We stand against the persecution of religious minorities, ex-muslims, atheists and non-believers by the Pakistani government. 

We demand an immediate repeal of Pakistan’s Blasphemy laws which are responsible for the recent public lynching of a Sri Lankan worker in Sialkot and countless other instances of persecution directed at the religious minorities, ex-muslims, atheists and non-believers in Pakistan.

Pakistan’s Blasphemy laws:

Sections 295 to 298C of the Pakistan Penal Code (“Blasphemy laws”) make it unlawful for any person to act in a manner deemed to be offensive against religion or religious beliefs.

These provisions create variety of religious offences, including “defiling the Holy Quran”, “use of derogatory remarks, in respect of the Holy Prophet”, or for any person of Ahmadiyya sect to “directly or indirectly poses as a Muslim”. Punishment for these offences range from fines to mandatory life imprisonment for “defiling the Quran” (s 295-B) and mandatory death sentence for the “use of derogatory remarks” towards Prophet Muhammad (s 295-C). 

Violation of human rights:

The provisions of Pakistan’s Blasphemy laws are fundamentally incompatible with Pakistan’s international human rights obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Being a signatory to the above Convention the Pakistani government is required to protect freedom of thought, conscience and religious belief (Article  18); freedom of opinion and expression (Article  19); equality before the law and the prohibition of discrimination (Articles 26 and 27).

Whilst the Pakistani government is also required to bring its domestic laws in line with the ICCPR (Article 2); to date the government has refused to take any steps towards repealing or suspending Pakistan’s Blasphemy laws. 

Petition Request:

The United Nations Security Council, along with the rest of international community, must take action against Pakistan for refusing to repeal it’s Blasphemy laws; and for failing to uphold it’s international obligations in respect to protection for freedom of expression, thought, conscience, religion or beliefs. 

We also ask the United Nations General Assembly and its individual member states: 

1. To condemn the Pakistani government’s failure to repeal Blasphemy laws;
2. To show support and solidarity for the religious minorities, ex-muslims, atheists and non-believers, living under Pakistan’s Blasphemy laws;
3. To call for targeted sanctions and an immediate end to all military and defence cooperation with Pakistan; and
4. To introduce resolution for the boycott of Pakistani goods and services until the Pakistani government repeals all Blasphemy laws.