Expressing alarm over a rise in false blasphemy accusations in Pakistan, the UN Human Rights Committee last week urged repeal or amending of the country’s harsh blasphemy laws.
The committee noted that false blasphemy accusations led to Islamist mob violence and advisable amending the laws in accordance with requirements of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
In Nov. 7 concluding observations of the committee’s second periodic report on Pakistan, it stated concern over sections 295 and 298 of the Pakistan Penal Code, which carry severe penalties, including the death penalty, and have a disproportionate impact on religious minorities.
“It can be concerned in regards to the increasing variety of individuals incarcerated under blasphemy charges, the high variety of blasphemy cases based on false accusations, violence against those accused of blasphemy, fostering vigilante justice, and allegations of entrapment of individuals, particularly young individuals, on accusations of on-line blasphemy under cybercrime laws,” the committee stated.
It emphasized ending use of cybercrime laws, reminiscent of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016, to prosecute and detain those accused of breaching blasphemy laws online. The committee also urged the federal government to research allegations of massive abuse of blasphemy laws in reference to cybercrime laws and publish the outcomes of the inquiries.
“[The committee] can be concerned in regards to the chilling effect that criminal defamation laws, blasphemy, sedition and counter-terrorism laws, and other recently passed laws have on the exercise of freedom of expression by journalists, activists, human rights defenders and members of ethnic and non secular minorities,” it stated.
Urging Pakistan to take all crucial measures to ensure prompt and fair trials for all individuals charged with blasphemy or other offenses against religion, the committee highlighted jail conditions, stating that it was “also concerned about reports of abuse of ladies prisoners, including sexual violence, and that individuals accused of blasphemy are sometimes placed in solitary confinement for prolonged periods of time. It stays concerned in regards to the widespread recourse to prolonged pretrial detention.”
Mob Violence
The committee cited reports of increased violence and intimidation against religious minorities, together with the destruction of their worship places in Pakistan.
It also identified lack of protection of the religious minorities and lack of accountability for the crimes committed against them. The UN rights body advisable that Pakistan prevent all types of discrimination and violence against religious minorities.
“The Human Rights Committee is deeply concerned about reports of the rise of discrimination, hate speech and crimes, mob violence, harassment, and intimidation against religious minorities, particularly Christians, Ahmadis, Hindus, Shias and Sikhs, in addition to the destruction of their places of worship and cemeteries, as was the case in Jaranwala in August 2023,” it stated. “In particular, [Pakistan] should take all of the measures crucial to forestall violent attacks against individuals accused of blasphemy, particularly those under police custody or in detention, and investigate these attacks, including mob lynchings and killings, ensuring that every one perpetrators are prosecuted, convicted and appropriately sanctioned.”
It added that authorities should be certain that all who incite or engage in violence based on allegations of blasphemy, in addition to those that falsely accuse others of blasphemy, be delivered to justice and duly punished.
Forced Conversion/Marriage
Calling for immediate measures to guard women and girls, particularly religious minorities, from forced conversion to Islam and from forced marriage, the committee said the federal government “must raise the minimum age of marriage for each girls and boys to 18 years throughout the country without exceptions.”
“[The committee] is worried about reports of the persistent practice of abducting girls who belong to spiritual minorities and forcing them to marry – no matter their age and the prevailing law – and convert to Islam under the specter of violence, which ends up in rape, trafficking and other types of sexual and gender-based violence against these girls,” it stated.
It expressed concern about reports of the widespread impunity surrounding these cases.
“Victims are frequently not returned to their families during investigations but forced to stick with their abductors, including members of organized criminal groups, or placed in unnecessary and inappropriate alternative care facilities, with no or limited regard for child protection standards, exposing victims to further risk of exploitation, abuse and harmful practices,” the committee stated.
It urged Pakistan to accentuate efforts to eradicate forced conversions and compelled marriages, including strengthening its legal framework and enforcement mechanisms.
“The state party must also be certain that all allegations of forced conversions and compelled marriages of women are promptly, impartially and effectively investigated, that those responsible are delivered to justice, and that every one victims have access to effective remedies and support services reminiscent of adequate shelters, legal aid, psychological counselling and rehabilitation programs,” it stated.
While noting the adoption of the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Act 2021, the committee expressed concerns about frequent reports of forced disappearances, torture, killing, threats, and harassment of journalists and human rights defenders.
Pakistan should investigate such incidents, prosecute the perpetrators and compensate victims, it stated.
Expressing concern about alarmingly frequent web shutdowns amongst other technique of blocking social media platforms and online content, it called upon Pakistan to stop restricting freedom of expression and be certain that criminal laws and counter-terrorism laws are usually not used to silence journalists and human rights defenders.
The committee noted that Pakistani laws punishes with the death penalty greater than 30 crimes, including non-violent offenses that don’t meet the brink of the “most serious crimes” throughout the meaning of the ICCPR, including blasphemy.
The committee considered reports from six nations – Ecuador, France, Greece, Iceland, Pakistan and Türkiye – during its 142nd session on Oct. 17-18 in Geneva. The concluding observations contain concerns and proposals to implement the ICCPR and other related conventions.
Pakistan ranked seventh on Open Doors’ 2024 World Watch List of probably the most difficult places to be a Christian, because it was the previous yr.
