A/HRC/4/21/Add.1 page 57 detained. Apparently, on 10 September 2005 a Muslim cleric filed a complaint against Younis Masih, accusing him of blasphemy under Section 295C of the Pakistan penal code for having allegedly made derogatory remarks about the Prophet Mohammed at a religious service. Blasphemy charges carry the death penalty or life imprisonment. A first bail petition was rejected by the session’s court in Lahore in November 2005 and a second petition is currently pending in the Lahore High Court. 240. The Special Procedures mandate holders are aware that people detained on blasphemy charges in Pakistani prisons have been killed by fellow detainees or prison wardens, including at Kot Lakhpat, the prison where Younis Masih is currently held. The mandate holders are concerned that Younis Masih’s life would thus appear to be in danger. Response from the Government dated 16 May 2006 241. Mr. Younas Masih, son of Wason Masih, was admitted in Central Jail Lahore on 11 September 2005, as under trial prisoner involved in the case FIR (First Information Report) No.723/05 dated 10 September U/S 295 Police Station Factory Area, Lahore. He is at present facing trial in the court of Mr. Muhammad Saleem, Magistrate 1st Class, Model Town, Lahore. The Government indicated that Mr. Younas Masih has been provided with all security jail facilities according to jail rules. Special security arrangements have been put in place to ensure that there is no threat to his life. Observations 242. The Special Rapporteur is grateful for the response from the Government and she would like to refer to her framework for communications, more specifically to the international human rights norms and to the mandate practice concerning “Freedom of expression including questions related to religious conflicts, religious intolerance and extremism” (see above para. 1, category IV. 1.). 243. Furthermore she would like to make reference to her predecessor’s report on his country visit to Pakistan in June 1995 (E/CN.4/1996/95/Add.1, para. 82): “While protecting freedom of conscience and freedom of worship is clearly a necessity, applying the death penalty for blasphemy appears disproportionate and even unacceptable, especially in view of the fact that blasphemy is very often the reflection of a very low standard of education and culture, for which the blasphemer is never solely to blame. The Special Rapporteur endorses the Government’s proposal to amend procedural aspects of the blasphemy law and would encourage it not only to give effect to this proposal, but also to go further in amending the law on blasphemy and more generally on religious offences in accordance with the views expressed above. The Special Rapporteur believes that in any event some practical measures, especially administrative and educational, should be implemented pending more substantial constitutional and legislative changes.” Communication sent on 5 July 2006 jointly with the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions 244. The Special Rapporteurs brought to the attention of the Government of Pakistan information they had received concerning Mr. Abdul Sattar Gopang, who was reportedly