Overhauling Pakistans Blasphemy laws....

[StarBeast]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-19315210
A licence for savagery? Even politicians talking about it is a death sentence.
They wanted to Burn an 11 year old mentally deficient child for "Blasphemy", it's not even clear what she did. Her parents fear for their lives. How can a state not deal with this horror?

[jomifl]

Sandy is too kind 500 years is closer.

[sandyRoe]

Starbeast, I'm sorry to have to say this, but I think the gap is much wider. How long is it since we in The West stoned a woman to death for adultery.
I see civilization as being a society that cares for, and protects, the most vulnerable.
China had an advanced 'civilization' 4,000 years ago, but they still left baby girls out on hillsides to die. Hardly a caring society.

[emmie]

she is according to the reports a Christian, so will they still have to leave, aren't there more Christians that can stand up for her and her family.

[sandyRoe]

I think there they're a beleaguered minority.

[naomi24]

Em, //where are you this bright morning, m'lady.. //

Sorry Em ... late on parade .... I've been away and have been travelling for most of the day. Home now. I'll have a look at this tomorrow. Too tired now for anything more than daft - and at first glance this seems far from daft!!

[naomi24]

Having read the report, it seems those who are making efforts to repeal these ridiculous laws are hindered by an overwhelmingly uneducated populace - and at least one man has paid dearly for it - with his life – and all for a book. There can be no defence. This is a barbaric and backward culture.

//WAF [The Women's Action Forum] said the case should have been dealt with under the juvenile justice system. //

This is an influential group that is fighting for women’s rights – and good for them – but how disappointing in this instance, because by making such a statement they have confirmed their acceptance of this preposterously out-dated law. What a pity they didn’t say the girl shouldn’t have been arrested at all.

[lightbulb247]

//Pakistan was formed in 1947. google India Independance, for a lightbulb moment//

ok, even still, has it been around anywhere near as long as the UK or the USA? no, it has not. And i assure you if you look back at the UK's or the USA's history worse things have happened. Lets see, women didnt get rights until 1918 in Britain after the war when over 30s were allowed to vote as they, forgive me, were seen as not as clever as men at the time. black people were being abused right up to the 60s simply because they were black. I am not giving an excuse for what they are doing in Pakistan, no, because i believe what they are doing is wrong. However the way people act like these modern countries are total angels when in fact, they havent always been like that and a lot are still not like that.

[lightbulb247]

also i suspect that if a bible was burnt or any other holy book you would be mad as well. Yes, killing a disabled child is wrong and the majority of muslims will agree with me believe it or not.

[EDDIE51]

While the main education system in Pakistan is the religious schools or madras's which teach mainly Islamic dogma they will never get much further forward. In most of Pakistan they are the only schools and education available.

[lightbulb247]

there are also christian and catholic schools as well as churches and other holy sites.

http://en.wikipedia.o...ki/Church_of_Pakistan

[naomi24]

Pakistan may have been fairly recently formed – but that’s no excuse. Its inhabitants aren’t all newly born! This is an issue of religious culture – and any culture that deems a book more important than human life is not only uncivilised – it is dangerous.

[lightbulb247]

in Islam if you had to choose between saving a person or a book you would save the person naomi. It is common sense. Yes, if someone destroys the book than i believe that person should be punished however the death penalty is not the way, especially if they are disabled.

[naomi24]

The death penalty is not the way especially if they are disabled - and you have the gall to talk about common sense? So how would you punish this child?

[lightbulb247]

well first of all they dont even know if it was her who did it. it is still being investigated. But if it was a child than i would not punish them.

[naomi24]

So what about an adult?

[lightbulb247]

what they do here for crimes. Not the death penalty but a fine or arrest.

[naomi24]

But no one in this country would be punished for damaging a book, so where does that leave your argument? Deny it all you will, but you are excusing the inexcusable.

[lightbulb247]

im not talking about this country, im talking about what they SHOULD be doing in other islamic countries. I know that no one is punished for damaging a book here because the law is different here. However for muslims the quran is not just a book.

[naomi24]

So when you said //what they do here for crimes// you didn't mean this country?

//However for muslims the quran is not just a book.//

Exactly - and that is the crux of the matter. It's high time they realised is is just a book - and that no book is more important than human life! Stop making excuses

[lightbulb247]

im not making excuses naomi. I am giving my opinion. No one is asking you to continuously respond to me or can you not help it? If its that annoying or confusing stop reading what im saying. But just for you one last time as i can see you're finding it hard to understand i am saying that for crime here they arrest and fine, they dont have a death penalty. So transport that method of punishment to islamic countries instead of the death penalty for these crimes.

The quran is not just a book, it is also a muslims way of life. Simple as.