Lawyers defending blasphemy cases in Pakistan can face intimidation, threats and even deadly violence simply for representing the accused. The right to a lawyer is one of the foundations of criminal justice. But in Pakistan’s most sensitive blasphemy proceedings, accepting a defendant’s case can expose the lawyer to threats. Sometimes the consequences have been fatal.… Continue reading Defending the Accused Can Cost Your Life: The Lawyers in Pakistan’s Blasphemy Cases
Mental disability and blasphemy laws in Pakistan raise serious questions about intent, criminal responsibility and the protection of vulnerable defendants. What happens when a person accused of deliberately insulting religion may not fully understand their own behaviour? This question has arisen repeatedly in Pakistani blasphemy proceedings. The International Commission of Jurists has specifically documented the… Continue reading Mental Illness, Intellectual Disability and Pakistan’s Blasphemy Laws
