Without an examination of the Kurds' role in the region, it is impossible to comprehend the rapidly evolving geopolitical dynamics of the Middl
The situation of religious freedom for Christians in Pakistan. By Dr. Emanuel Adil Ghouri
Pakistan is a country of followers of different ideologies and religions with millions of followers of different religions and sects. The religion of the vast majority is Islam. The country has faced problems such as religious and sectarian intolerance in every era, This often leads to difficulties and the possibility of limiting religious freedom for followers of other religions.
Article 20 of the Constitution guarantees freedom to profess practice and propagate religion, but this is subject to "law, public order and morality". This article of the Constitution is only included in the Constitution book and does not appear to be applied in practice.
The Constitution of Pakistan declares Islam as the state religion and all laws in the country must be in accordance with Islam. The Constitution also states that ‘every citizen has the right, subject to the constitution, public law and morality, to practice and propagate his religion or belief.’
Religious freedom, or freedom of religion or belief (FoRB), is a fundamental human right that allows individuals or communities, in public or private, to have, manifest, change, or practice any religion or belief without coercion or discrimination.This includes both freedom of worship and the right not to profess any religion, often requiring state neutrality and protection against persecution, but generally the ruling class of the state avoids confronting powerful religious forces.
Pakistan's founder, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, made a detailed statement regarding religious freedom of minorities in his historic speech on August 11, 1947, a few days before the formation of Pakistan.You are free; to go to your temples. You are free to go to your mosques or any other place of worship in this state of Pakistan. You can belong to any religion, caste or creed which has nothing to do with the business of the state.
Many of Pakistan's pro-government Christian religious leaders. Government-loyal political leaders MNA MPA often claim that minorities in Pakistan enjoy complete religious freedom.
My question to them is whether the freedom to go to church, build churches, and hold spiritual gatherings under the patronage of representatives of the ruling political parties is the only thing that constitutes religious freedom, or are there other accessories associated with it? Is this part of the speech of the founder of Pakistan, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, that you are free to go to your temples, mosques and gurdwaras limited to this? The burning of 26 churches in Jaranwala in just 12 hours on August 16, 2023, the desecration of the Holy Bible and the Holy Cross, the demolition of the homes of hundreds of Christians, and then the acquittal of the accused involved in these incidents by the courts is a failure of the government and government institutions and a clear restriction on the religious freedom of Christians.Christians who have been imprisoned and extrajudicially murdered in false blasphemy cases are not deprived of religious freedom.Are hundreds of Christian women who are forcibly converted and married off each year enjoying religious freedom? The forced conversion of minority women creates a dangerous environment, resulting in Pakistan being declared a "country of particular concern" for religious freedom.
How many Christian TV channels in Pakistan have been registered by PEMRA to broadcast programs based on the preaching of Christianity? Religious freedom means that Muslims can offer their prayers outside the railway station, bus stand or any hotel during travel. On the other hand, a few years ago, a case was registered against a Christian family for singing Psalms at Rawalpindi Railway Station and they were sent to Adiala Jail.Here, members of the Tablighi Jamaat enter the shops and offices of Christians and invite them to freely convert to Islam. This religious freedom is enjoyed only by them. Our job is to listen to them silently. On several occasions, various international social organizations have described religious freedom for Christians in Pakistan as unsatisfactory.
According to the 2023-2024 reports, religious freedom in Pakistan is under serious, growing threat, due to local violence, discriminatory laws, and forced conversions targeting minorities.The Center for Social Justice reported more than 329 cases of blasphemy in 2020, while the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) noted administrative failures in protecting places of worship and vulnerable communities
Senior U.S. State Department officials, including the Ambassador, the Special Advisor on Religious Minorities in the Near East and South and Central Asia, the Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, and embassy officials, met with the Prime Minister’s Senior Advisor, the Minister for Human Rights, the Ministry of Law and Justice, and the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony.The Ministry of Law and Justice and the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony have discussed the need to end sectarian violence, ensure the protection of religious minorities, and prevent the misuse of blasphemy laws, including the promotion of religious freedom, in meetings with officials.
Pakistan is among the ten countries that the international social organization Open Door has declared unsafe for Christians, which is a cause of damage to Pakistan's honor and dignity internationally. Therefore, the government of Pakistan should take practical steps to eliminate religious extremist tendencies in order to protect Christians and provide them with complete religious freedom.
Article 20 of the Constitution guarantees freedom to profess practice and propagate religion, but this is subject to "law, public order and morality". This article of the Constitution is only included in the Constitution book and does not appear to be applied in practice.
The Constitution of Pakistan declares Islam as the state religion and all laws in the country must be in accordance with Islam. The Constitution also states that ‘every citizen has the right, subject to the constitution, public law and morality, to practice and propagate his religion or belief.’
Religious freedom, or freedom of religion or belief (FoRB), is a fundamental human right that allows individuals or communities, in public or private, to have, manifest, change, or practice any religion or belief without coercion or discrimination.This includes both freedom of worship and the right not to profess any religion, often requiring state neutrality and protection against persecution, but generally the ruling class of the state avoids confronting powerful religious forces.
Pakistan's founder, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, made a detailed statement regarding religious freedom of minorities in his historic speech on August 11, 1947, a few days before the formation of Pakistan.You are free; to go to your temples. You are free to go to your mosques or any other place of worship in this state of Pakistan. You can belong to any religion, caste or creed which has nothing to do with the business of the state.
Many of Pakistan's pro-government Christian religious leaders. Government-loyal political leaders MNA MPA often claim that minorities in Pakistan enjoy complete religious freedom.
My question to them is whether the freedom to go to church, build churches, and hold spiritual gatherings under the patronage of representatives of the ruling political parties is the only thing that constitutes religious freedom, or are there other accessories associated with it? Is this part of the speech of the founder of Pakistan, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, that you are free to go to your temples, mosques and gurdwaras limited to this? The burning of 26 churches in Jaranwala in just 12 hours on August 16, 2023, the desecration of the Holy Bible and the Holy Cross, the demolition of the homes of hundreds of Christians, and then the acquittal of the accused involved in these incidents by the courts is a failure of the government and government institutions and a clear restriction on the religious freedom of Christians.Christians who have been imprisoned and extrajudicially murdered in false blasphemy cases are not deprived of religious freedom.Are hundreds of Christian women who are forcibly converted and married off each year enjoying religious freedom? The forced conversion of minority women creates a dangerous environment, resulting in Pakistan being declared a "country of particular concern" for religious freedom.
How many Christian TV channels in Pakistan have been registered by PEMRA to broadcast programs based on the preaching of Christianity? Religious freedom means that Muslims can offer their prayers outside the railway station, bus stand or any hotel during travel. On the other hand, a few years ago, a case was registered against a Christian family for singing Psalms at Rawalpindi Railway Station and they were sent to Adiala Jail.Here, members of the Tablighi Jamaat enter the shops and offices of Christians and invite them to freely convert to Islam. This religious freedom is enjoyed only by them. Our job is to listen to them silently. On several occasions, various international social organizations have described religious freedom for Christians in Pakistan as unsatisfactory.
According to the 2023-2024 reports, religious freedom in Pakistan is under serious, growing threat, due to local violence, discriminatory laws, and forced conversions targeting minorities.The Center for Social Justice reported more than 329 cases of blasphemy in 2020, while the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) noted administrative failures in protecting places of worship and vulnerable communities
Senior U.S. State Department officials, including the Ambassador, the Special Advisor on Religious Minorities in the Near East and South and Central Asia, the Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, and embassy officials, met with the Prime Minister’s Senior Advisor, the Minister for Human Rights, the Ministry of Law and Justice, and the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony.The Ministry of Law and Justice and the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony have discussed the need to end sectarian violence, ensure the protection of religious minorities, and prevent the misuse of blasphemy laws, including the promotion of religious freedom, in meetings with officials.
Pakistan is among the ten countries that the international social organization Open Door has declared unsafe for Christians, which is a cause of damage to Pakistan's honor and dignity internationally. Therefore, the government of Pakistan should take practical steps to eliminate religious extremist tendencies in order to protect Christians and provide them with complete religious freedom.
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"Trial of Pakistani Christian Nation" By Nazir S Bhatti
On demand of our readers, I have decided to release E-Book version of "Trial of Pakistani Christian Nation" on website of PCP which can also be viewed on website of Pakistan Christian Congress www.pakistanchristiancongress.org . You can read chapter wise by clicking tab on left handside of PDF format of E-Book.