Pakistani right-wingers cry ‘blasphemy’ to muzzle liberals
A virulent social media campaign to paint five disappeared Pakistani activists as blasphemers deserving execution has spotlighted how right-wing efforts to muzzle liberal voices using the country’s draconian laws have found a powerful new platform online.
There are people trying to label these missing bloggers blasphemers. And the people supporting ... [them] are being labelled blasphemers
The five men had stood against religious intolerance and at times criticised Pakistan’s military, with several of them running progressive Facebook pages.
They vanished within days of each other earlier this month, sparking fears of a government crackdown. No group has claimed responsibility. Security sources denied being involved.
As publicity surrounding their disappearances grew, with protests in major cities, observers such as Digital Rights Foundation founder Nighat Dad began to notice a worrying trend online.
“There are people trying to label these missing bloggers blasphemers. And the people supporting ... [them] are being labelled blasphemers,” Dad said.
The allegation can be fatal in deeply conservative Muslim Pakistan, where at least 17 people remain on death row for blasphemy.
Rights groups have long criticised the colonial-era legislation as a vehicle for personal vendettas. Even unproven allegations can result in mob lynchings.