Taliban Assassinates Pakistan Minister

The Taliban claimed responsibility for Wednesday’s shooting death of Pakistan’s Minister of Minority Affairs, Shahbaz Bhatti. A spokesman for the Taliban said Bhatti was assassinated because of his stance again Pakistan’s blasphemy law, which allows anyone who is convicted of insulting Islam, the Prophet Mohammed or the Quran to receive the death penalty.

"Assassination of Bhatti is a message to all of those who are against Pakistan's blasphemy laws,” said Taliban spokesman Ihsanullah Ihsan.

Bhatti, a Christian, had received death threats since vowing to fight to get the blasphemy laws amended. Gunmen killed Bhatti in his vehicle Wednesday as he was leaving his Islamabad home.

Bhatti is not the first government official to be killed for standing against the blasphemy laws. Punjab governor Salman Taseer was assassinated in January after speaking out against them.

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