Three women have been convicted of the brutal murder of Safoora Bibi, a schoolteacher at an Islamic seminary in Dera Ismail Khan, in March 2022. The main suspect, Umra Aman, planned the attack with her two nieces, who were students at the school; they were allegedly prompted by a dream accusing Bibi of blasphemy. The killing has highlighted the pervasive issue of vigilante attacks in the country, fuelled by Pakistan’s controversial blasphemy laws. Despite the government's stated zero-tolerance policy, reluctance to repeal or reform these laws persists due to pressure from hard-line Islamist groups. Over 90 blasphemy-related killings have occurred in Pakistan in the past seven decades, with a significant rise in recent years.
Pakistan: three women convicted of ‘blasphemy’ killing
Written by David Fletcher 21 Mar 2024Additional Info
- Pray: that the government will take measures to prevent such accusations and killings. Pray for protection for potential victims. (Psalm 34:18)
- More: www.rferl.org/a/pakistani-schoolteacher-blasphemy-vigilantes/31779969.html
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