KARACHI, Pakistan (AP) — Islamist protesters have demonstrated in three cities against a call by Pope Benedict XVI for Pakistan to scrap its blasphemy laws.
The laws stipulate the death sentence for anyone insulting Islam’s prophet, Muhammad. Critics say the laws are often used to persecute Christians and other minorities or to settle personal vendettas.
Right-wing Islamist groups have recently rallied their base against any move to dilute the laws after the sentencing of a Christian woman to death for blasphemy attracted international condemnation.
Several hundred hard-liners protested Friday in Karachi and two other cities in support of the laws and against the pope for his remarks.
Last week, a liberal governor who had said the laws needed to be amended was gunned down by one of his guards in the capital.
