Blasphemy is being used as a weapon by extremists, not only against the so-called blasphemer but against the judiciary too
Pakistan's Asia Bibi is awarded the honorary citizenship of Paris by mayor Anne Hidalgo, on February 25 2020. She had been sentenced to death for blasphemy in 2010. Picture: AFP/THOMAS SAMSONInside a small Lahore courtroom, the packed crowd attending the hearing of a blasphemy case against a Christian pastor is most notable for the absence of hardline clerics shouting insults and demanding the death penalty.
Her release was pounced on by the hardline Islamist Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan party , which was formed five years ago and gained influence by weaponising the blasphemy issue. A government crackdown ensued that netted thousands of TLP loyalists — a move that Prince’s lawyer, Asad Jamal, credits for the absence of the“The voice of the [religious] far right has been muffled,” Jamal said, adding that the crackdown had sent a clear signal to the extremists who abandoned their courtroom lobbying. But if that lowered the intimidating decibel levels in court, “the feeling of fear is still there” among the magistrates, Jamal stressed.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Blasphemy in Pakistan is too scary for even politicians to addressBlasphemy is being used as a weapon by extremists, not only against the so-called blasphemer but against the judiciary too
Read more »
Black Coffee drops bars on the industry: We don’t have promoters in SA, only club ownersHe said this was different to those outside the country, where promoters are more prevalent and push a genre more.
Read more »
What a hit! Somizi and Mohale's wedding special breaks streaming record“We expected Somhale to do well, but the response was even bigger than we’d hoped, and it goes to show how our shift to local content is paying dividends.”
Read more »
What a hit! Somizi and Mohale's wedding special breaks streaming recordSomizi and Mohale's traditional wedding was one of the biggest events of 2018 and a TV special of the big day was a huge hit with audiences, breaking Showmax's viewership record.
Read more »
Moody’s highlights wage negotiations as a risk to budget plansEven if the government achieves its savings, this will not stabilise debt given weak growth prospects
Read more »
Why SA’s job of progressing to Women’s T20 World Cup semis has become slightly easierWith the West Indies losing to Pakistan and England brushing aside Thailand on Wednesday‚ SA’s job of progressing to the Women’s T20 World Cup semifinals has become slightly easier.
Read more »