Blasphemy is a criminal offence in Muslim-majority Pakistan that can result in the death penalty. Even being accused of blasphemy can provoke targeted acts of violence by religious right-wing vigilantes. Taseer’s killer, Mumtaz Qadri, was executed but not before becoming a hero in the eyes of the religious right. At least 65 others have been murdered over blasphemy allegations since 1990, figures from the Center for Research and Security Studies and media show. He once gave away abandoned babies during a broadcast, and caused uproar by airing vitriolic hate speech against the Ahmedi minority.

Source: Mint January 26, 2017 15:45 UTC