Human Rights Day Spotlights Plight Of Religious Minorities In Pakistan – OpEd

On December 10th, 2023, Minority Rights Activists highlighted the plight of religious minorities during a nationwide protest commemorating International Human Rights Day. The demonstrations brought attention to severe human rights violations against religious minorities in Pakistan, particularly emphasizing the distressing incident on August 16th, 2023, when extremists vandalized 26 churches and numerous Christian homes, allegedly over accusations of Quran desecration, drawing widespread condemnation.

During protests, activists vehemently denounced the misuse of blasphemy laws, prevalent impunity, discriminatory practices, incitement of violence based on religion, and concerning coerced faith conversions and forced child marriages affecting Christian and Hindu girls across Pakistan.

Akmal Bhatti, Chairman of Minority Alliance Pakistan (MAP), unveiled a comprehensive report detailing the distressing events of the August 16th attack. He highlighted the assault on Christian communities by nearly ten thousand assailants, resulting in desecrated churches and looted homes. The passive law enforcement response reflected a dire lack of justice, exacerbating victims’ distress.

Bhatti called upon Pakistani authorities to uphold constitutional equality in the upcoming 2024 elections. He advocated for increased representation of religious minority members in both national and provincial assemblies. Additionally, he urged amendments to Article 41 and 91 of the Constitution, aiming to eliminate the restriction barring non-Muslims from assuming the positions of president and prime minister in Pakistan. His demands emphasized the need to address discriminatory practices and protect places of worship belonging to minority communities.

In a statement issued on International Human Rights Day, Joseph Jansen, Chairperson of Voice for Justice, spotlighted grave human rights violations continuing in Pakistan. He highlighted a disturbingly high number of complaints of blasphemy based on false accusations, forced conversions of Christian and Hindu girls, biased investigations, extrajudicial killings, and targeted attacks on religious and marginalized minority communities.

Jansen specifically highlighted Anwar Kenneth’s case—a Christian sentenced to death under blasphemy charges for over two decades. Kenneth’s appeal seeks justice and immediate acquittal. 

He voiced concern regarding influential entities obstructing legislative attempts to criminalize forced conversions and revise blasphemy laws. This highlighted the critical absence of political will within the Pakistani government to address religious freedom violations that impact minorities.

Shamaun Alfred urged immediate legislative action from the government to ensure equal rights and protection for minorities. He advocated for protective laws against forced faith conversions and the protection of communal properties. In his closing remarks, Alfred passionately implored authorities to enact laws preventing hate crimes, safeguarding against forced religious conversions, and ensuring fair judicial procedures.

The collective voice of minority rights activists, including Ilyas Samuel, spokesperson of VFJ, and Pastor Ghazala Shafique, calls upon Pakistani authorities to take decisive actions, including the enactment of legislation prohibiting hate crimes and discrimination, ending forced religious conversions, amending blasphemy laws to prevent misuse, preventing biased content in compulsory school textbooks, and enforcing minority job quotas and admission quotas in educational institutions. 

This day holds profound significance, marking the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, a pivotal milestone that laid the groundwork for the acknowledgment of fundamental human rights for all individuals, regardless of race, gender, religion, or social status.