Shahbaz Bhatti

Ten Years After Shahbaz Bhatti Slaying, Pakistan Blasphemy Laws Remain

Kennedy Lee on March 3, 2021

March 2 marks 10 years since the brutal assassination of Shahbaz Bhatti, a Christian Pakistani activist who fought for religious minorities in the country and against Pakistan’s severe blasphemy laws. The laws allow for the death sentence to be brought against anyone who insults Islam. Bhatti became Pakistan’s Minister for Minorities in 2008, the only Christian government minister in the country, before being slain by jihadists as he left his mother’s house for work on the morning of March 2, 2011.

Laws that Bhatti fought to repeal still remain on the books. Bhatti’s family, friends, and religious freedom advocates from around the world gathered virtually to commemorate his life and legacy on the ten-year anniversary of his assassination. A livestream of the event, co-hosted by the Religious Freedom Institute, Institute for Global Engagement, and International Christian Voice, an advocacy organization founded by Shahbaz Bhatti’s brother following his assassination, can be found here.

“My brother spent more than 30 years working to protect the rights of religious minorities in Pakistan and those around the world,” stated Peter Bhatti, Shahbaz’s brother. “Defending the victims of religious intolerance and persecution and promoting religious freedom in a country like Pakistan is not an easy task.”

“He challenged the forces of violence and darkness who threatened him daily, and he refused to be silent,” and for this, “my brother Shahbaz Bhatti made the ultimate sacrifice of his life,” continued Peter.

The event also included a video tribute by David Bhatti, Shahbaz’s nephew, who described visiting his activist uncle in Pakistan as a child.

“He loved his country because he believed in the vision and the values upon which it was founded,” insisted David. “Religious freedom is the most basic and sacred freedom to which all human beings have a right. Those of us who hold a stake in preserving peace, justice, and equality cannot afford to sit idly by while the most vulnerable among us continue to suffer.”

Shahbaz Bhatti’s nephew continued that his uncle “was gunned down by terrorists because he spoke up against what we call the ‘blasphemy law,’ which is being misused even now.”

The commemoration included tributes from prominent clergy, religious freedom activists, and international politicians. In their remarks, these prominent figures both recalled the legacy of Shahbaz Bhatti and reminded viewers of the grave threat that Pakistan’s blasphemy laws still pose today.

Among them was Jason Kenny, Premier of Alberta, Canada, who described his last interaction with Shahbaz, which happened during a visit to Canada just two weeks before his assassination.

“He knew that he was returning to almost certain death,” stated Kenny. Despite this, he returned to forge ahead with his courageous advocacy.

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby declared that “Shahbaz Bhatti is one of those martyrs in Christian tradition known as ‘white martyrs,’ as well as in the end ‘red martyrs,’ those who’ve paid with their blood.”

“Shahbaz strongly opposed his country’s infamous anti-blasphemy laws and called for legal reform,” contended Ahmed Shaheed, United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief. “The anti-blasphemy laws remain a significant and concerning risk to the enjoyment of the fundamental right of freedom of religion or belief.”

“Today, in his [Shahbaz Bhatti’s] memory, I renew my call to Pakistan and other states to repeal anti-blasphemy laws,” asserted Shaheed.

The United States was represented by Gayle Manchin, Chair of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) and former Congressman Frank Wolf (R-VA).

“USCIRF had a very close relationship with Mr. Bhatti, first supporting him as a tireless religious freedom advocate, and then working with him as the only Christian cabinet member in his capacity as federal Minister for Minority Affairs,” said Manchin.

“Now more than ever, the U.S. government must send the message that there will be consequences for these egregious abuses by imposing targeted sanctions,” continued the USCIRF Chair. “Mr. Bhatti’s death was not in vain, and his legacy will continue to inspire and encourage us to keep pressing on until his vision is realized.”

Wolf recalled meeting Bhatti at a religious freedom event in England and quoted John 15:13: “’Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends’ Shahbaz Bhatti did this,” stated Wolf.

The week of Bhatti’s murder, former IRD Religious Freedom Director Faith McDonnell penned a moving tribute to her friend. The tribute, titled “Goodbye, Good Man,” can be read on the IRD’s blog here.

  1. Comment by David on March 3, 2021 at 4:49 pm

    This is what happens when religion merges with government. Keeping the two apart preserves freedom for all.

  2. Comment by walter pryor on March 6, 2021 at 1:50 pm

    If you think this administration will defend Christians you are nuts.
    This administration is working very hard to oppose all Christian morality and ethics.
    If anything under Obama Islam has made great progress infiltrating American Federal Government. Great power was given to Islam similar to what the Pope is doing.

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