Washington DC: May 16, 2017. (PCP) International Christian Voice Chairman, Mr. Peter Bhatti, took part in the first ever World Summit in Defense of Persecuted Christians, hosted by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association in Washington D.C. The international summit, which was opened by U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, was held to raise awareness and create discussion on the increasing persecution and genocide of Christians around the world. Leaders and representatives from 130 countries came together to partake in this historic gathering seeking a united, global response to the extreme persecution faced by Christians around the world. The main purposes of the summit were to positively influence current public policy that promotes the persecution and harassment of Christians; to increase diplomatic pressure on violating states; to address President Trump and other elected officials to take a strong stance on Christian persecution; and to pray for and comfort victims around the world. Mr. Bhatti had the distinct privilege of raising a voice for the persecuted Christians of Pakistan, a country now ranked at number 4 on Open Door USA’s list of top ten countries violating religious freedom. He spoke first of the sacrifice of Martyr Shahbaz Bhatti, Pakistan’s first ever Christian Federal Minister for Minorities Affairs, who was assassinated for his strong stance against the persecution of Christians in Pakistan. Martyr Shahbaz Bhatti’s life and legacy was honoured by global leaders present at the summit, who also acknowledged the extreme suffering of Christians in Pakistan. Mr. Bhatti highlighted the persecution faced by Christians in Pakistan, emphasizing the issue of the misuse of blasphemy laws and other discriminatory laws in the country. He also raised a voice for the thousands of Pakistani Christian asylum seekers who are suffering from inhumane conditions in Thailand, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and elsewhere. He called on the American government and international community to give these asylum seekers the assistance and attention that they are desperately in need of. In closing, Mr. Bhatti spoke of the resilient faith of Pakistani Christians who are suffering in their own homes or as asylum seekers around the world. He said that Christians around the world “must unite as one body to alleviate the pain that our brothers and sister are facing.”