It appears this law needs an overhaul and not just cosmetic changes.
NIDDERAU, GERMANY: I have great respect for Sherry Rehman because of her liberal views. I was, therefore, happy to see her piece “Stand up against the blasphemy law” (November 24).
It appears this law needs an overhaul and not just cosmetic changes. There are enough people in the country who would support such a revamp. We must, however, not forget that the reason for hesitation by the government has to do with fear of the fanatics who will try their best to take the law in their own hands and settle scores. This is proof that a small minority is holding the whole country hostage.
I would argue that we need to move from the traditional Ash’arite concept of divine command ethics (an act is only good or bad if God says so) towards the Mu’tazilite concept of natural law (the moral value of an act can be determined by unaided human reason). A theory of Islamic natural law will enable a dialogue between those on the secular and religious sides of the fence, so to speak.
There is a need to call all enlightened individuals to convince the minority of zealots to change their attitudes. We live in a global village and cannot expect others to change. I look up to Ms Rehman and hope that she will not hesitate to move a motion in parliament to amend this law. If nothing else, the death penalty should be reduced to a few years imprisonment.
Sharif Lone
Published in The Express Tribune, November 26th, 2010.
