Pakistan

Some of the world’s most widely-known cases of anti-Christian pressure and violence have arisen in Pakistan, a country whose founder promoted religious freedom. Asia Bibi’s case prompted international condemnation of Pakistan’s anti-blasphemy laws but there are still dozens of Christians and others on death row for blasphemy. Meanwhile, several churches and Christian colonies have been attacked by Islamists in recent years, leading to the loss of many lives. Although Christians are around 2% of the population, they make up about 80% of the workforce dealing with waste management (sewerage and street-cleaning). World Watch Monitor’s journalism brought changes in employment legislation in Punjab for such ‘sweepers’ in September 2015. `

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Pakistan: bomb attack on Christian colony kills young boy

December 6, 2017 Balochistan, Islamic State, Pakistan, Taliban

Location where a mob burnt alive two men in angry reaction to twin church suicide bomb attacks in Youhanabad, March 2015. (Photo: World Watch Monitor)

A seven-year-old boy and two others were killed earlier this week during a hand grenade attack on the gates of a Christian colony in Chaman, south-western Pakistan, reports UCA News. Police named the boy as Lucky Saleem. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, which came days after Taliban […]

Pakistan’s anti-blasphemy protests showcase minorities’ plight

November 27, 2017 Asia Bibi, Barelvi, Blasphemy, Gujranwala, Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Minorities, Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, Mumtaz Qadri, Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan, Pakistan Muslim League, Peshawar, Prophet Muhammad, Punjab, Rawalpindi, Salmaan Taseer, Sheikhupura, Sufi, Sunni, Taliban, Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan

In November there were widespread anti-blasphemy protests in Islamabad and other cities in reaction to proposed changes to an election law. (Photo: World Watch Monitor)

Anti-blasphemy protests in Pakistan have once again highlighted the fragile position of the country’s religious minorities. Life in various parts of Pakistan virtually came to a halt on Saturday (25 November) after the police, paramilitary and other law enforcement agencies clashed with rioters in the capital, Islamabad, resulting in protests […]

What makes Pakistan’s small religious minorities so significant?

November 24, 2017 Caste, Constitution, Human rights, Lahore, Minorities, Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, Pakistan, Punjab

Pakistan conducted its first census in 19 years in July. All the results have now been released, except those on religious minorities. The government has provided no explanation. On 22 November a small group of protesters, mostly Christians, gathered outside the Press Club in Lahore, the major city in Pakistan’s […]

US designating Pakistan a ‘Country of Particular Concern’ would be ‘ineffective’

November 21, 2017 Blasphemy, Minorities, Pakistan, Religious freedom

A week after the US State Department missed its legal deadline for designating ‘Countries of Particular Concern’ (CPC) – given to “systematic, ongoing and egregious” violators of religious freedom – a Pakistani journalist has suggested adding her country to the list would be “ineffective” anyway. Pakistan was one of 16 […]

Euro MPs visit Asia Bibi’s family and press Pakistan for blasphemy law reform

November 15, 2017 Asia Bibi, Blasphemy, Pakistan

Three European Parliament Members have visited senior Pakistani government officials and the family of Asia Bibi, the Christian mother-of-five on death row, in a bid to change the country’s controversial blasphemy legislation. Dutch MEP Peter van Dalen told the Christian news website BosLifeNews that he and colleagues from Poland and […]

Pakistani Christian sent to prison for ‘insulting Islam’ despite mental ill-health

November 10, 2017 Blasphemy, Islamic extremism, Lahore, Pakistan

A Christian man was arrested on the day of his son’s funeral in Pakistan last weekend, and charged with insulting Islam – blasphemy – despite being recognised as mentally ill. He is now in prison. Iqbal Masih, 65, a retired father of nine, is from the Fazlia Colony of Lahore, […]

Pakistan: Christians flee village after death threats against teenager accused of blasphemy

November 7, 2017 Blasphemy, Gujranwala, Islamic extremism, Pakistan

Five Christian families in rural Pakistan have gone into hiding after death threats were made against an 18-year-old because of his alleged blasphemy against Islam. Sonu Arshad, who lives in the remote village of Sukheki, 200 kilometres north of Lahore, belongs to one of the families – the only Christians […]

‘Pakistan’s blasphemy law here to stay’ – Minister of Religious Affairs

November 2, 2017 Blasphemy, Islamic extremism, Minorities, Pakistan

Pakistan’s Federal Minister of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony says the country is under “no pressure” to scrap its controversial blasphemy laws and that religious minorities enjoy equal rights. “The law cannot be revoked,” Sardar Muhammad Yousuf said at a Pakistan-American Press Association dinner. “It’s there to stay, as it has […]

Pakistani Christians face discrimination in prisons too

November 1, 2017 Caste, Gujranwala, Kasur, Minorities, Pakistan, Peshawar, Prisons, Punjab, Taliban

Pakistani Christians, often discriminated against because of their faith and standing as members of Pakistan’s lowest caste, find that discrimination follows them in prisons as well. The justice system is extremely slow in Pakistan and, as a result, thousands of Pakistanis languish in overcrowded jails, having yet to face trial. […]

Pakistan should be ‘country of particular concern’ – US senators

October 30, 2017 USA

Pakistan should be designated a “country of particular concern” because of its violations of religious freedom, according to a group of influential US senators. Senators Bob Menendez, Marco Rubio, Chris Coons, Todd Young, Jeff Merkley and James Lankford wrote to US Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson ahead of the 13 […]

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