Republicans and Democrats in Congress echoed Obama's outrage, hours after Bhatti was gunned down outside his mother's home. His slaying came just weeks after the killing of liberal politician Salman Taseer. The two men had pushed to change laws that impose the death penalty for insulting Islam.
"He is literally a modern-day martyr," said Rep. Frank Wolf, R-Va., at a Capitol Hill news conference.
Bhatti, a campaigner for human rights causes, had been aware of threats to his life. Obama said Bhatti "fought for and sacrificed his life for the universal values that Pakistanis, Americans and people around the world hold dear" — including rights to free speech and religious freedom.
Assailants from al-Qaida and the Pakistani Taliban Movement in Punjab province claimed responsibility, calling Bhatti an "infidel Christian."
Obama said that whoever committed the crime should be brought to justice, and people who share Bhatti's vision of tolerance and religious freedom should live free of fear.
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