Islamic extremism on the rise, warns leading Pakistani bishop

November 08, 2011

A year after the Christian woman Asia Bibi was sentenced to death on blasphemy charges, the president of Pakistan’s Episcopal Conference is warning that Islamic extremism in on the rise.

“A year after that tragic verdict, the conditions of religious minorities have not changed for the better, and indeed the country is plagued by serious political, economic, social, moral, religious problems,” said Bishop Joseph Coutts of Faisalabad. “The phenomenon of Islamic extremism has grown, with groups who wish to openly impose the Islamic law and establish a theocracy.”

“These extremist groups have a strong influence on courts: the case of indirect pressure on judges and witnesses, that condition the judgments and the application of the law, leaving many people, often members of minorities, without justice,” he added.

 

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Further information:

• "Minorities discriminated, while extremism is growing", says the President of the Episcopal Conference, one year after Asia Bibi’s sentence (Fides)