Killing in the Name of God: Blasphemy Laws in Pakistan

To watch this past event, click play on the video below:

Pakistan is one of 12 countries in which apostasy or blasphemy are punishable by death, and continues to mete out more death sentences for blasphemy than any other country in the world. Despite having never carried out an execution on this basis, this hardline anti-blasphemy stance has engendered widespread violence at the community level, with countless accused blasphemers being killed by civilian vigilantes and mobs.

This high-level panel discussion will examine the situation in Pakistan, and the roles of the domestic and international communities in analysing the root causes of such violence and in pointing the way towards a resolution, and religious tolerance. Registrants will also be granted online access to The Accused: Damned or Devoted?, a 2020 film by Mohammed Naqvi, prior to the event.

Join us as we mark Human Rights Day 2021, delivered by the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Delegation of the European Union to Australia, and Eleos Justice.

Read Eleos’ new report: Killing in the Name of God: State-Sanctioned Violations of Religious Freedom.

Speakers

Opening statement:

Natasha Smith, First Assistant Secretary, Multilateral Policy Division, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (@DFAT), Australian Government

Panellists:

Peter Jacob, Executive Director, Centre for Social Justice (Pakistan) @PeterJacobCSJ

Mohammed ‘Mo’ Naqvi Filmmaker, director of ‘The Accused: Damned or Devoted?’ (2020) @manaqvi

Fedja Zlobec Deputy Head of the European Union Delegation to Australia @EUinAus

Moderator:

Mai Sato , Director, Eleos Justice; Associate Professor, Monash Law @drmaisato