Abolition of the “Blasphemy Law” in the UK! The Same Game is Being Played in Pakistan
The blasphemy law in Pakistan is not merely a constitutional provision but a manifestation of the love for the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in the hearts of Muslims. This is why any attempt to discuss its abolition stirs a storm across the country. No government, judge, or parliament today dares to repeal this law with a single stroke of the pen. But does this mean the enemies of faith are sitting idle? Not at all!
The adversaries of Islam have learned from history. They know the best way to abolish a sensitive law is to first render it “ineffective,” hollow it out to the extent that its significance fades from public consciousness, and then one day, quietly, bury it. This is exactly the game that was played in the UK and is now being replicated in Pakistan, as there are deep similarities between the legislative and judicial systems of Pakistan and the UK.
The UK is a living example where “blasphemy laws” (concerning Jesus Christ) existed for centuries, under which thousands were sentenced to death or imprisonment. From the Knights Templar to Thomas Aikenhead and John William Gott, European courts and monarchs used these laws to punish blasphemers. However, these laws were gradually rendered ineffective through judicial decisions and eventually abolished entirely.
The abolition of the blasphemy law in the UK followed two key stages:
First: Narrowing the definition of the law.
Second: Rendering it practically ineffective through courts, making convictions nearly impossible, until its formal repeal became a mere formality.
In 1697, the British courts sentenced Thomas Aikenhead to death for blasphemy, marking the last execution under this law. After that, the door to death penalties was closed. In 1817, in the “William Hone case,” Justice Ellenborough acquitted the accused despite immense public pressure, stating in the judgment that “not every insult to the Prophet is punishable; the intent and method must also be considered.”
Later, in 1883, Lord Chief Justice Coleridge, in the famous “Foote case,” ruled:
“Every criticism is not blasphemy; a crime occurs only when religion is mocked with malicious intent.”
This ruling effectively shook the foundation of the UK’s blasphemy law. Courts began to require proof of “malicious intent,” gradually loosening the law’s grip. In 1921, John William Gott was the last person imprisoned for blasphemy. After that, the law was confined to the books, with courts dismissing cases and prosecutions failing, causing the law to die a natural death.
Finally, in 2008, the UK Parliament abolished the blasphemy law without any resistance or protests, as the public had already been desensitized to its existence.
The Same Game in Pakistan: By introducing the concept of “intent,” the UK’s history is being repeated. Following a recent Islamabad High Court ruling, discussions in blasphemy cases now focus on the element of “intent.” The absence of “malicious intent” can be interpreted as “no blasphemy occurred.”
In a country like Pakistan, through complex case registration procedures, stringent conditions for arrests, and extremely tough requirements for prosecution, the law is being practically buried. This is the same method that dug the grave of the blasphemy law in the UK, and it is now being employed in Pakistan.
Be Warned!
The law may remain on paper, but its lack of enforcement will gradually paralyze the nation’s religious and emotional consciousness. When the time comes to formally abolish it, no one will take to the streets, as the courts and legal system will have already rendered it ineffective.
This game is being played silently, wrapped in soft tones, but history warns us of its consequences. For now, there is no attempt to abolish the law outright. The current effort is to hollow it out so thoroughly that no resistance remains when the time comes for its formal repeal!
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