UCA News
Contribute

Pakistan province fights prejudice against religious minorities

Project seeks to foster tolerance and harmony after a spate of attacks on religious minorities in Punjab
Pakistan province fights prejudice against religious minorities

Shahid Rehmat, executive director of NGO Youth Development Foundation (left), with Punjab Minister for Human Rights and Minorities Affairs Ejaz Alam Augustine at the launch of the Safe Punjab project Jan. 11 in Lahore, Pakistan. (Photo by Kamran Chaudhry).

Published: January 20, 2020 09:59 AM GMT
Updated: January 20, 2020 09:59 AM GMT

The provincial ministry of minorities affairs this weekend launched the “Harmonious, Tolerant and Safe Punjab” campaign amid increasing religious persecution in the province.

The project involves the formulation of an Inter-Faith Harmony Policy on promoting diversity and harmony in Punjab, where Christians are the largest non-Muslim minority making up 2.6 percent of the province’s population of 110 million. 

“Christians are afraid of living in Muslim communities. Music is associated with kufr [infidelity]. The state-sponsored politics of religion has produced extremist splinter groups,” said Irfan Mufti, deputy director of South Asia Partnership Pakistan.

“The region is becoming a fortress of prejudice; more than 400 cases of religious persecution have been recorded since 2016. About 80 incidences of mob violence have occurred including
attacks on religious minorities. The assailants do not even apologize,” he said.

Mufti was speaking at the Jan. 11 launch ceremony chaired by the Minister for Human Rights, Minorities Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Ejaz Alam Augustine.

More than 300 people including government officials, lawyers, journalists, academics, youth and human rights activists attended.  

For the full article click here.

 

Help UCA News to be independent
Dear reader,
Lent is the season during which catechumens make their final preparations to be welcomed into the Church.
Each year during Lent, UCA News presents the stories of people who will join the Church in proclaiming that Jesus Christ is their Lord. The stories of how women and men who will be baptized came to believe in Christ are inspirations for all of us as we prepare to celebrate the Church's chief feast.
Help us with your donations to bring such stories of faith that make a difference in the Church and society.
A small contribution of US$5 will support us continue our mission…
William J. Grimm
Publisher
UCA News
Asian Bishops
Latest News
UCA News Catholic Dioceses in Asia
UCA News Catholic Dioceses in Asia
UCA News Catholic Dioceses in Asia