Pakistan Christian Cabinet member urges re-think of blasphemy law

Rimsha Masih (Image courtesy Asia News)

Pakistan (MNN) ― What began as a blasphemy accusation has led to scandal and a call to re-evaluate Pakistan's blasphemy law.

Todd Nettleton, spokesman for Voice of the Martyrs USA, says the blasphemy law is often misused by Muslims to settle personal scores with Christians. Even unproven allegations can prompt a violent public response.

"Whatever it is that you wanted to get even with them for, you can take care of that while they're locked away in prison", says Nettleton. "Even if eventually the court says, 'There was no evidence of this. This is a ridiculous charge; let this person go.' They've still lost four to seven years of their lives fighting the charges and waiting for the legal process to go forward."

Nettleton goes on to say, "The level of what it takes to get the charges filed is so small, and it really ruins somebody's life." Gospel work has been negatively impacted, too. He explains that "if you say anything negative about Mohammed, that's blasphemy. Obviously as we share the Gospel, we want to do that out of a sense of love and out of a sense of respect. But at some point, when you compare two religions, you're probably going to say something negative about Islam and about Mohammed and about the Quran. All of those things would fall under the blasphemy laws there in Pakistan."

In other words, the interpretation is loose, and yet the penalties are harsh. Convictions carry the potential of a life sentence for desecrating the Quran and the death penalty for insulting the prophet Muhammad.

The case that started the ball rolling involves a young girl, Rimsha Masih, who is developmentally disabled. She is in custody nearly three weeks after she was accused of burning pages containing verses from the Quran.

In an odd twist to the case, Nettleton says, "The mullah at her local mosque: apparently now there are witnesses who say he put the burned pages in her stuff and then took the stuff to the police and said, 'This is Rimsha's stuff.' She's been burning pages from a Quran'."

Investigating authorities found the motive revealing. "Apparently now, it was all a set up by him to try to get the Christians out of the village or create animosity by the Muslims toward the Christians. So that evidence coming on top of the questions that were already there because of her age, or because of her mental capacity, is really giving some momentum to this idea of 'this is really a black eye for the entire country to have these laws on the books.'" With that evidence, the cleric was arrested for tampering with evidence. Activists hope to use the case to stop the abuse of Pakistan's strict laws on insulting Islam.

As a result of the turn of events, activists hope Masih could be released as early as tomorrow. According to Open Doors News, Rimsha Masih is likely to be cleared of the blasphemy charge against her, but Nettleton says the family's life is changed. "Even if she is released on Friday and is returned to her family, there is still an issue of safety for them that we can pray about and pray for."

Police put the girl in jail both to placate angry demonstrators and to keep Rimsha safe from attack. Her parents likewise were removed to protective custody, while hundreds of Christian neighbors fled to the relative safety of more distant Islamabad sectors.

Paul Bhatti is the Minister for National Harmony, and the only Christian on the cabinet. He is calling for a re-evaluation of how the law is enforced. His brother and predecessor Shahbaz Bhatti was gunned down last year for speaking out against the blasphemy law.

However, Nettleton says the circumstances now are different. "The fact that someone has suggested reforming the blasphemy law is not a new thing. What will be interesting to see--especially in light of this mullah being arrested--is if this gains any traction within the legislative process there and if there is really some practical change for the Christians in Pakistan."

Pray for justice, as it relates to the blasphemy law. This is a unique opening to change laws that are unfair. "Pray for the Christian community there, regardless of what happens with the government or what happens with the blasphemy laws, that they will continue to focus on Christ and be a witness for Him in spite of whatever laws are on the books or whatever persecution comes their way."

Emir rejects death penalty for blasphemy

Church compound in Kuwait (Flickr photo by Samira)

Kuwait (MNN) ― Kuwait's proposed changes to blasphemy law continue to polarize.

Although the amendment was backed by 46 votes, the Emir rejected changes that sought the death penalty for those who blaspheme. Todd Nettleton with Voice of the Martyrs says the decision provoked a lot of backlash. However, "It seems that that legislation is going to die. It's not going to come before the entire parliament for a vote, which is obviously good news for Christians."

Even though the law had been approved by lawmakers and state ministers in two rounds of voting, the Emir still has the power to block parliament.  

The question is: why he would refuse to add the death penalty as has been done in Iran and Pakistan? Nettleton explains, "One of the things that has happened just within the last week: a Kuwaiti man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison, and among the charges against him were 'insulting the prophet Mohammed.'" 

  

The case could be pertinent to the Emir's decision. Nettleton shares some thoughts on the issue. "I'm wondering if this man being sentenced has sort of taken the need for the death penalty off of the table. 'We are addressing the issue harshly; we are taking care of those who would blaspheme the Prophet. We've just locked this guy up for 10 years.' I don't know if that played into the decision to table the legislation or not, but it's interesting that the two would happen so close together."

The biggest question mark in deciding blasphemy cases is what really defines blasphemy? "If you're a Christian in Kuwait, you wonder 'where is the line of blasphemy? If I'm witnessing to a Muslim, if I'm explaining to them why I think Jesus Christ is superior to the Prophet Mohammed, is that blasphemy?'"

For example, in Pakistan, the law is used to settle feuds and other personal scores, nearly always in favor of the Muslim. Nettleton says similar legal questions are being debated in Kuwait. "It's hard to know how it would be enforced or how it would be put into practice. What happened in Pakistan is that the blasphemy law sort of becomes a big club to beat Christians over the head with."

Although Kuwait's constitution technically protects freedom of belief, Islam is the state religion and Islamic law (Sharia) is an important source of legislation. The situation has deepened the rift between the Shia and Sunni majority Muslims and could worsen with the proposed changes.

Christians, however, have not had an easy time in Kuwait. The country is #30 on the Open Doors World Watch List, a compilation of countries known for their persecution of Christians. There are only a few hundred Kuwaiti believers; most Christians are foreign workers. "Pray for the Church in Kuwait. There is a Church there. There are believers there. We can pray that they will be encouraged, that they will be bold witnesses for Christ."

There is no word on the next step parliament will take next on the penal code changes in the blasphemy law. That's a window of opportunity. Nettleton says, "We can pray for the government. We can pray against laws that would take away religious freedom that would take away the right of Christians to be a witness, to worship together, anything that would hinder their living out their faith."