The writer of this JURIST dispatch from Pakistan has asked that their name be withheld due to circumstances within the country.
On Thursday last week, a blasphemy suspect was shot dead while in police custody in Quetta, a southwestern city in Pakistan, after a policeman opened fire on him inside the police station where he was being held. The day before, the suspect had been arrested following a complaint from local religious leaders and others, accusing him of making derogatory remarks about Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) during a live conversation on social media. A First Information Report (FIR) was filed against him under Section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code, charging him with blasphemy. Following the arrest, violent protests broke out, with an enraged mob demanding the suspect be handed over to them. Protesters even attacked the police station with a grenade. Eventually, after negotiations involving district administration officials and senior police officers, the protesters were dispersed, and blocked roads were reopened. However, despite efforts to maintain order, a police officer, claiming to act in defense of religious honor, shot and killed the suspect while he was still in custody.
This tragic event, while shocking, is not unprecedented in Pakistan. Similar incidents have occurred over the years. A report by the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) highlights the growing number of blasphemy accusations and the disturbing consequences that follow. Since Pakistan’s creation in 1947 up until 2021, around 89 people have been killed extra-judicially in connection with approximately 1,500 blasphemy accusations. The escalation is alarming: between 1948 and 1978, there were only 11 reported cases of blasphemy accusations, leading to three extrajudicial killings. However, from 1987 to 2021, these numbers surged, with accusations increasing by 1,300 percent.
International organizations like the United Nations have voiced concerns about Pakistan’s blasphemy laws, blaming them for the current state of affairs. The 2024 Annual Report by the UN Commission on International Religious Freedom strongly criticized Pakistan’s blasphemy laws and called for the immediate release of “blasphemy prisoners” as well as the “repeal of blasphemy and anti-Ahmadiyya laws.” The argument is that these laws allow for false accusations, putting innocent people at risk.
While there is truth in this criticism, it doesn’t paint the full picture. The real problem lies not solely in the existence of these laws, but in the socio-religious factors that drive people to take matters into their own hands. Most victims of blasphemy accusations are harmed not because of the laws, but in spite of them. Even without these laws, individuals accused of blasphemy would still face violence or death at the hands of mobs. In fact, without these laws, many accused might be at even greater risk, as the legal system, however flawed, provides some protection from immediate harm.
The root cause of the issue is less about legal frameworks and more about socio-religious indoctrination. This stems from a fanatic narrative that some religious leaders have deeply ingrained into society—that any form of blasphemy is the greatest threat to the religion, and it is the duty of every believer to seek revenge. While there is a consensus among Islamic jurists that it is the state’s responsibility to decide guilt and innocence through fair trials, this is often undermined by religious leaders. These leaders use incendiary rhetoric, inciting their followers to take matters into their own hands. Often, political motives are intertwined with religious fervor, with leaders using this rhetoric to gain public favor. A recent example is when a top leader of a prominent religious party incited hatred against Chief Justice of Pakistan Faez Isa, who was handling a blasphemy case, offering a bounty of Rs. 10 million to anyone who would “bring the head” of the Chief Justice. Ordinary people are often driven to commit violent acts because of the high honor and praise associated with such actions. History offers numerous examples: Mumtaz Qadri, who assassinated Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer in 2011 for advocating reform of blasphemy laws, was hailed as a hero and earned the title of Ghazi (Islamic warrior). Similarly, in 2020, a teenager named Khalid shot and killed a blasphemy suspect in a courtroom during a hearing and was fully supported and praised. These individuals are glorified for their supposed “faithfulness” despite their crimes.
This deeply ingrained mindset does not stem from the blasphemy laws themselves but from socio-religious indoctrination. Many individuals who commit these acts may not even be aware of the specific legal framework surrounding blasphemy accusations. Instead, they are driven by the belief that their actions will elevate their status in the eyes of their community and religion.
Merely changing or repealing blasphemy laws will not resolve the issue. The real challenge is to address the deep-seated religious fanaticism that has no connection with the true teachings of Islam. Much groundwork is needed within society to help people unlearn distorted religious beliefs and recognize that Islam, at its core, does not condone violence or the killing of people in its name. It must be taught that harming or killing others is just as blasphemous as using derogatory language against Islam—both are violations of Islamic teachings. Only through this shift in mindset can lasting change be achieved.
