Conference about Blasphemy Laws in Pakistan and the Persecution of Minority Groups

Picture: Mob demonstrating for death penalty in blasphemy cases in Pakistan (Getty Images)
“The blasphemy laws of Pakistan, while purporting to protect Islam and the religious sensitivities of the Muslim majority of Pakistan, are vaguely formulated and arbitrarily enforced by the police and the judiciary; as such they permit, even invite, abuse and the harassment and persecution of minorities in Pakistan.” 
A conference to discuss Pakistan’s highly controversial and widely condemned blasphemy laws will take place on Tuesday July 27th, at 11.00 (CET) at the Press Club Brussels, under the auspices of the Alliance internationale pour la défense des droits et des libertés (AIDLR)
The issues to be discussed will include:
  • The legal basis of the blasphemy laws.
  • The use of the laws to justify ethnic cleansing.
  • The particular effects on females.
Moderator: Andy Vermaut, Alliance internationale pour la défense des droits et des libertés .
Confirmed speakers
Paulo Casada, former MEP, Founder and executive director of the “South Asia Democratic Forum”. 
Jürgen Klute, former MEP, Christian theologian.
Willy Fautré, Director, Human Rights Without Frontiers.
Manel Msalmi, International affairs Advisor of MEPs of the European Peoples’ Party at the European Parliament.
Journalists and other interested parties are invited to register to join the debate via Zoom by e-mailing mordeau.brussels@gmail.com before 21:00 July 26th.
The event will be live-streamed from 11.00 (CET) at: