Religious Minorities

Press release

HRFP Condemns Attack on Kot Radha Kishan Church, Calls for Justice and Preventive Measures

Human Rights Focus Pakistan (HRFP) strongly condemns the attack on a Church in Ghanaykay village, Kasur, where the Holy Bible was desecrated and the premises vandalised, spreading fear among the local Christian community. HRFP calls for swift and transparent justice, stressing that accountability must go beyond arrests to uncover motives and accomplices. The organization urges concrete measures to protect religious minorities and places of worship, highlights the urgent need to counter religious intolerance and hate-driven violence, and reiterates its demand for the abolition of Pakistan’s blasphemy laws, which are widely misused and have led to grave human rights violations.

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Press release

HRFP Demands Justice for Blasphemy-Accused Farhan Masih and Others

Human Rights Focus Pakistan (HRFP) condemns widespread persecution of religious minorities in Pakistan, particularly Christians and Hindus. Violations include forced conversions and misuse of blasphemy laws, illustrated by the recent case of Farhan Masih, accused of blasphemy after a personal conflict. HRFP reports numerous abductions and forced conversions affecting both Christian and Hindu women. The president of HRFP, Naveed Walter, highlights the physical violence, social exclusion, and barriers to justice faced by minorities, exacerbated by institutional discrimination. Despite constitutional protections, violations of religious freedom persist, keeping minorities marginalized and at risk. HRFP operates the REAT Helpline, providing support for human rights violations, receiving significant calls regarding religious issues annually.

Press release

Urgent Appeal: Immediate Release and Protection of ISKCON Leader Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari

We express grave concern over the November 25, 2024, arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, a respected ISKCON leader, by the Bangladesh Police, which poses threats to freedom of speech and religious harmony. As an advocate for the Sanatana Dharma community, his recent activism has involved addressing attacks on Hindu temples. The allegations against him, including sedition, seem like targeted attempts to suppress his calls for justice. We urge the Bangladeshi government to ensure his safety and fair treatment, request international human rights organizations to monitor the situation, and call on media and civil society to advocate for accountability. An impartial investigation is demanded, and if no credible evidence is found, his release is necessary. This arrest threatens democratic values and communal peace, prompting solidarity with Bangladesh’s Hindu community in the call for justice and equality.

Press release

150 Uyghurs, Tibetans, and South-Mongolians Unite for Justice on Amsterdam’s Dam Square

On September 29, 2024, a significant demonstration took place in Amsterdam’s Dam Square, where Uyghurs, Tibetans, and South-Mongolians united to demand justice for human rights abuses in China. The event, which attracted over 5,000 participants, called for the end of forced labor, closure of concentration camps, restoration of religious freedom, and preservation of cultural heritage. Organized by various rights groups, the protest garnered international media attention and commitments from Dutch parliamentarians to address human rights issues in China. Future actions include educational workshops and a social media campaign aimed at maintaining pressure on global governments to sanction Chinese officials implicated in human rights violations.

Press release

Special Hearing: Addressing Human Rights Violations in Pakistan

On August 15, 2024, an urgent special hearing was held to address escalating human rights violations against minorities in Pakistan, attended by experts, community representatives, and policymakers. The keynote speaker, Professor Nicolas Levrat, emphasized the need for tailored approaches to protect minority rights. A report by the Global Human Rights Defense highlighted personal testimonies and legal analyses of ongoing issues faced by Sindhi, Baloch, Ahmadiyya, and Christian communities, with calls for international intervention. The hearing encouraged attendees to think about their roles in advocating for vulnerable groups and underlined the European Union’s potential influence through trade relations. GHRD’s campaign, “Final Call to Pakistan,” aims to raise awareness of these rights violations.

Press release

HRFP observed National Minorities Day 2024 on “Jinnah’s 11th August Speech on Religious Freedom

On National Minorities Day, Human Rights Focus Pakistan (HRFP) held an event in Faisalabad, focusing on Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s 1947 speech advocating for religious freedom. Attendees, including political workers and human rights advocates, discussed Jinnah’s ideology and the ongoing targeting of minorities in Pakistan, accentuated by alarming incidents of violence against religious groups. Naveed Walter, president of HRFP, criticized the lack of action from political parties regarding minority rights and called for increased government protection for these communities. The speakers emphasized the need to promote Jinnah’s message actively, incorporate it into the constitution, and address the challenges faced by religious minorities to ensure their fundamental rights and security.

Press release

HRFP Condemned the Blasphemy Accusation and Mob Attack on Christian Families in Sargodha: Nazir Masih and Sultan Masih Brutally Victimized

HRFP condemned the mob attack on Christian families in Sargodha on May 25, 2024, following false blasphemy allegations against Nazir Masih and his son Sultan Masih. The victims, owners of a shoe factory, were accused of desecrating the Quran. The HRFP fact-finding team responded to the attack, gathering evidence and demanding justice for the families involved. They criticized the failure to call police during such incidents and highlighted the alarming pattern of mob violence against Christians in Pakistan. President Naveed Walter advocated for reforms and the repeal of blasphemy laws to protect victims.

Press release

Side Event: Minorities in South Asia

On 22 March, a side event at the Human Rights Council in Geneva focused on the situation of minorities in South Asia, organized by NEP-JKGBL. The panel included experts such as Prof. Nicolas Levrat and Mr. Konstantin Bogdanos, who criticized the Pakistani government’s policies toward minorities, especially in Jammu & Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. Bogdanos emphasized the need for European citizens to engage with these issues, while Prof. Levrat highlighted the challenges of his mandate due to the diversity of minority groups. Tsenge Tsering spoke about the poverty and lack of rights faced by the people in Gilgit-Baltistan, and Mr. Hawksley advocated for peaceful resistance and local development to prevent disaster. A member of the democratic forum condemned the genocide of minorities in Pakistan, stressing the need for international attention to these issues.