South Asian Forum of the Evangelical Alliance"

CSW - Pakistan Briefing

 Religious freedom in the shadow of extremism

The assassinations of two prominent politicians within the first three months of 2011 for their opposition of the country's 'blasphemy laws' have catapulted some of Pakistan's primary religious freedom issues into the public consciousness, in a context relevant to Pakistanis of all faiths.

The deaths of Salmaan Taseer, Governor of Punjab, and Shahbaz Bhatti, Federal Minister for Minorities Affairs, are symptomatic of growing division and lawlessness in Pakistan, as well as being symbolic of the silencing of voices seeking to confront extremism. In a country where the influence of local religious leaders and landowners frequently overrides that of thecentral government, these killings raise questions about the willingness and ability of the state to maintain the rule of law. The experiences of religious minorities in Pakistan have shown themselves to be precursors for a broader religious intolerance across the country.

Download the full report here
More details on CSW website

Back to Previous Page