UAE joins US-led call against abuse of blasphemy
Blasphemy is an especially explosive issue in PakistanThe United Arab Emirates on Thursday joined a US-led call to prevent the abuse of blasphemy laws, which are on the books in much of the Islamic world. But the United Arab Emirates, a close US ally, has won international praise for recent steps including welcoming Pope Francis in February on the first-ever papal visit to the Arabian Peninsula. The United Arab Emirates also held a conference as part of the US religious freedom initiative, a key priority for Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Vice President Mike Pence, addressing the ministerial earlier on Thursday, urged Pakistan to free another person jailed for blasphemy, university lecturer Junaid Hafeez. A total of 20 countries signed the joint statement on blasphemy including the United States, Britain, Italy, and Poland.
Source: The Express Tribune July 19, 2019 12:00 UTC
