Download Violence against Religious Minorities

LEAD Pakistan
Violence against Religious Minorities
In 2007, Minority Rights Group International, a watchdog organization, ranked Pakistan as
the world's top country for major increases in threats to minorities — along with Sri Lanka,
which is embroiled in civil war. The group lists Pakistan as seventh on the list of 10 most
dangerous countries for minorities, after Somalia, Sudan, Afghanistan, Iraq, Myanmar and
Congo.
Religious minorities represent about 5 percent of Pakistan's 160 million people, according to
the CIA World Fact book. At the same time, U.S. Commission on International Religious
Freedom, has named Pakistan as one of the 13 countries where violence against religious
minorities is common and condoned or supported by the government.
The country’s constitution states that adequate provisions shall be made for minorities to
profess and practice their religions freely; however the policies, laws and practices in force
do not appear to be in line with the same. For instance, in state run schools students of
other faiths are exempt from Islamiyyat (Islamic studies) however; in practice, teachers
force non-Muslim students to complete Islamic studies. Similarly, while the law provides for
up to 10 years in prison for insulting another's religious beliefs with the intent to offend
religious feelings however, till date this penalty has been used only against those who have
allegedly insulted the Prophet Muhammad. Furthermore, all citizens, muslims and nonmuslims alike, are subject to the blasphemy laws. Freedom of speech is constitutionally
subject to "any reasonable restrictions imposed by law in the interest of the glory of Islam”;
and the penal code calls for death sentence or life imprisonment for anyone who
blasphemes the Prophet Muhammad.
Violence against religious minorities is not new in Pakistan and is generally characterized by
massive bloodshed and the desecration of their religious and personal assets. Among the
religious minorities present in the country, Christians constitute a major percentage. Of the
four provinces, Punjab hosts the majority of Pakistan's 3 million impoverished Christians.
For this reason it is also the place where most cases of violence against religious minorities
in general, and Christian minority in particular are reported. During the last year alone, the
burning of a church in Gujranwala; attack on 50 Christian houses in Kasur; attack on
Christians on alleged defiling of Koran in Gojra and murder of Christians facing blasphemy
charges in jails, are a few cases in point. In majority of such cases the apparent reason
behind the carnage are accusations of blasphemy that have marred the image of Muslim
world in general and that of Pakistan in particular.
In recent years, the inhuman acts against the Christian minorities have been a subject of
great public debate and criticism. However, in spite of this the Government has not taken
any concrete measures for safeguarding Christians from facing persecution in the name of
blasphemy laws and becoming victims of cruel atrocities.
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