Pakistan's blasphemy laws are meant to protect against insults to Islam, and those accused of violating them are often sentenced to death. Critics argue that these laws are overly draconian and heavily exploited to target and persecute Pakistan’s religious minorities. At this event, Arafat Mazhar, an activist seeking to reform the blasphemy laws, will draw on Islamic legal tradition to present a perspective that diverges from what is commonly known and believed about the laws in Pakistan, and particularly the view that they are unassailable. He will also propose ways to address their modern applicability.

This event is co-sponsored by the Center for Islam and Religious Freedom.

Image: Asianet-Pakistan/Shutterstock.com