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Blasphemy law: CII proposals under scrutiny
Recommendations include amendments and death penalty for misuse of law
Recommendations include amendments and death penalty for misuse of law.
ISLAMABAD: A three-member bench of the Federal Shariat Court, headed by its chief justice, is examining hundreds of recommendations of the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) on various regulations – including the controversial blasphemy law.
The chief justice will decide the next date of hearing of the petition filed by Maulana Muhammad Khan Sheerani about two years ago when he was a member of parliament.
The petitioner is seeking a directive to the federal and provincial governments by the court to present the CII recommendations before parliament and provincial assemblies which the petitioner said were a constitutional obligation of the government.
Maulana Sheerani, who is now chairperson of the CII, said in his petition that the government was also constitutionally bound to replace all un-Islamic laws. The CII, in its recommendations, had pointed out those laws which were repugnant to the Islamic injunctions.
The CII had also asked the government to reform the controversial blasphemy law to ensure that it was not exploited.
Maulana Sheerani had filed a petition in the FSC much before his appointment as Chairperson of the CII. However, he is still a petitioner in that case which is being heard by the FSC.
To stop the abuse of the blasphemy law the CII has already recommended several amendments, but it is still strongly opposed to repeal of the law. The CII has proposed death penalty for anybody misusing the law. It has also recommended that only the FSC hear blasphemy cases.
Hardline clerics and right-wing parties are opposed to any change in the blasphemy law which rights groups say can be used to settle personal scores.
“The CII recommendations have been pending before parliament for the past three years,” a senior official in the council told The Express Tribune requesting anonymity.
The recommendations were made in 2001 when Dr SM Zaman was heading the CII and two top religious scholars – Mufti-e-Azam Pakistan Maulana Muhammad Rafi Usmani and Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman – were also its members. Religious scholars of all schools of thought and sects were represented on the council.
“The CII’s recommendations remain valid until and unless they are rejected by parliament,” added the official.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 27th, 2011.
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Blasphemy is the simple law which has made the biggest complications in pakistanRecommend
Blasphemy law ….. changing this law is no more a question right now….. situation has deteriorated so much that now it sees to be political or religious rift between different set ups in our societyRecommend
blasphemy law is a draconian law which violates basic human rights.It obstructs freedom of speech.Because of this barbaric law there can’t be any rational,sane discussion of religion at all.Everyone in our country believes my god is better than your god & any debate on religion is met with cries of balsphemy.
This law is a death sentence for any one with a functioning brain.The only people to benefit from this monstrosity of a law are those zombies who follow unquestioningly what they have been brainwashed into believing from their childhood.Recommend
Blasphemy law represents the basic tenet of Islam… Faith. Unless you are absolutely sure that Islam is the best and the only true religion, and the Prophet PBUH the last prophet… you do not truly believe and follow Islam…
Blasphemy law makes sure the likes of Ahmed Rushdie and all do not have the free hand to insult the Holy Prophet PBUH… it is a law intended to uphold the dignity and honour of the Prophet PBUH… and no one should be allowed to insult the Prophet PBUH at any cost.
People talking about freedom of speech should differentiate between freedom of speech and hate speech, the latter being banned/punishable by law in all of the developed world.
Insulting Prophet PBUH is nothing but hate speech and inciting religious hated and enticing people/Muslims to violence and nothing more. Needs to be stopped and Blasphemy law needs to stay put.
Yes… if people have positive recommendations and alterations to the law that will make it harder for people to misuse it… by all means please come forward and give your suggestions… but to demand repulsion of the law is ludicrous to say the least.
I would also like to add that to date not one single person has been killed/hanged on account of blasphemy law, and not a single punishment been completed to its finality…
Discussion of religion is a right to all… we can sit and discuss religion, share the positives in all religions… but neither one has the right to insult the other person’s religion… and such laws make sure that the sanctity of Islam and Prophet PBUH are upheld at all costs.Recommend
we should also do away with the CIIRecommend
@Adeel Ahmed
I agree blasphemy against the Holy Prophet (saw) is the worst possible hate speech, but should we kill the blasphemer?
The Holy Prophet (saw) did not punish anyone for blasphemy alone. Allah has ordained no worldly punishment for blasphemy and on the contrary has promised a punishment in the hereafter. Blasphemy punishments have been invented by jurists. Imam Abu Hanifa’s jurisprudence has no punishment for blasphemy.Recommend
Repeal the second amendment to the constitution on Ahmedians. Is it also not state sponsored blasphemy on Ahmedians belief.Recommend
@Tony Khan
Living among a sea of Muslims, if someone is blasphemous, whose fault is it? We Muslims have utterly failed to highlight the high spiritual station of our Holy Prophet (saw).Recommend