Beowulf Award: Punjab Gov. Salman Taseer and Minister for Minorities Shahbaz Bhatti

As Canadians drowse, generally complacent about the increasing attacks by the harper government on free speech in our country, the muzzling of public servants, and the needless censorship of documents,  two Pakistinian politicians who fought against such heavy handed control in their country were brutally murdered because they would not stop their fight for human rights.

Both were killed because they strongly opposed the blasphemy law which remains a capital offence.

Politicians who serve the people who elect them, politicians willing to risk their lives for the rights and freedoms of others...

And here in Canada...we should be deeply ashamed.

So the Beowulf Award goes to  Salman Taseer and Shahbaz Bhatti

Punjab Gov. Salman Taseer

"Taseer showed himself to be a rare politician, willing to risk his life in espousing an unambiguous position against discrimination and abuse," said Ali Dayan Hasan, senior South Asia researcher for Human Rights Watch.





 







Minister for Minorities Shahbaz Bhatti
 
Shahbaz, recently, had stated publicly, "I was told that if I was to continue the campaign against the blasphemy law, I will be assassinated. I will be beheaded. But forces of violence, forces of extremism cannot harass me, cannot threaten me."