A rights watchdog chronicled a record 344 4 new blasphemy caes in Pakistani in 2024 ,highlighting an ncreasaed abuse of the country's condemned blasphemy laws,
the CHristian Daily webbsite reports today (May17, 2025).
Of the 344 new blasphemy cases70 percent of the accused were Muslims, 6 percent were CHristians, 9 percent Hindus, and 14 percent Ahmadis, according to the Annual Human RIghts Observer report.
"The . blatant weaponization of blasphemystatues, which relates to disrespect of holy personages, including the family, wives and companions of Islam's prophet, Muhammad, and the four caliphs, and is punishable wirt h up to 10 years in prison, was the most used section. Last year, 128 people were charged under this section.
"The next most frequently abused provision was SECTION 295-A (hurting of religious sentiments) with 106 reported cases," the report noted.
Sections 295B (-Desecration of the Quran) and 295-C (disrespecting MuHammad) were also often used, leading to 62 individuals acccused across various regions of Pakistan, the report noted.
Punjab Province recorded the highest numbeeof blsphemy --related accusatons , accounting for 62percent of the totqal cases.
Pakistan, whose population is more than 96 percent Muslim, ranked eighth on Open Doors 2025 World Watch List of the most difficult places t o be a Chrisrtian.
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