New York, Mar 2 2011 11:10AM
The United Nations human rights chief today <"http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=10784&LangID=E">condemned the assassination of Pakistan's Minister for Minority Affairs, Shahbaz Bhatti, the second high-ranking Government official killed since the beginning of the year, reportedly for opposing the country's blasphemy laws.
"These murders are a tragedy for Pakistan and those who envision a future for the country centred on human rights," said Navi Pillay, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, in a statement. "I hope the Government of Pakistan will not only hold the killers to account, but reflect on how it can more effectively confront the extremism which is poisoning Pakistani society."
Mr. Bhatti died earlier today when gunmen sprayed his car with gunfire as he left his home in the capital, Islamabad.
On 4 January, the Governor of Punjab province, Salman Taseer, was also assassinated in Islamabad by one of his own bodyguards reportedly because he opposed laws on blasphemy, and had called for the pardoning of a Christian woman, Asia Bibi, sentenced to death under those laws.
Ms. Pillay noted that the assassinations were symptomatic of pervasive violence against religious minorities in Pakistan and a lack of protection for their places of worship. She urged the Government to declare a moratorium on application of the blasphemy laws and commission a comprehensive review by independent and impartial experts.
"I urge the Government of Pakistan to honour the courageous stand of Mr. Bhatti and Mr. Taseer by supporting their position on the blasphemy laws," said Ms. Pillay.
"To do otherwise will simply encourage similar acts of violence and lawlessness as a means of scaring governments off from making much needed human rights reforms. Murderers should not be rewarded by getting what they want, in terms of government policy," she added.
Ms. Pillay appealed to all Pakistanis to condemn the latest killing, saying she was appalled that a number of political and religious leaders, legal professionals and media commentators in Pakistan condoned, or even welcomed, the assassination of Salman Taseer in January.
"Experience around the world has shown that blasphemy laws often become a double-edged sword," the High Commissioner added. "While aimed at protecting certain values, they are open to abuse and lead to violations of freedom of expression, freedom of religion and ultimately the right to life."
She voiced concern over the many journalists, human rights advocates and public officials who have also been subjected to death threats for their opposition to the blasphemy law and urged the Government to take all appropriate protective measures to ensure their security and work is not compromised.
Ms. Pillay also noted with alarm a rise in recent months of extrajudicial killings, abductions and disappearances of minority leaders and political activists in Balochistan province.
More than 50 such cases have been reported since October 2010, with two judges and four advocates reported missing since 20 February. Journalists and human rights defenders have also been attacked.
"There is an urgent need for political leadership in Pakistan to stem this wave of violence and ensure protection both for human rights advocates and for all Pakistani citizens," added Ms. Pillay.
Mar 2 2011 11:10AM
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