Declaration's adoption by the U.N. General Assembly, while other countries (like South Africa, Saudi Arabia and the USSR) abstained. It would seem that Pakistan has steadily slid backwards from those early months of its existence, rather than forwards. Article 18 of the Declaration says:

Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

But no matter. Its just words on paper.

To sign a petition calling for a repeal of Pakistan's outrageous and archaic blasphemy laws, please go to Release International's website.

Lauryn Oates is a Contributing Writer for The Propagandist.