Paramedics transporting the body of Shahbaz Bhatti, only Christian minister in Pakistan, who was shot dead on Thursday (Photo courtesy of the New York Times)
By Joseph Juhn
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – The only Christian in Pakistan’s government was assassinated on March 2 after pushing for change in laws that mandate death for people who insult Islam.
Shabaz Bhatti, a Roman Catholic, was the minority affairs minister and is the second top Pakistani official to be shot to death this year over his opposition to a blasphemy law. Earlier in January, the Punjab Province governer, Salman Taseer was also assassinated by his body guard for the same reason: calling for reforms to the blasphemy law.
The law was first introduced in the 1970s and amended later in 1986 under Gen. Mohammad Zia ul-Haq, the military leader, to include the death penalty for those who are accused of making derogatory remarks against the Prophet Muhammad, the Korean or Islam.
Critics of the law say the law has been used against the minorities ever since. Christians, who make up roughly 5% of Pakistan’s 180 million population, occupy the lower ends of society with menial jobs. Along with Shiite Muslims and other minority Muslim sects, Christians are the most oppressed group and often frequent victims of suicide bombings, kidnappings and homicides.
Recently, there has been a case in which a Christian woman, Asia Bibi, 45, was charged with violating the blasphemy law and faced execution. Bhatti, being an outspoken critic against the law, defended the woman. Now, many are speculating that this may have triggered the extremists’ anger.
Ali Dayan Hasan, South Asia researcher for Human Rights Watch, called Bhatti’s assassination “a grave setback for the struggle for tolerance, pluralism and respect for human rights in Pakistan.”
Bhatti was on his way to work in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, when assailants sprayed at least 25 bullets at the Bhatti’s car. A letter that was found at the scene indicated that the killing was done by supporters of Al-Qaeda and the Pakistani Taliban, according to the police.
After Bhatti’s death, Pakistani television aired a video in which a calm and convinced Bhatti purported to keep fighting for the rights of Christians and other minorities, even if it meant dying for the cause.
“When I’m leading this campaign for the abolishment of blasphemy law, and speaking for the oppressed, and the marginalized, persecuted Christians and other minorities, these Taliban threaten me,” Bhatti said. “These threats and these warnings cannot change my opinion and principles. I prefer to die for my principles and for the justice for my community rather than to compromise.”
For more information, please see:
The International Herald Tribune – Extremists Are Suspected in Killing of Pakistani Minister – 2 March 2011
AFT – Canadian leaders ‘outraged’ by Pakistan minister’s killing – 2 March 2011
The Los Angeles Times – Pakistan’s only Christian Cabinet member assassinated – 3 March 2011