An 8-year-old Hindu boy could face the death penalty under the charges of blasphemy in Pakistan

Shri Ganapati temple was attacked by radical Islamists over the boy’s alleged blasphemy.

Pakistan has booked an eight-year-old Hindu boy under the charges of blasphemy, a draconian law that can warrant the death penalty for the accused.

Editorial comments

• To persecute minorities, especially the Hindus, are intentionally charged under blasphemy and given death penalties. This should be opposed by the international community and human rights organisations.
• Indian Government should look into the matter and try to deliver justice to the boy.

Islamabad (Pakistan) – In Pakistan, an 8-year-old boy was charged for blasphemy, after he was accused of urinating inside a library of a Madarsa. He is likely to be hanged under the blasphemy law. He is the youngest of all people to have been charged under the blasphemy law in a Pakistan Court. The boy and his family have been taken into Police custody and his name has not been revealed. Radical Islamists attacked Shrī Ganapati temple in the Bhong city of Rahim Yar Khan District in the Province of Punjab, in retaliation to the eight-year-old boy getting bail. The video of the attack was circulated on social media. This has created panic among the Hindus living there and they are being forced to leave their homes.

Pakistan charges 8 year old Hindu child with blasphemy, could face death penalty, family goes into hiding fearing backlashhttps://t.co/qjsrh2Jrgv

— OpIndia.com (@OpIndia_com) August 9, 2021

We do not see any concrete action being taken to safeguard the minorities living here – A family member

On a condition of anonymity, one of the family members of the boy said to a British newspaper, The Guardian, that this boy does not even know what blasphemy is. He has been falsely accused in this matter. He still does not understand what his crime is and why he was kept in jail for a week. We have left our shops and work, the entire community is scared and we fear backlash. We do not want to return to that area. We do not feel any concrete action would be taken against the culprits or to safeguard the minorities living here, the family member added.

Misuse of Blasphemy law – Criticism from legal experts around the world

Legal experts around the world say the allegations against the child are false. No one of this age has ever been accused of blasphemy. Islamic countries are misusing this law against minorities. So the human rights organisations have been criticising Pakistan for its blasphemy law for a long-time. Although some of those found guilty have been sentenced to death in Court, no one has been hanged to date.