04/21/2021 Pakistan (International Christian Concern) – Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan issued a statement on television responding to the growing unrest surrounding the French Ambassador to Pakistan. The Ambassador came under fire as part of a controversy surrounding the publication of cartoons depicting Prophet Muhammad in a French magazine, an action widely considered blasphemous by the Muslim world.

French President Emmanuel Macron defended the publication of the cartoons, arguing that the magazine has the freedom to publish such content. In response, a radical Islamic party–the Tehreek-I-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP)—initiated a strong anti-French campaign and has organized protests for weeks around Pakistan.

Despite calls by the TLP to expel the French Ambassador, Prime Minister Kham argued in his statement on Monday that such an action would only be a loss for Pakistan, making “no difference” to France. The tensions between religious minorities and the majority-Muslim community continue to increase amidst these protests.

Tensions between religious communities are already quite high due to the ongoing damage of the country’s harsh blasphemy law. Pakistan continues to use its blasphemy law as means to persecute and suppress religious minorities throughout the country. Christians, Sikhs, Hindus, and others are consistently targeted by the blasphemy law either by the government or by emboldened civil society elements that press for further marginalization of religious minorities. Many avoid the subject of religion in conversation simply to avoid the accusation of blasphemy being leveled against them.

Matias Perttula, ICC’s Director of Advocacy, argued that Pakistan must first address this law before it can start lowering the tension between religious communities. “Pakistan needs to move away from this law and begin a concerted effort to educate the public on pluralism and how a multi-faith country can function in true religious freedom.”

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