YouTuber Rajab Butt Booked as ‘295’ Perfume Sparks Blasphemy Controversy
A FIR was registered under Section 295-A (insulting religious beliefs) and Section 11 (hate speech) of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca).
YouTuber Rajab Butt has been booked under Pakistan’s blasphemy and cybercrime laws following the launch of his perfume brand, “295,” it emerges on Tuesday.
In a recent video, which has been now deleted from his social media accounts, Butt launched his “295” perfume which refers to Section 295 of the Pakistan Penal Code related to blasphemy.
The move has sparked significant backlash, with a leader of the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) filing a complaint alleging that Butt’s actions hurt religious sentiments.
Butt, who has one of the largest online followings in Pakistan, claimed the perfume was named after late Indian singer Sidhu Moose Wala, who was also charged under similar laws.
However, the explanation did little to quell the outrage, leading to the filing of a First Information Report (FIR) under Section 295-A (insulting religious beliefs) and Section 11 (hate speech) of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca).
In an apology video, Butt stated he did not intend to disrespect the blasphemy laws and announced the discontinuation of the perfume.
Despite this, Lahore Deputy Inspector General of Police Faisal Kamran confirmed that Butt would be arrested upon his return from Umrah. Kamran also emphasized the sensitivity of religious issues and advised caution when discussing such topics on social media.
If convicted, Butt faces up to 10 years in prison. This is not his first legal issue; earlier this year, he pleaded guilty to owning an undocumented lion cub and avoided jail by agreeing to post animal rights videos for a year.
