--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In 1986, Pakistan got the blasphemy law…" description: "\"In 1986, Pakistan got the blasphemy law. So, while we had just two cases of blasphemy before that year, now we have thousands. It shows that one should..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ba/asma-jahangir-9161_be-careful_in-1986-pakistan-got-the-blasphemy-law-s_670723.jpg" --- # In 1986, Pakistan got the blasphemy law. So, while we had… ![“In 1986, Pakistan got the blasphemy law. So, while we had just two cases of blasphemy before that year, now we have thousands. It shows that one should be careful while bringing religion into legislation, because the law itself can become an instrument of persecution.” quote by Asma Jahangir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ba/asma-jahangir-9161_be-careful_in-1986-pakistan-got-the-blasphemy-law-s_670723.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ba/asma-jahangir-9161_be-careful_in-1986-pakistan-got-the-blasphemy-law-s_670723.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ba/asma-jahangir-9161_be-careful_in-1986-pakistan-got-the-blasphemy-law-s_670723.jpg) > “In 1986, Pakistan got the blasphemy law. So, while we had just two cases of blasphemy before that year, now we have thousands. It shows that one should be careful while bringing religion into legislation, because the law itself can become an instrument of persecution.” [Asma Jahangir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asma-jahangir/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Introducing religious doctrine into law can lead to widespread abuse, as seen with Pakistan’s blasphemy statutes. **In simple terms:** Religion in legislation can cause persecution. Key Takeaway Avoid embedding religion in legal codes. Themes justice religion law human rights Mood cautious determined Type policy advocacy When to use this quote - policy drafting - advocacy - education - legal reform Key Concepts separation of church and state legislative risk persecution Questions to Reflect On - What safeguards can prevent legal misuse? - How to protect minority voices? A Different Perspective Balancing cultural values and universal rights is complex. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Persecution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persecution/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) ## Related quotes > [If things are going well, religion and legislation are beneficial; if not, they are of no avail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solon/if-things-are-going-well-religion-and-legislation-are-beneficial-if/) [Solon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solon/) > [This year's blasphemy is next year's liberating truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-halsey/this-year-s-blasphemy-is-next-year-s-liberating-truth/) [Margaret Halsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-halsey/) > [There's no definition of blasphemy in this law. Then this only protects the one religion, whether we agree or not. I as a Christian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shahbaz-bhatti/there-s-no-definition-of-blasphemy-in-this-law-then-this-only/) [Shahbaz Bhatti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shahbaz-bhatti/) > [But when General Ziaul Haq introduced the strict blasphemy - 295 A, B, C - of Pakistan's penal code, then from 1986 to today…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shahbaz-bhatti/but-when-general-ziaul-haq-introduced-the-strict-blasphemy-295-a-b-c/) [Shahbaz Bhatti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shahbaz-bhatti/) > [Blasphemy: a law to protect an all-powerful, supernatural deity from getting its feelings hurt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/blasphemy-a-law-to-protect-an-all-powerful-supernatural-deity-from/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [I think the media projected the case of Asia Bibi in a right way. They have given the importance of this case and especially…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shahbaz-bhatti/i-think-the-media-projected-the-case-of-asia-bibi-in-a-right-way-they/) [Shahbaz Bhatti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shahbaz-bhatti/) > [First of all, let me give my comments on the blasphemy law. This law was introduced by the military dictator General Ziaul Haq. No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shahbaz-bhatti/first-of-all-let-me-give-my-comments-on-the-blasphemy-law-this-law/) [Shahbaz Bhatti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shahbaz-bhatti/) > [There is no truth sure enough to justify persecution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/there-is-no-truth-sure-enough-to-justify-persecution/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [“Jesus came to give his righteousness not to condemn the unrighteous.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-canoza/jesus-came-to-give-his-righteousness-not-to-condemn-the-unrighteous/) [Mac Canoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-canoza/) > [Knowledge of God's Word is a bulwark against deception, temptation, accusation, even persecution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-louis-cole/knowledge-of-god-s-word-is-a-bulwark-against-deception-temptation/) [Edwin Louis Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-louis-cole/) > [Persecution matures young rebels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/han-suyin/persecution-matures-young-rebels/) [Han Suyin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/han-suyin/) > [“People talk about history and things like slavery, genocide, and religious persecution as horrors that happened in the past because we were ignorant. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-matthew-nespoli/people-talk-about-history-and-things-like-slavery-genocide-and/) [J. Matthew Nespoli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-matthew-nespoli/) > [Persecution, in short, is like the goldsmith's stamp on real silver and gold - it is one of the marks of a converted man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/persecution-in-short-is-like-the-goldsmith-s-stamp-on-real-silver-and/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [The sectaries of a persecuted religion, depressed by fear, animated with resentment, and perhaps heated by enthusiasm, are seldom in a proper temper of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/the-sectaries-of-a-persecuted-religion-depressed-by-fear-animated/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) ## More by Asma Jahangir > [I am so proud of Pakistanis and specifically of our lawyers for speaking out and getting their heads bashed in for a better Pakistan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asma-jahangir/i-am-so-proud-of-pakistanis-and-specifically-of-our-lawyers-for/) [Asma Jahangir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asma-jahangir/) > [A really responsible court will never give an order it knows will not be implemented.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asma-jahangir/a-really-responsible-court-will-never-give-an-order-it-knows-will-not/) [Asma Jahangir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asma-jahangir/) > [I think I have lived enough in this country where I can say what I think is true and which is the voice of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asma-jahangir/i-think-i-have-lived-enough-in-this-country-where-i-can-say-what-i/) [Asma Jahangir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asma-jahangir/) > [When General Musharraf took over, the Bar Association was among the first of some of the institutions that said they would not accept the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asma-jahangir/when-general-musharraf-took-over-the-bar-association-was-among-the/) [Asma Jahangir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asma-jahangir/) > [Terrorism does not disappear with revenge tactics but through making justice and equality before law a reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asma-jahangir/terrorism-does-not-disappear-with-revenge-tactics-but-through-making/) [Asma Jahangir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asma-jahangir/) > [I am certainly not a martyr kind of a person. 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