Pakistan | Bitter Winter

Pakistan: Women’s Rights Activists Accused of Blasphemy

The ubiquitous anti-blasphemy laws are used to threaten women activists with the death penalty, using fabricated evidence.

A nurse was accused of blasphemy for her criticism of the government’s reaction to the European Parliament motion censoring the country.

A motion asks the Commission to reconsider the privileged GSP+ status accorded to the country, because of its gross violations of religious liberty.

In Pakistan, reporters who criticize the authorities or denounce human rights violations are routinely attacked.

A French woman wrote a lavish article praising Chinese politics in Xinjiang. There is only one problem, she is a counterfeit.

A mob demolished the minarets and mihrab of the building in Muzaffargarh, Pakistan. Again, the police sided with the thugs.

Religious extremists and the “encroachment mafia” likely cooperated in the attack in Purana Qila.

The journalist who reported on it is now himself at risk of being arrested.

Sajjad Masih Gill was serving a life sentence from 2013 for allegedly offensive SMS. On appeal, judges said this was not enough.

These days good news is rare in the field of religious liberty. But while the case of Pakistan remains serious, good news should be heralded.