What Constitutes Blasphemy?

On Tuesday, January 30, 2001 angry mobs set ablaze the offices, including the printing press, of the Pakistani newspaper The Frontier Post. The mob was reacting to the publication of a letter [on January 29, 2001] containing highly blasphemous material.

Facts as reported by various newspapers:

1. The provincial government has forfeited all copies of the Jan 29 issue of the Frontier Post.

2. Five members of the staff of Frontier Post have been arrested and charged with blasphemy. Punishment is death.

3. Frontier Post has apologized to the nation for publishing the letter.

4. The letter has not been published by any of the newspapers that are reporting on this issue.

5. The management of Frontier Post has also filed an application against 2 of its staff members - accusing them of being responsible for this crisis.

6. None of the law enforcing agencies that were present at the time of the attack on Frontier Post attempted to stop the mobs from destroying the offices.