Pakistan, Blasphemy Laws Controversy: Shahbaz Bhatti

** WARNING** - At the bottom of this post is a picture of the vehicle in which Shahbaz Bhatti was murdered in. If you do not wish to see this, please scroll slowly!

• Shahbaz Bhatti was killed in Islamabad, Pakistan.
• Shahbaz Bhatti was the only Christian member of Pakistan's federal Cabinet.
• 42-years old, he had been aware of the danger, saying in a video-taped message meant for broadcast in the event of his death that he was being threatened by the Taliban and al Qaeda
• The assailants were supposedly al Qaeda and Taliban.
• The video-taped message was left with the British Broadcasting Corp. and the Al-Jazeera satellite TV station to be aired after his death.
• He said on the tape that threats by al Qaeda and the Taliban would not change his views, including speaking out for "oppressed and marginalized persecuted Christians and other minorities" in Pakistan.

• He had been nervous about using security guards because it was a bodyguard in January that killed Punjab province Gov. Salman Taseer, another opponent of the blasphemy laws.
• The Islamic Republic of Pakistan uses its Penal Code to prohibit and punish blasphemy against Islam.
• The purposes of the blasphemy laws are to protect Islamic Authority, while still forbidding prejudice and hurtfulness of others religions.

Interrelated

Political

Social/Cultural

Political workers and other people in power are being targeted by racist terrorist groups. When people are told not to do something, they do it. Those who are accused of blasphemy may be subject to harassment, threats, and attacks. In the Bhatti case, Government officials condemned the killing, but made no reference to the blasphemy law controversy. Several Muslim leaders in Pakistan either offered a tepid condemnation or alleged the assassination was part of an American-led conspiracy to drive a wedge between Muslims and Christians.

Al Qaeda and the Pakistani Taliban have gained power from the murders, for they have claimed responsibility and there earned respect in their own ranks. Rev. Federico Lombardi of the Vatican said the slaying is a "new episode of violence of terrible gravity.”... "Demonstrates just how justified are the insistent statements by the pope regarding violence against Christians and religious freedom." Many other people who oppose the blasphemy laws have been murdered, and threatened with death.

Controversial

How did this issue start?

How should it be resolved?

The main issue began at the start of war in the Middle East. The issue was that all the Islam people felt oppression and anger towards the western world, and Christianity included. The blasphemy laws took place to protect those who celebrated different religions then the state religion, Islam. The blasphemy laws have been controversial since they were implemented. Causing strife for people other than the Islamic people, even police, judges and lawyers have been threatened.

The blasphemy laws could be stronger endorsed. The Pakistani government could step up and protect those of other religious backgrounds. We could send in troops to take all the other people out of Pakistan, and bring them to a safer and more accepting country.

Complex

My Opinion

I believe that deaths due to religion differences are stupid. Not a mistake, or foolish, or rude or bad. Stupid. Its stupid that just because people have different ideas and beliefs that they should be murdered for expressing them. The blasphemy laws are a good idea, to a point. The government just has to start enforcing them, seeing as they ARE their laws. I personally believe that it’s stupid that Shahbaz was murdered due to being Christian. I can’t express how upset I am at the stupidity of the murderers. It’s unfathomable to me that they would kill a good person, just because he was religious, in a different way then them. S-T-U-P-I-D.

**WARNING** - Shahbaz Bhatti's blood spattered in the seat of his car, where he was shot to death. At least 8 bullets hit him.