Pakistan’s religious persecution rooted in societal issue, not solely leadership: Report
A new report highlights how Pakistan’s severe human rights abuses against religious minorities go far beyond leadership failures. Instead, these issues stem from deep-rooted Islamic traditions and the country’s full embrace of Islamisation, the PJ Media analysis explains.
The report paints Pakistan as a stark warning of what happens in a fully Islamised society. It criticizes Western nations for not challenging Pakistan’s support for terrorism and ethnic cleansing of non-Muslims, while even importing similar ideologies into their own countries.
One shocking example comes from a Christian Daily International report: On September 8, a radical Islamist group ambushed a group of Catholics in Pakistan’s Punjab Province. The attackers used a Kalashnikov rifle to kill Afzal Masih and critically wound his cousin, Harris Tariq Masih. The victims were riding in a van headed to the annual Feast of the Nativity of Mary shrine in Sheikhpura District, Lahore. Aurangzeb Peter, who was part of the group, shared these details with the outlet.
Human rights organizations point to a bigger crisis: At least 1,000 Christian, Hindu, and Sikh girls face abduction each year in Pakistan. Many endure forced conversions to Islam and coerced marriages. Child marriages under age 16 remain widely accepted under Sharia law, the report notes.
Take the case of 14-year-old Chahat, a Hindu girl from Quetta who vanished in April. Days later, she appeared in a video claiming she willingly converted to Islam and married. But doubts linger—her parents showed her birth certificate and B-Form proving she was well below Balochistan’s legal marriage age of 16, suggesting possible coercion.
Hate speech against religious minorities and their advocates is also surging in Pakistan. The report cites death threats against the Supreme Court’s Chief Justice after he granted bail to an Ahmadi man. Meanwhile, an elected senator faced online backlash, public shaming, and questions about his patriotism just for defending religious minorities.
These stories underscore ongoing concerns about religious persecution in Pakistan, from Islamist violence to forced conversions and rising intolerance.
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