Sunday, May 3, 2015

Pakistan - Religious Freedom - A damning report



An annual US Congressional report titled ‘US Commission on International Religious Freedom’ has been released highlighting the state of affairs as far as religious freedoms are concerned in countries like India and Pakistan. No surprises as far as this country is concerned: the report mentions that Pakistan represents one of the “worst situations” for religious freedom anywhere in the world. That is a mighty heavy cross to bear. Whilst the US might have an eye on us for our travesties against religious freedom and protection of minorities, we are still not on the list of countries that are of “particular concern”. If we were, we would have economic sanctions to look forward to, a situation we can ill afford. However, this commission has been recommending, since 2002, that Pakistan be given this status. Are we not even the slightest bit alarmed? If not for the sake of our minorities, then maybe, selfishly, for ourselves? India has also been castigated in this report where it is mentioned that since the elections last year India has witnessed a sharp rise in derogatory remarks against minorities by politicians linked to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The report goes on to document the forced religious conversions of minorities by the BJP.

What a region to be proud of and what a country we live in today. Pakistan was supposedly made for the Muslim minority of India, for them to feel safe in a home they could call their own. Many millions died during partition for that dream to be realised and here we are now murdering that vision for our own prejudices. Today’s Pakistan is airless and cold for our own minorities and even those Muslims who do not fit within a designated draconian code. Liberals and secular people — basically what we like to call civil society — has it hard too with militant jihadist squads out to hush them up forever. Ahmedis have been killed with impunity and the blasphemy charge has been used against them, other minorities such as Christians and even Muslims time and again. Shias are being slowly culled in a sectarian genocide. As far as the blasphemy law is concerned, there are no proper safeguards to ensure against false accusation. Most blasphemy charges are fuelled by personal vendettas and these are hardly ever challenged. No wonder that this report has relegated Pakistan to such an unenviable spot. We have failed our minorities miserably and things look worse every day. Maybe only sanctions will force us to improve our lot and that of our beleaguered minorities.

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