US report on religious freedom raises concerns over Pakistan's treatment of minorities

United States voiced concerns over religious freedom in Pakistan citing incidents of targeted killing of mirities including Shia and Ahmiyya Muslims. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo released 2019 International Religious Freedom Report on June 10 which has documented major instances of violation of religious freedoms across world.

report said that continuous attacks on holy places, cemeteries, and religious symbols of Hindu, Christian, and Ahmiyya mirities have been observed. It said that human rights activists reported numerous instances of societal violence related to allegations of blasphemy and efforts by individuals to coerce religious mirities to convert to Islam. re have also been reports of societal harassment, discrimination, and threats of violence directed at members of religious mirity communities.

“NGOs expressed concern about what y stated was an increasing frequency of attempts to kidnap, forcibly convert, and forcibly marry young women from religious mirity communities, especially young Hindu and Christian women,” report said.

According to Ahmi civil society organizations, report said, government failed to restrict speeches inciting anti-Ahmi violence, despite this responsibility being a component of NAP. Civil society groups continued to express concerns about safety of religious mirities. 

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Pompeo targets China

Releasing report, Pompeo mentioned case brought before International Court of Justice by Gambia regarding crimes against Rohingya. He said that United Arab Emirates has become first country in Middle East to permit construction of a temple of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

top US diplomat targeted China for state-sponsored repression against all religions, especially mass detentions of Uighurs in Xinjiang. Pompeo said that he was humbled and houred to meet with several survivors of Chinese Communist Party’s massacre at Tiananmen Square that happened 31 years ago.

“We have rule of law; China does t.  We have free speech and embrace peaceful protest.  y don’t. We defend religious freedom; as I just ted, China continues its deces-long war on faith,” State Secretary said.

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