VATICAN CITY, Jan 10: Pope Benedict XVI on Monday called on Pakistan to scrap a law against blasphemy as part of a strongly-worded defence of Christians living in majority Muslim countries.

“I once more encourage the leaders of that country to take the necessary steps to abrogate that law,” the leader of the world's one billion Catholics said in a traditional New Year's address to ambassadors to the Vatican.

“The tragic murder of the governor of Punjab shows the urgent need to make progress in this direction,” he said, adding that the law against blasphemy was an example of “norms prejudicing the right to religious freedom”.

In his address the pope also condemned anti-Christian attacks in Egypt and Iraq, saying they showed “the urgent need for governments of the region to adopt... effective measures for the protection of religious minorities”.

“Peace is built and preserved only when human beings can freely seek and serve God,” he said, adding that violation of religious freedoms around the world constituted a “grave attack on... dignity and freedom”.—AFP

Opinion

Editorial

Smog hazard
Updated 05 Nov, 2024

Smog hazard

The catastrophe unfolding in Lahore is a product of authorities’ repeated failure to recognise environmental impact of rapid urbanisation.
Monetary policy
05 Nov, 2024

Monetary policy

IN an aggressive move, the State Bank on Monday reduced its key policy rate by a hefty 250bps to 15pc. This is the...
Cultural power
05 Nov, 2024

Cultural power

AS vital modes of communication, art and culture have the power to overcome social and international barriers....
Disregarding CCI
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Disregarding CCI

The failure to regularly convene CCI meetings means that the process of democratic decision-making is falling apart.
Defeating TB
04 Nov, 2024

Defeating TB

CONSIDERING the fact that Pakistan has the fifth highest burden of tuberculosis in the world as per the World Health...
Ceasefire charade
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Ceasefire charade

The US talks of peace, while simultaneously arming and funding their Israeli allies, are doomed to fail, and are little more than a charade.