The Pope has called for a ban on the brutal and inhumane sharia. He seeks a ban on the blasphemy laws (known as "islamophobia" in the West). Christians are being slaughtered, ethnically cleansed, in Muslim countries under the guise of "do not insult Islam."
After last week's assassination of Pakistan's Governor Salaam Taseer critical of Islamic blasphemy laws, the jihadi was showered with rose petals. Taseer had spoken out in defense of a Christian woman sentenced to death for blasphemy and called for the law to be struck down. Muslims went berserk. His assassin, Malik Mumtaz Hussein Qadri, has been hailed as a hero by many in Pakistan.
Tens of thousands of Muslims marched in Pakistan's largest city in support of Islamic law, support for blasphemy laws. Death for blasphemers is Islamic law and cannot be changed. That is Islamic law. Any attempt to reinterpret or reform Islam is "hypocrisy" ...... also punishable by death. Last month, five Christians were murdered in a week under Pakistan's blasphemy law.
Islamic countries have used blasphemy laws to oppress, annihilate and subjugate non-Muslims for centuries. A Muslim only has to make the accusation. Last month, a Doctor was charged with blasphemy merely for throwing out a business card of a man who shares the name of Islam's prophet, Muhammad. Asia Bibi, a Christian woman, was sentenced to death last month for insulting Islam. The law is often used to settle grudges, persecute minorities and fan the Islamic devout.
Salman Taseer's daughter Sara: "This is a message to every liberal to shut up or be shot"
Pope Benedict XVI has called on Pakistan to repeal its blasphemy laws, which can carry a death sentence for insulting the Prophet Muhammad.
He said the laws served as a pretext for acts of injustice and violence against religious minorities.
The Pope referred to Pakistani governor Salman Taseer, whose assassination last week was blamed on his support for changes to the blasphemy laws.
A bodyguard of Mr Taseer has confessed in court to his killing.
Malik Mumtaz Hussein Qadri told the Anti-Terrorism Court in Rawalpindi that he had acted alone in the attack.
The Pope made his remarks in a new year address to diplomats accredited to the Vatican.
"I once more encourage the leaders of that country [Pakistan] to take the necessary steps to abrogate that law," he said.
"The tragic murder of the governor of Punjab shows the urgent need to make progress in this direction," he added.
The Pope also condemned anti-Christian attacks in Egypt and Iraq, saying they showed "the urgent need for governments of the region to adopt... effective measures for the protection of religious minorities".
The BBC's David Willey in Rome says it was one of the Pope's most robust defences yet of religious freedom.
