A rights group asserts that Pakistan’s blasphemy laws are being used for persecution against minorities and as a means of retaliation.
In its report “A Conspiracy to Grab the Land: Exploiting Pakistan’s Blasphemy Laws for Blackmail and Profit,” Human Rights Watch points to the systematic misuse of blasphemy laws in Pakistan. Referencing the report, Christian Daily International-Morning Star News explains that “blasphemy accusations are increasingly weaponized to incite mob violence, displace vulnerable communities and seize their property with impunity.”
Christians often are targets for such accusations, the report notes.
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In Pakistan, which is predominantly Muslim, “blasphemy remains a capital offense … punishable by death,” states Christian Daily-Morning Star. “Although the state has not executed anyone under the law, mere accusations have triggered mob violence resulting in dozens of deaths over the past decade. The accused often endure long pretrial detentions, unfair trials and constant threat of extrajudicial killing.
“In several cases, blasphemy accusations were used to target business rivals or coerce property transfers,” the news outlet continues. “The law’s broad and vague provisions allow it to be exploited with minimal or no evidence, creating a climate of fear among vulnerable groups.”
The court system and law enforcement are enablers, the rights group says.
Information in the report is based on eight months of interviews with people accused of blasphemy, attorneys, judges, journalists and others in Pakistan’s Punjab province, the news outlet states.
World Watch
Pakistan is No. 8 on Open Doors’ 2025 World Watch List of 50 places most difficult to be a Christian.
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