Pakistan’s blasphemy laws have increasingly become a tool to persecute individuals, including those who are mentally ill. On January 26, 2025, police arrested Farhan Javed, a Christian man in Sahiwal, Punjab, once again highlighting the alarming trend of weaponizing blasphemy accusations for personal vendettas, settling scores, or targeting vulnerable individuals.
Farhan Javed, a mentally ill man from Sahiwal, Punjab, had attended nursing school for four years before developing mental health issues due to unknown reasons. He lived with his mother and siblings, including his younger brother Junaid, who is also mentally challenged. On January 26, 2025, Muhammad Bilal, a local villager, filed a complaint against Farhan, alleging that while working in his field, Farhan approached him and used derogatory language against Islam and its prophets. Bilal claimed he fled the scene when he tried to confront Farhan.
Despite knowing that Farhan was mentally ill, the police registered a First Information Report (FIR) bearing number 224/25 against him under Sections 295-A and 298-A of the PPC and arrested him.
This case highlights the blatant disregard for due process and the vulnerability of individuals with mental health issues in the face of blasphemy accusations. Farhan’s arrest has left his family in despair as they struggle to navigate a legal system that often fails to protect the rights of the accused.
The Misuse of Blasphemy Laws:
In practice, blasphemy accusations are often used to target religious minorities, including Christians, Hindus, and Ahmadis, as well as dissenting Muslims. False accusations are frequently made to settle personal disputes, seize property, or intimidate vulnerable communities. Once an accusation is made, the accused faces legal consequences and the threat of mob violence, often without due process or evidence.
It is not uncommon for the accused to be killed by mobs or even by the police. Reports in Pakistani media have revealed that certain groups exploit the blasphemy laws as a means to blackmail families of the accused for money or property.
Recent cases illustrate the dangers of these laws. In May 2024, Nazir Masih, 70, was killed by a mob in Sargodha’s Mujahid Colony over the alleged desecration of the Holy Quran. Similarly, Dr. Shahnawaz was killed while in police custody.
Religious minorities in Pakistan are disproportionately affected by blasphemy laws. Nearly half of all blasphemy cases in Pakistan target non-Muslims, who make up less than 4% of the population. The mere accusation of blasphemy can force entire families to flee their homes, abandon their livelihoods, or go into hiding. In September 2023, a Hindu temple in Sindh was vandalized after a local Hindu man was accused of blasphemy.
We request our readers and supporters to please keep Farhan Javed and his family in your prayers.
Original Source: https://ecspe.org/the-case-of-farhan-javed-misuse-of-blasphemy-laws-in-pakistan/
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