Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain (CEMB) is outraged at, yet another, incident of mob violence against a “blasphemer” in Pakistan.
After a local in Swat valley in Northern Pakistan accused Muhammad Salman from Punjab, a holiday maker, of desecrating the Quran, Salman was arrested for “his own protection.” A mob gathered outside the police station demanding he be handed over to them for “justice.” The mob attacked the police station and dragged the accused man out, beating him to death and setting his body on fire.
This is not the first time someone accused of blasphemy has been murdered by a mob in Pakistan, even whilst in police custody. In 2014, a Christian couple were beaten to death by co-workers at a bricks factory and their bodies thrown in a brick kiln because they were accused of blasphemy. Salman Taseer, Governor of Pakistan’s most populated province of Punjab, was killed by his own security personnel for merely suggesting that the punishment for blasphemy should be reduced from death to life in prison. In another incident, Mishaal Khan, a university student was murdered by his fellow student after a false accusation of blasphemy against him.
According to reports, 88 people have been killed in Pakistan since its blasphemy laws were Islamicized in 1987. 2000 people have been accused of blasphemy in the same period and 80, a conservation estimate, remain in prisons, including a PEN America scholar Junaid Hafeez who reportedly has been kept in solitary confinement for years.
CEMB continues to urgently call for international pressure on Pakistan to end its Draconian blasphemy laws, for the release of all those in prison or on death row and for the prosecution of perpetrators of mob violence. It’s imperative that the international community stands with Islam’s ex-Muslims and dissenters to end the persecution and murder of people for their opinions or perceived opinions and conscience. Blasphemy should not be a crime.