Lahore, Pakistan. Pakistan is facing demands from 17 international human rights organizations to be suspended from the Commonwealth of Nations because of its blasphemy laws and other rights violations, which could have negative consequences for religious minorities, according to local activists. The coalition submitted an open letter to the Commonwealth Secretariat before the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, which will occur in Samoa from October 21 to 26.
The European Association for the Defense of Minorities, Human Rights Without Frontiers, Bitter Winter, the Center for Studies on Freedom of Religion, Belief, and Conscience, the European Federation for Freedom of Belief, and the Jubilee Campaign are just a few illustrious organizations that have supported this letter.
The text underscores the significant concern surrounding the misuse of the country’s controversial blasphemy laws. Alarming consequences like widespread violence, extrajudicial executions, and wrongful detentions have resulted from the government’s use of laws to accuse and persecute people. The letter states that these actions contradict the fundamental values of the Commonwealth Charter, which upholds democracy, human rights, and equality for all citizens.
The letter underscores the ongoing challenges related to blasphemy laws in Pakistan, highlighting the lack of necessary reforms. Despite the state’s prohibition on executions, there has been a troubling surge in vigilante justice and mob violence.
In at least 85 cases, many of which involved mob attacks and public lynchings, people accused of blasphemy were killed before their cases could be heard in court.
“The Pakistani government’s inaction has resulted in the deaths of many innocent people, and its refusal to reform these oppressive laws contradicts the values espoused by the Commonwealth,” stated Willy Fautré, director of Human Rights Without Frontiers.
Law enforcement officers frequently ignore these crimes, the letter emphasizes, which gives violent offenders even more confidence. It also recalls Pakistan’s previous suspensions from the Commonwealth—first from 1999 to 2004 and again from 2007 to 2008—because of issues of governance and human rights abuses.
Stating that the current situation warrants similar decisive action, the signatories called on the Commonwealth to pressure Pakistan into ending its institutional persecution of religious minorities and taking steps to protect citizens from unjust accusations and violence.
“The Commonwealth cannot stand by as one of its member states systematically violates the rights of its people,” stated Alessandro Amicarelli, chairman of the European Federation for Freedom of Belief. “Suspending Pakistan is necessary to uphold the organization’s commitment to human rights.”
Despite international condemnation and mounting pressure, the government of Pakistan has resisted calls to amend its blasphemy laws or introduce safeguards to protect religious minorities, it said, adding that the continuation of these laws poses a severe threat not only to religious minorities but to Pakistan’s standing as a member of the Commonwealth.
Opposition to Suspension
Human rights and social activists in Pakistan said the suspension of Pakistan from the Commonwealth of Nations was unlikely to curb human rights abuses in the country.
Instead, it could have negative implications for religious minorities, they said.
Minorities Alliance Pakistan (MAP) Chairman Akmal Bhatti said human rights in Pakistan have deteriorated to an alarming level, “but any suspension or sanctions on Pakistan would ultimately hurt the vulnerable communities.”
“Pakistan is already facing huge economic challenges, and any international action on behalf of religious minorities that results in economic implications on the country would hurt the people, especially the poor Christian community,” Bhatti told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News.
Such an action could also affect advocacy efforts in Pakistan, he said.
“Several churches and Christian organizations are already facing problems in receiving foreign funding because of stringent monitoring by the government,” Bhatti said. “Suspension of Pakistan based on its human rights record will cause more harm than good to our people.”
He said the international community should pressure Pakistan through dialogue to improve the situation on the ground.
“There should be pressure on the government to stop false accusations of blasphemy and to prosecute those who commit mob violence. It should also make forced conversions of minority girls illegal and protect its religious minorities,” he stated.
Samson Salamat, the chairman of the Rwadari Tehreek (Movement for Equality), echoed Bhatti’s concerns about the open letter.
“It is unfortunate and depressing that the state apparatus and the responsible government functionaries in the successive governments have failed to understand the level of threat the blasphemy laws have brought on to the citizens, particularly those belonging to the minority communities,” Salamat told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. “Everyone in Pakistan is compelled to live a life of fear.”
Salamat said that pleas of religious minorities’ leadership to the state have fallen on deaf ears.
He said the international community, the media, and human rights organizations are our only sources of hope. “However, we are also apprehensive that this open letter may cause the targeting of active leadership of the religious minorities by the government and state agencies.”
According to Naeem Yousaf Gill, executive director of the National Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP), the Catholic Church’s human rights advocacy arm suspending Pakistan’s membership would not ensure that abuses of blasphemy laws and rights abuses against minorities would stop.
“Pressuring the Pakistani government to treat its minorities as first-class citizens is necessary,” Gill stated. “It is imperative to take stringent measures against any violations of rights and to ensure that all individuals may lead a more fair and improved quality of life in Pakistan.