The Blasphemy Law Claims Another Life
By: Zeeshan Hamid

When religious tolerance and social harmony are of the utmost importance, Pakistan has become a safe haven for extremism and terrorism. Because Pakistani law endorses religious extremism, particularly the "blasphemy laws" (the brainchild of the late dictator Gen. Zia ul Huq), the governor of Punjab, Pakistan, Salman Taseer, is dead. Dead for having spoken out against the blasphemy laws.

The irony is that the blasphemy laws actually do everything but protect the honor of Prophet Muhammad. The law specifically forbids any group considered non-Muslim to pose as a Muslim - such as the

Ahmadiyya - lest they be subject to imprisonment or death. Taseer also believed this blasphemy laws to be brutish and counterproductive and wanted to rid Pakistan of these "black laws."

For his opposition to the blasphemy laws, Taseer's own bodyguard killed killed him. The assassination is a reminder to us all if you are in Pakistan either you are with the extremists or you are dead.