Pakistan’s only Christian government minister, Shahbaz Bhatti, has been shot dead by Muslim extremists in apparent reprisal for opposing the nation’s “blasphemy law,” according to international media reports. Bhatti, who was the Minister for Minorities, was driving to work in the capital city of Islamabad today when gunmen sprayed his car with bullets, killing him. Leaflets were left at the scene warning others that the same fate would await them if they opposed the blasphemy law, a measure that critics say is used to persecute religious minorities. Reuters reports that the Pakistani Taliban have taken responsibility for the murder. The killing of Bhatti follows the January assassination of Salman Taseer, the governor of the state of Punjab, also by Islamic militants, and also for condemning the country’s the blasphemy law. In the climate of fear following the killing, Bhatti had been one of the few government ministers who had openly condemned Taseer’s killing. Following the killing of Taseer, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari backed off from plans to reform the blasphemy law. To read the full story, click here.
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