Blasphemy Laws Poison Everything

– (Photo credit: Reuters)

By Nathaniel Torrey

Since the recent explosion of violence in reaction to the incredibly unwatchable film “Innocence of Muslims“, there has been a cry in some corners for anti-blasphemy legislation in order to prevent this kind of reaction from happening again. The Episcopal/ Anglican Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East has even sent a letter to Ban Ki-Moon, Secretary General of the United Nations, suggesting that a, “international declaration be negotiated that outlaws the intentional and deliberate insulting or defamation of persons (such as prophets), symbols, texts and constructs of belief deemed holy by people of faith.”

This line of thinking should offend any decent freedom loving people in principle, but there are also pragmatic concerns: blasphemy laws have disastrous consequences.  Take for example the recent case of a Christian girl in Pakistan who was nearly sentenced death after being accused of burning the Qur’an. She has been released after it was discovered the pages had been planted.

In an interview on RadioNational’s Religion and Ethics report, the Reverend Dr. Olav Tveit, general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC), points out that the blasphemy laws in Pakistan aren’t just a problem for non-Muslims, like the innocent girl, but for Muslims as well:

In the legislation, there is a so-called blasphemy law that is very open and quite vague and it can be misused. They can be brought to court and sentenced without trial, accused against of blasphemy against the Muslim faith, Muslim books, and the holy Prophet. It can also be used as an excuse to accuse your neighbor, or somebody else for blasphemy so that they can be punished by the mob. This situation is poisoning the whole society of Pakistan. It is affecting Christians and Muslims and other groups, like the Hindus. We as Christians should raise this issue both on behalf of our fellow Christian sisters and brothers, but also on behalf of the whole society of Pakistan.

Blasphemy laws, instead of protecting the sacred, end up just devolving into a witch-hunt. Oh, my neighbor didn’t mow his lawn? I think I’ll report him to the authorities for blasphemy. These are the sort of abuses that are happening in Pakistan now. Instead of making men civil and respectful, it actually gives them another tool to kill each other. When the laws are abused in this way everyone is affected.

In a public hearing that began Monday, the WCC has called for these blasphemy laws to be ended. Mohammed Tahseen, director of the South Asia Partnership in Pakistan, addressing a crowd in Geneva Switzerland, said, “In Pakistan we are fighting against the blasphemy law and its abuse. However, it is also important that the international community supports the values of democracy and people’s struggles in Pakistan.” Hopefully this and future administrations hear their call for help and refuse to give into the temper tantrums afflicting the Middle East as well.