Forget Sharia, how about some Sherry-a Law.

One down, an untold number to go.

'One' being Salman Taseer, governer of Pakistan's largest province, who was assassinated in Islamabad by one of his own bodyguards for supporting amendments to the country's violent blasphemy laws.

Next in line; Sherry Rehman. Why? Because she proposed a number of bills that radical Muslims are opposed to; the Women's Empowerment Bill, the Anti-Honor Killings bill, the Domestic Violence Prevention bill, the Freedom of Information bill, the Press Act, and most recently and most relevently, she proposed amendments to the existing blasphemy laws in Pakistan (for a review of what these laws are like, refer to this post; Freedom of expression violated in Pakistan).

Sherry Rehman is a prominent Pakistani journalist, was information secretary to Benazir Bhutto's party (Pakistan People's Party), was the minister for Information and Broadcasting, and represents (not officially or anything) liberal Islam. She does not wear a headscarf, or a hijab and is an avid campaigner for human rights.

By most standards, she is the last person deserving of assassination. However, by the standards of radical islam, any attempt to stop the killing of people who have been perceived to 'offend Islam' is worthy of death as well.

It boggles the mind.

Recently, a rally of 50,000 people marched in Karachi opposing amendments to the existing blasphemy laws (source). The country has a problem with extremists, with liberal voices being silenced by death threats. Is this what a country in the 21st century should look like? No.

We should all collectively lend our loud support for people like Sherry Rehman, who stand courageously against tyranny despite threats to their lives, despite members of their own governments advising them to leave the country for their own safety.

Isn't it funny and sad, that a country that was created specifically to protect the minority (muslims) from the majority (hindus), is now oppressing minorities itself? I'm sure this is not what Jinnah envisioned.

"Islam and its idealism have taught us democracy. It has taught equality of man, justice and fairplay to everybody
...
In any case Pakistan is not going to be a theocratic State to be ruled by priests with a divine mission. We have many non-Muslims — Hindus, Christians, and Parsis — but they are all Pakistanis. They will enjoy the same rights and privileges as any other citizens and will play their rightful part in the affairs of Pakistan." - Muhammad Ali Jinnah, 1948. (source).