The fragility of faith

India does not have a blasphemy law that is as draconian as the one in Pakistan

There were widespread protests in Pakistan this week after the country’s Supreme Court overturned the conviction of Asia Bibi, a Christian woman who was facing the death sentence for her allegedly blasphemous remarks against Islam. Furious at being done out of her execution — Asia Bibi had been on death row since 2010 — hardline religious groups have pronounced death threats on her and also on the judges who exonerated her. The threats are chillingly real. Two political leaders, including the then Governor of Punjab, were assassinated in 2011 because they had dared to plead her cause. 

The awfulness of the