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Pakistani Cabinet Member Assassinated Over His Opposition To Blasphemy Law

By Howard M. Friedman

CNN reports that Shahbaz Bhatti, Pakistan's minister of minority affairs, was assassinated today.  The Taliban claimed responsibility for the fatal shooting of Bhatti, the only Christian member of Pakistan's cabinet.  A Taliban spokesman said that the assassination "is a message to all of those who are against Pakistan's blasphemy laws." Bhatti has been an outspoken critic of the use made of Pakstan's blasphemy ban, saying presciently: "I am ready to sacrifice my life for the principled stand I have taken because the people of Pakistan are being victimized under the pretense of blasphemy law." Dawn has more details on the shooting that took place while Bhatti was being driven to work in Islamabad.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on March 02, 2011 (boomark / email).