Reference: AP35E06 Brussels, 29th March 2006.
Your Excellency,
Pax Christi International, as an international movement that has been working in the areas of peace, justice and interfaith cooperation all over the world, is particularly concerned about the insecurity of religious minorities in Pakistan, where their places of worship and properties are increasingly becoming target of religious extremists.
Our partners working in Pakistan have informed us thatfrom May 2005 to February 2006, at least 7 Churches, 7 houses belonging to the religious minorities, 3 Pastors houses, 1 Convent, 1 girl's hostel and a dispensary run by nuns, 7 Church-run schools, a college of the Christian community, a place of worship of Ahmadis, a Temple of Hindus and 3 hospitals of the Christian community were destroyed in various provinces and cities; a Hindu couple, accused of blasphemy, lost their property; 10 persons belonging to religious minorities were killed, 27 individuals were booked under blasphemy laws; and hundreds were harassed and injured by the fanatics in different incidents.Religious communities are profoundly shocked and hurt by these heinous acts of destruction on their sacred places of worship.
We appreciate the good attempt of your government to bolster religious freedom by introducing new procedures for the implementation of both the blasphemy laws and the Hudood Ordinances, also by the education reform of textbook. However, with hate speech against non-Muslims common at all levels in the government approved curriculum and vernacular media, and the existence of discriminatory legislation, the religious intolerance and the frequency of violence against the religious minorities in your country are still growing.
To abide by the Article 36 and 37 of the Constitution of Pakistan, which declares "protection of religious minorities and promotion of social justice and eradication of social evils", and Article 3 & 18 of Universal Declaration of Human Rights that emphasis on religious freedom of an individual, we call for your attention to the present alarming situation of the religious minorities, and request your government to:
1.Ensure the protection of places of worship and properties of religious minorities;
2.Take strict action against those who preach and wage violence against minority religions;
3.Protect the vulnerable religious minorities through repealing the discriminatory laws and practices that promote disharmony, persecution and intolerance towards them.
Pax Christi International has special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). We reiterate our concern for the violation of peoples’ rights in Pakistan.
Yours Sincerely,
Etienne de Jonghe
Secretary General