Prevention of Faith-Based Violence as a Response to 'Blasphemy' in Pakistan

The anti-Christian violence perpetrated in response to an alleged incident of 'blasphemy' on August 16, 2023, in Jaranwala, Pakistan, is a reminder of the urgency to find ways to prevent faith-based violence across the country. The incident has exacerbated the perception to an extent that the 'blasphemy' laws (offenses relating to religion) are vulnerable to misuse, particularly against the country's minority communities, and thus require reform. This paper will build on this suggestion, along with others made by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan about education, peacebuilding and changes to police force, in order to recommend ways to prevent faith-based violence as a result of the allegations of 'blasphemy.' The solution cannot be found merely in the legal realm. This paper posits the adoption of a non-violent response to insults against Islamic revelations, based on the injunctions of the Holy Qur'an, to be encouraged through education.