Release International

Release International has condemned calls to ban the Bible in Pakistan on grounds of 'blasphemy' against Islam. An extremist group has declared the Bible blasphemous and pornographic, containing passages that are 'a cause of humiliation against Muslims'.

'Christians in Islamic nations are usually referred to as "People of the Book", says Andy Dipper, CEO of human rights organisation Release International. 'But if extremists now claim the Book itself is blasphemous, then what persecution lies in wait for the People of the Book - Christians?

'Pakistan's notorious blasphemy laws are already wide open to hijack by extremists. Assassins killed Salman Taseer and Shahbaz Bhatti, two high-profile public figures who dared to challenge these laws. And a Christian woman, Asia Bibi, remains on death row falsely accused of blasphemy.

'Pakistan's politicians must stand up to this inflammatory challenge to ban the Bible or see their nation slide further into lawlessness and extremism.'

The Samiul Haq faction of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam party has given the Supreme Court 30 days to take action to ban the Bible. If the court fails, its leader, Maulana Abdur Raoof Farooqi warned the Express Tribune 'pages from the Bible will be burned all over the world'.

'Our fear is that it won't just be Bibles that will be burnt if this rallying cry is heeded,' warned Andy Dipper. 'We have seen churches attacked, burned and Christians killed during similar outbursts of intolerance. We have to recognise that in the minds of the extremists, it is not just the Book, but those who believe in the book - Christians - who are considered to be blasphemous. Pakistan must not give in to these demands.'

Christians in Pakistan have condemned the proposed ban as degrading and against their fundamental religious freedom. Lahore Bishop Dr Alexander John Malik said the move would sow discord among religious communities, and be a violation of religious freedom guaranteed under the constitution.

Christian human rights activist, Bruce Bhatti, from Lahore, told Minorities Concern of Pakistan that banning the Bible was 'a dangerous demand based on hate [that] will further promote religious intolerance in the country where Christians have been persecuted because of their faith.'

The call for a Bible ban comes amid a continuing backlash against the burning of a Koran by an individual in the USA, the assassination of Osama bin Laden, and simmering anger towards the publication of the Danish Mohammed cartoons.

One justification given for the proposed ban is resentment of the Bible's honest approach to the character flaws of key figures, such as Abraham and Isaac. Maulana Abdur Raoof Farooqi, who is calling for the ban, said the Bible's writers had inserted passages into the scriptures to charge some prophets with 'moral crimes' which 'undermine the sanctity of these holy figures'.

Christians make up 2.5 per cent of Pakistan's population of almost 173 million. In January, Release presented a 51,000-name petition to the High Commissioner of Pakistan in London, calling for increased protection for Pakistan's Christian minority.