Ecumenical Upate: Islamic extremists threaten life of Catholic minister leading the fight against blasphemy law

Minorities Minister Shahbaz Bhatti confirms he was the subject of intimidations. He says however that he is ready “for any kind of sacrifice for his people”. All he wants is justice for the victims of Gojra and compensation for survivors. The National Commission for Justice and Peace continues its action to repeal the country’s blasphemy laws. “I have been receiving death threats and phone calls from extremists for a long time but these threats cannot stop me from working on behalf of the minorities of the country,” Federal Minorities Minister Shahbaz Bhatti told AsiaNews. A Catholic, Mr Bhatti said that recent threats against him are the consequence of his call for justice on behalf of the victims of the Gojra violence and his commitment to human rights and the repeal of the controversial blasphemy laws.