Tag: Shahbaz Bhatti

Pakistani murder trial may move to military court

January 20, 2015 Pakistan Al-Qaeda, Blasphemy, Islamic extremism, Pakistan, Prophet Muhammad, Shahbaz Bhatti

On Jan. 15, Pakistan’s police requested the high-profile murder trial of Minority Minister Shahbaz Bhatti be moved to a newly formed military court. Bhatti, a Christian, was shot dead in front of his Islamabad home in March 2011 for demanding reformation of Pakistan’s blasphemy law, an extremely sensitive topic in . . . Read More

Pakistan court upholds death penalty for Asia Bibi despite serious legal loophole in trial

October 17, 2014 Pakistan Asia Bibi, Blasphemy, Salmaan Taseer, Shahbaz Bhatti, Sheikhupura, USA

The first Christian woman to be sentenced to death under Pakistan’s blasphemy laws had her appeal rejected by the High Court in Lahore on Thursday. Aasiya Noreen, commonly known as Asia Bibi, received the death penalty in 2010 after she allegedly made derogatory comments about the Prophet Mohammed during an . . . Read More

Pakistan court grants bail to suspect in murder of government minister

July 19, 2014 Pakistan Blasphemy, Faisalabad, Paul Bhatti, Rawalpindi, Shahbaz Bhatti, Taliban

A man charged with killing Pakistan’s former Minorities Minister Shahbaz Bhatti, a Christian, in March 2011 has been released on bail of about $10,000 by a Pakistani court. Umar Abdullah was released July 11 after being arrested in September 2013. He has been accused of having ties with Al-Qaeda and . . . Read More

Pakistani blasphemy law used against popular TV channel, Jehovah’s Witnesses and more

May 27, 2014 Pakistan Blasphemy, Jehovah's Witnesses, Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, Multan, Shahbaz Bhatti

Pakistani Christians and supporters protest the use of blasphemy laws in Pakistan. London, December 2009. helen.2006 / Flickr / Creative Commons With several Christians on trial awaiting potential death sentences for allegedly committing blasphemy – tensions are increasingly high across the nation with a record breaking amount of blasphemy . . . Read More

Christianity and genocide?

April 20, 2014 Global News -- No Particular Country Angela Merkel, David Cameron, Genocide, Islamic extremism, Lord Alton, Shahbaz Bhatti, Syria, UN

In the lead-up to Easter, UK Prime Minister David Cameron committed his government to fighting the persecution of Christians abroad, saying no group is under more pressure for its faith. Cameron is not alone in making the claim. In February, US Congressman Chris Smith said “The global persecution of Christians . . . Read More

Pakistani university refuses prosperous work to Christians

March 17, 2014 Pakistan Dalits, Pakistan Muslim League, Shahbaz Bhatti

A public university in Pakistan defies court orders and misleads government authorities to avoid giving federally approved jobs to non-Muslims, a Christian politician in the nation’s ruling party says. In May 2009 the government passed a law requiring 5% of jobs to be allocated to religious minorities. The University of . . . Read More

Murdered MP’s brother threatened 3 years after death

February 20, 2014 Pakistan Blasphemy, Paul Bhatti, Shahbaz Bhatti

Almost three years have passed since the murder of Shahbaz Bhatti, a Pakistani MP who lobbied against the country’s controversial blasphemy laws. Now, his elder brother’s life is under threat. Paul Bhatti was living in Italy when his brother was murdered on March 2, 2011, but he soon returned to . . . Read More

A renewed debate over blasphemy laws

October 2, 2013 Pakistan Blasphemy, Imran Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan Peoples Party, Pakistan Ulema Council, Peshawar, PTI, Quetta, Shahbaz Bhatti, Taliban

Memorials for the victims of the bomb attacks at All Saints Church in Peshawar.Kamran Chaudhry for World Watch Monitor The Sept. 22 suicide bombings of a church in Pakistan have re-ignited political debate on the country’s controversial blasphemy laws. Only three days before the incident, the Council for Islamic . . . Read More

Arrests made in Bhatti murder

September 18, 2013 Pakistan Blasphemy, Pakistan, Shahbaz Bhatti

Pakistan police have arrested eight men in connection with the March 2011 assassination of Shahbaz Bhatti, a cabinet minister who had spoken out against the country’s blasphemy laws, according to Pakistan news reports. Bhatti, the minister for minority affairs, urged reform of laws that make it a crime to insult . . . Read More

Pakistan Supreme Court confirms decision to drop blasphemy case

January 16, 2013 Pakistan Blasphemy, Islamabad, Pakistan, Paul Bhatti, Punjab, Quran, Rawalpindi, Rimsha Masih, Salmaan Taseer, Shahbaz Bhatti

The Pakistan Supreme Court on Tuesday threw out an appeal to reopen a blasphemy case against a Christian teen who had been accused of burning pages containing verses from the Quran. Rimsha Masih had been acquitted of the charges in November by the High Court in Islamabad. The lower court’s decision was appealed . . . Read More

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