UN experts urge Pakistan to repeal blasphemy laws, protect religious minorities

UN experts urge Pakistan to repeal blasphemy laws, protect religious minorities
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UN human rights experts have urged Pakistan to repeal its blasphemy laws and enhance protection for religious minorities from escalating violence and discrimination, Jurist News reported. They called for an end to extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests, and attacks on places of worship targeting vulnerable communities.

The experts highlighted severe human rights abuses in areas like Sargodha, Daska, and Pasrur, noting that minors and people with disabilities are frequently targeted, with women facing heightened risks of gender-based violence when accused of blasphemy. The Ahmadiyya Muslim community has been particularly affected, facing killings, detentions, and destruction of mosques.

The justice system was criticized for failing to adequately punish perpetrators, allowing many to evade accountability. Since 1990, at least 65 people have been extrajudicially killed following blasphemy accusations, including Nazir Masih, a 72-year-old Christian killed by a mob last year.

Recent political rhetoric has further inflamed hostility. While the 2023 census estimates the Ahmadi population at 162,684, community leaders believe the number is significantly higher, between 400,000 and 600,000, with many concealing their identity due to fear. The experts stressed that freedom of religion is a universal human right.