In Nigeria and Pakistan, the excesses of rigid application of blasphemy law are destroying the lives of ordinary citizens.
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom has released a report this month, July 2025, providing an update on freedom of religion or belief in Nigeria. Twelve state governments and the federal government of Nigeria enforce blasphemy laws, prosecuting and imprisoning individuals perceived to have insulted religion. There are currently four Muslims incarcerated under blasphemy laws, including two religious leaders.
In Pakistan there is growing misuse of Pakistan’s blasphemy laws.
This misuse came to light when Punjab Police’s Special Branch submitted a report called The Blasphemy Business. The report revealed that a network operating under the name “Legal Commission on Blasphemy Pakistan” was trapping people online with fake blasphemy content and then working with certain FIA officials in Islamabad and Rawalpindi to demand bribes in exchange for dropping charges. Fake blasphemy charges are being used to extort, silence, and destroy lives, mainly targeting the young and vulnerable. This Blasphemy Business Group is a gang that has honey-trapped over 400 young individuals in blasphemy cases. The gang members are said to be linked with a religious party. The young people are allegedly entrapped through coercion and deceit, targeted due to their poverty, lured into certain groups, and then accused under the blasphemy laws. The harsh reality is that this gang is making money off blasphemy accusations. Young men are targeted using female operatives under pseudonyms, entrapping them in blasphemous activities online, which led to their arrests.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan says this system of abuse is deeply organised, with people trapped by fake accusations, often involving the police or legal professionals. In many cases, victims have been baited into receiving or reacting to blasphemous content and then blackmailed, threatened, or arrested and in some cases killed.
In February this year the Islamabad High Court ordered the formation of a Commission to investigate the Blasphemy Group. Religious political parties are now openly opposing the Commission and threatening Judges involved in the process.
This article has been put together by Gaylene from the following references:
Nigeria
Pakistan