The act of reviling, ridiculing, or being disrespectful or irreverent of, by words or conduct, God, religion, a religious doctrine, a religious icon, or anything considered sacred is blasphemy. It is a crime under common law. The offence is one of strict liability. Thus, “intent to commit an act of blasphemy is irrelevant; all that matters is whether the accused did in fact publish the material that is the subject of prosecution.”
The blasphemy law was brought in the penal code by British in 1927 and made it a criminal offence to commit in sub-continent “deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religious belief”. The law did not discriminate between religions.
The blasphemy in Pakistani law was retained and the British blasphemy law was implemented after the independence until Zia military regime1. This law was amended in 1986 and death penalty for anyone found guilty of defaming Islam was introduced.
Ten cases were reported in fifty-eight years from 1927 to 1985 but since then more than 4000 cases are reported. The Pakistan penal code states about Blasphemy law under section 295-A, “Deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs.” So according to this article of penal code who ever insult the religious beliefs of other person commit a crime and should be punished.
Posts
