Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Paki pol takes a hit for religious freedom

Just under a month ago, in "Catholics in Pakistan -- follow-up", Walt told you how terrorist organizations associated with the Taliban issued a fatwa against Shabhaz Bhatti, a Catholic who is Pakistan's minister for religious minorities. Mr. Bhatti is -- or was -- leading a commission that would have considered changes to the blasphemy law.

Well, they didn't get Mr. Bhatti ... yet ... but yesterday one of his own "security protectors" assassinated Salman Taseer, the governor of Punjab province and a senior member of Pakistan's ruling party.

Mr. Taseer had been vocal on a range of subjects, and apparently made the mistake of speaking out against the country's blasphemy law. Fundamentalist Muslims in Pakistan have defended the controversial law and slammed those who oppose it. And now there's one less dissenting voice.

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