Release International warns of increased religious persecution fearing Christians jailed on false accusations could be hanged and climate of intolerance could lead to further attacks

Release International

An influential court in Pakistan is calling for the mandatory death sentence for blasphemy. The UK-based religious liberty group Release International believes the move - if implemented - could result in further attacks and accusations against Pakistan's Christian minority. It could also lead to the execution of those who have been falsely accused of blasphemy.

The ruling by the Federal Sharia Court represents a significant push towards hard-line Islamic law in Pakistan. Release contacts fear death by hanging could come within weeks of conviction if the President decides to implement the order, which was passed by the Sharia court last Wednesday.

Currently, most defendants convicted of blasphemy are serving a life sentence, even though the official penalty for defaming Islam's prophet Mohammed is death. The decision by the Sharia court would rule out jail sentences for those found guilty of blasphemy and mandate their execution.

Accusations of blasphemy are often levelled against individuals as a way of taking revenge or settling scores. Just the accusation can result in assassination, even for those cleared of the charges.

'This is grave news, not just for Christians convicted of blasphemy but also for the many who are falsely accused,' says Release International UK Director Colin King. 'Extremists may interpret the Sharia court's ruling as further licence to attack even those whose cases have not yet come to court.'

Release contacts say the Sharia court wants to see the order implemented 'within a couple of months'. If that happens, they say, those convicted of blasphemy may not get the chance to appeal.

Currently, many Christians are convicted and then spend years in jail waiting for their appeal to be heard in court. They include Asia Bibi, the first Christian woman to be sentenced to death for alleged blasphemy - a charge she denies. Asia, a farm labourer from Punjab, remains on death row, awaiting appeal; she was first detained in 2009.

'If this ruling is implemented by Pakistan's Government, it will mean a speedy implementation of blasphemy convictions, without any delay for appeals,' says a Release partner, who cannot be named for their protection. It could lead to even harsher conditions for prisoners on death row.

'If the court and Government are testing the water to see how the world responds to this, it is very important to show a strong reaction against it, to force the Government to back down in the face of international pressure.'

Release's partner also fears the move could open the door to hard-line Sharia law in Pakistan and an increase in religious persecution.

'If the Government succumbs to this ruling, it will open a floodgate allowing other aspects of Sharia to be dictated in the same way. In the long run, it could lead to Pakistan becoming a theocracy instead of having a secular parliament - which is bad news for Pakistan's Christians.'

The Federal Sharia Court announced its decision last Wednesday - citing a ruling it made in 1990 that the penalty for blasphemy against the prophet Mohammed under Section 295-C should be the death sentence. Under the constitution, the Federal Sharia Court has jurisdiction over deciding whether the laws of the country comply with Sharia (Islamic law). If a law is found to violate principles of Islamic law, the President should 'amend the law' so it complies with 'the injunctions of Islam'.

Release and other religious liberty groups have long campaigned for the repeal of Pakistan's notorious blasphemy laws, which conspire to create a culture of religious intolerance and result in vigilantism.

In July 2010, Pastor Rashid Emmanuel and his brother, Sajid, who were on trial for blasphemy, were shot dead outside the courtroom. And as recently as last month, Pakistani Christian Adnan Masih, accused of blasphemy against the prophet Mohammed, surrendered himself voluntarily into policy custody after receiving death threats.

High-profile figures who have dared to speak out against the blasphemy laws have paid with their lives. In January 2011, Punjab Governor Salman Taseer was shot dead by one of his bodyguards. Two months later, Government Minorities Affairs Minister, Shahbaz Bhatti, also an outspoken critic of the legislation, was assassinated in Islamabad.

While blasphemy cases are brought against other religious groups, including Muslims, the number brought against Christians is disproportionately high.