**Recent legislation, church attacks could have economic consequences, experts say**
KARACHI — Attacks on churches and Christian communities in eastern Pakistan have ignited debate on recently passed blasphemy legislation and raised concerns about the country’s trade status with the European Union, which has long had a critical eye on the country’s religious tensions.
Pakistan and 12 other countries’ EU Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) status — granted in 2014 and which allows zero import duties on 66% of goods bound for the bloc — is due to expire in December. The EU Parliament and Council will define new terms aligning with 27 global conventions on human rights, labor, governance and the environment.
The EU’s ambassador to Pakistan, Riina Kionka, assured Islamabad in July that a proposed extension of the status would mean that “for now, nothing changes.” But she added that Pakistan’s “obligations to maintain the status also remain the same,” expressing the EU’s desire to see improvements in freedom of religion and minority rights.
Now experts are warning that the GSP+ status is at risk due to a recent bout of sectarian violence as well as legislation that toughened penalties for blasphemy in the Muslim-majority country.
“The EU is Pakistan’s primary export market,” said Naghma Iqtidar, a Pakistani development expert who worked with the government to obtain GSP+. “Losing GSP+ benefits would lead to an export decline and job losses.”
In fiscal 2022-23, exports to the EU’s 27 members reached $8.19 billion, with major destinations including Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy and Belgium, according to the latest statistics from the State Bank of Pakistan. Pakistan’s exports to the U.S. and China came to $5.93 billion and $2.03 billion, respectively.
Earlier this month, mobs ransacked and burned 21 churches and attacked Christian residences in Jaranwala, a town in Punjab province. The violence was triggered by rumors that a Christian man had desecrated the Quran, Islam’s holy book. Videos circulating on social media showed rioters chanting slogans advocating “beheading for blasphemers.”
Authorities were unable to prevent the vandalism despite past blasphemy accusations sparking such violence. Afterward, they arrested over 100 people for the rioting. But police last week also detained two men over blasphemy charges, which are punishable by death, although no one has been executed on such grounds.
The violence prompted a response from Kionka, who wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that the reports from Jaranwala were “disturbing.” The degree to which minorities feel safe “is a measure of respect for the rule of law, for tolerance of diversity, a core EU value.”
The Jaranwala episode has highlighted new legislation hastily approved by parliament on Aug. 7 that increased the punishment for insulting the Prophet Muhammad’s companions, wives and family members to life imprisonment and not less than 10 years, up from three years.
Several Islamist groups held rallies in support of the legislation, while civil society and minority groups cautioned that it could escalate human rights violations and provide a means to target religious minorities.
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**Recent legislation, church attacks could have economic consequences, experts say**
KARACHI — Attacks on churches and Christian communities in eastern Pakistan have ignited debate on recently passed blasphemy legislation and raised concerns about the country’s trade status with the European Union, which has long had a critical eye on the country’s religious tensions.
Pakistan and 12 other countries’ EU Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) status — granted in 2014 and which allows zero import duties on 66% of goods bound for the bloc — is due to expire in December. The EU Parliament and Council will define new terms aligning with 27 global conventions on human rights, labor, governance and the environment.
The EU’s ambassador to Pakistan, Riina Kionka, assured Islamabad in July that a proposed extension of the status would mean that “for now, nothing changes.” But she added that Pakistan’s “obligations to maintain the status also remain the same,” expressing the EU’s desire to see improvements in freedom of religion and minority rights.
Now experts are warning that the GSP+ status is at risk due to a recent bout of sectarian violence as well as legislation that toughened penalties for blasphemy in the Muslim-majority country.
“The EU is Pakistan’s primary export market,” said Naghma Iqtidar, a Pakistani development expert who worked with the government to obtain GSP+. “Losing GSP+ benefits would lead to an export decline and job losses.”
In fiscal 2022-23, exports to the EU’s 27 members reached $8.19 billion, with major destinations including Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy and Belgium, according to the latest statistics from the State Bank of Pakistan. Pakistan’s exports to the U.S. and China came to $5.93 billion and $2.03 billion, respectively.
Earlier this month, mobs ransacked and burned 21 churches and attacked Christian residences in Jaranwala, a town in Punjab province. The violence was triggered by rumors that a Christian man had desecrated the Quran, Islam’s holy book. Videos circulating on social media showed rioters chanting slogans advocating “beheading for blasphemers.”
Authorities were unable to prevent the vandalism despite past blasphemy accusations sparking such violence. Afterward, they arrested over 100 people for the rioting. But police last week also detained two men over blasphemy charges, which are punishable by death, although no one has been executed on such grounds.
The violence prompted a response from Kionka, who wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that the reports from Jaranwala were “disturbing.” The degree to which minorities feel safe “is a measure of respect for the rule of law, for tolerance of diversity, a core EU value.”
The Jaranwala episode has highlighted new legislation hastily approved by parliament on Aug. 7 that increased the punishment for insulting the Prophet Muhammad’s companions, wives and family members to life imprisonment and not less than 10 years, up from three years.
Several Islamist groups held rallies in support of the legislation, while civil society and minority groups cautioned that it could escalate human rights violations and provide a means to target religious minorities.
Pakistan passing Islamic blasphemy laws, Denmark passing Islamic blasphemy laws, who’s next? Iraq or Germany?
People that prosecute victimless “crimes” are not fit for dealing with the real world, in any respect. Abandon all hope, ye who enter Pakistan.
In my opinion EU should sanction them until they remove these laws.
Seems like Pakistan’s problem