You might have spotted a recent photo in the Times Free Press of a massive rally in Pakistan, a Muslim-dominated nation.
Tens of thousands of Pakistanis attended the demonstration.
And what was its purpose? “[T]o oppose any change to national blasphemy laws and to praise a man charged with murdering a provincial governor who had campaigned against the divisive legislation,” The Associated Press reported.
The slain Pakistani official, Salman Taseer, was reportedly gunned down by one of his own bodyguards.
We acknowledge that we cannot dictate whether Pakistan will have laws against blaspheming Islam – although such laws can get “offenders” a death sentence. But even though that country does not have our First Amendment guarantees of freedom of religion and free speech, isn’t it horrifying that so many people would gather to cheer the assassination of an official who merely spoke out against oppressive laws?