VATICAN CITY – Pope Benedict XVI on Monday called on Pakistan to scrap the blasphemy law in a strongly-worded defence of the rights of Christians living in majority Muslim countries.
“I once more encourage the leaders of that country to take the necessary steps to abrogate that law,” the leader of the world’s one billion Catholics said in a traditional New Year’s address to ambassadors to the Vatican.
He said the law served as a pretext for violence against religious minorities such as Christians in predominantly Muslim countries.
“The tragic murder of the governor of Punjab shows the urgent need to make progress in this direction,” he said, adding that the law against blasphemy was an example of “norms prejudicing the right to religious freedom”. The pope has also called for Aasia Bibi, who is awaiting execution, to be released.
