Interfaith harmony

Dawn Editorial
Saturday, 03 Oct, 2009

Pope Benedict urged President Zardari on Thursday to guarantee the safety of Pakistan’s Christian communities and to curtail the violence perpetrated against them. A statement issued subsequently by the Vatican said that the talks focused on ‘elements that have favoured such incidents.’ This is understood as a reference to groups that appear to have exploited Section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code — the infamous blasphemy law.

The Pope’s exhortation is an indication of growing international concern about violence against Pakistani Christians. This summer alone, the country has seen two highly-publicised cases: the Gojra tragedy and the death in custody of young Fanish Masih. In the former case, government officials said at the time that the violence may have been the work of banned religious or sectarian outfits. Masih’s death was passed off as ‘suicide.’

There are two threads of concern here. First, the blasphemy law must either be repealed or reframed so that it cannot be misused. Allegations of blasphemy are often used to stoke Muslim fury to the boiling point, and the existence of the blasphemy law signals state tolerance for subsequent violence.

In neither the Gojra case or in earlier such incidents did the law enforcement agencies make a credible attempt at restraining the mob or bringing the perpetrators to book. Effective prosecution would without doubt serve as a significant deterrent.

Second, Pakistan’s minority Christian community is an equal part of the citizenry, and must as a matter of course enjoy the same protections and rights. It is incumbent upon the state to protect the lives, properties and freedoms of all citizens, regardless of religious affiliations. Furthermore, the majority Muslim community must be taught to demonstrate self-restraint, respect for the life and property of others and adherence to the rule of law. The country cannot risk the attacks against Christians turning into a sustained pogrom against minorities.

(Dawn)