A United States citizen on trial for blasphemy in Pakistan has been shot dead while appearing in court
Tahir Ahmed Naseem, 47, died on Wednesday in the northwestern city of Peshawar, after a member of the public walked into the courtroom and opened fire in front of the judge, according to officials. His attacker was arrested at the scene.
"We extend our condolences to the family of Tahir Naseem, the American citizen who was killed today inside a courtroom in Pakistan," the State Department's Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs said in a separate statement posted online Thursday."We urge Pakistan to take immediate action and pursue reforms that will prevent such a shameful tragedy from happening again."
Guns are difficult to obtain in Pakistan -- civilians cannot purchase a weapon or carry one without a valid license. Members of the public are also typically not allowed into local court rooms, such as the one where Naseem was shot.The case has once again highlighted the tensions over the country's strict blasphemy laws, which have been linked to a number of violent acts, including at least one deadly shooting in recent years.
However, violence against those who criticize the blasphemy law has had a"chilling effect" on efforts to reform the legislation, HRW said.
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