Comment by ryzvonusef | Hacker News Reader

Comment by ryzvonusef | Hacker News Reader

I'm from Pakistan, and Blasphemy law is a genie no one can put back in the lamp.

A few days back, a man was who went for tourism to a hill station was burnt alive by a mob[1], for purported blasphemy.

Now we are getting evidence of how he was actually a very observant muslim[2], but it's of no consolation for his burnt corpse or his family.

Nothing matters, if someone is pissed at you, they can unleash a mob at you and nothing the law or police can do in front of a violent mob fired up (literally) by religious fervour.

I have a conspiracy, that our economy is so utterly shit that our govt uses such lynchings as a release valve. Hey, inflation biting you? Go kill someone and set them on fire, let that pent up stress out.

In any case, I pray for an escape from this place daily. Terrible economy was bad enough, blasphemy lottery is just the gilding on top.

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[1]: I will not link anything, but if you are morbidly curious, by all means search for "Swat Blasphemy" on twitter and click the media tab.

[2]: https://x.com/Arshadyousafzay/status/1806717907486789805

> I have a conspiracy, that our economy is so utterly shit that our govt uses such lynchings as a release valve. Hey, inflation biting you? Go kill someone and set them on fire, let that pent up stress out.

You are not completely wrong here, I'd speculate that it also plays on two desires that people have: unite around some common enemy (let's say blasphemers/infidels), and feel having power. Mob lynchings give it to them, although I'm not sure if abundance of such events won't drive them for more. The life won't become less shit, but as long as people feel they "fight a good fight", it doesn't matter much to them.

I'm wondering what is the survival strategy in such places.

Pray, and keep your eyes open wide for an opportunity, too.

> I have a conspiracy, that our economy is so utterly shit that our govt uses such lynchings as a release valve. Hey, inflation biting you? Go kill someone and set them on fire, let that pent up stress out.

It’s not a conspiracy theory. Governments around the world spend money, effort and time to distract people from real issues. One of the easiest ways is to show them “those extremely bad people out there” and start or incite clashes and wars. When there’s another enemy that’s created to be worse for our social values or morals, it’s easy to unite people against that and keep them busy with something else.

I disagree, it's a conspiracy. There is evidence from the past where the Pakistani government tried to fight Islamic radicalism, but the mob was stronger and even threatened to kill government officials.

(I have another conspiracy theory: People who try to blame it on the government try to do so because they want to make the people, or Islam, seem less bad.)

Thanks for sharing. Be well.

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