Press Contact: David Kalal, Communications Director, Hindus for Human Rights, david@hindusforhumanrights.org
Hindus for Human Rights and a diverse coalition of US-based civil society organizations and global allies sent the following letter to the Embassy of Pakistan in Washington, DC, expressing concern about recent violence against religious minorities in Pakistan.
The letter, addressed to Masood Khan, Pakistan’s ambassador to the US, was endorsed by 15 organizations as well as 25 individuals. Endorsing organizations included Ambedkar International Center, Americans For Kashmir, Bangladeshi Americans for Political Progress, GreenFaith, Hindus for Human Rights, India Civil Watch International, International Commission for Dalit Rights, and Muslims for Progressive Values.
On March 30, 2023, Birbal Genani, a Hindu doctor, was killed in Karachi. The following day, Dayal Singh, a Sikh businessman, and Kashif Masih, a Christian sanitation worker, were both killed in Peshawar. In recent months, religious extremists have also vandalized and destroyed property around Ahmadi mosques in the provinces of Sindh and Punjab.
The largest religious community in Pakistan are Sunni Muslims, making up around 85-90 percent of the population. Shi’a Muslims comprise around 10-15 percent, with the remaining population consisting of Ahmadi Muslims and non-Muslim minorities including Hindus, Christians, and Sikhs.
Hindus for Human Rights drafted the letter, which describes the recent violence in Pakistan “as part of a disturbing trend of rising violence against South Asia’s many religious and cultural minorities and oppressed-caste communities.”
The letter calls on the Pakistani government “to repeal its blasphemy laws and the second amendment of Pakistan’s Constitution, ensure that religious minorities are depicted fairly in Pakistani school textbooks, take action against perpetrators of hate speech, and safeguard the places of worship of all religious minority communities.”
Comments:
Ani Zonneveld, President, Muslims for Progressive Values: “As a Muslim human rights organization, we categorically condemn any justification for the persecution of religious minorities on the basis of Islamic law. On the contrary, Quran surah 2:256 promotes religious freedom and the right to choose a religion, and Prophet Muhammad protected religious minorities as Governor of Medina, and he didn’t even seek revenge on those who tried to assassinate him. If Pakistan defines itself as an ‘Islamic’ state, then please live up to its values rather than tarnishing our beautiful religion of Islam.”
Mir Nasar Ahmad, Founder, Repeal the Second, a campaign raising awareness about anti-Ahmadi discrimination: “The Government of Pakistan should take substantive steps to protect members of the minority communities in Pakistan, especially those at the intersectionality of gender, sexuality and socio-economic status. Moreover, the Government should take measures that facilitate a social transformation enabling tolerance and plurality.”
Shehab Chowdhury, Co-Chair, Bangladeshi Americans for Political Progress (BAPP): “BAPP stands in solidarity with Pakistani religious minorities who are experiencing violence in their communities. The right to protection, safety, and health are rights every human being are endowed. We recognize there will be no progress for any of us if there’s a threat to injustice in any of our homelands.”
Sunita Viswanath, Executive Director, Hindus for Human Rights: “As Hindus, we are taught to embody the value of para-dukha-dukhi; to strive to empathize with and feel the pain of others as our own. We are deeply pained by anti-minority violence across South Asia, including these recent incidents of violence against Pakistani religious minorities. The only way forward is to join across divides of religion, caste, and nationality and assert that all people have the right to live with dignity and safety.”
Dear Ambassador Khan,
We are writing to you as a coalition of US-based civil society organizations, activists, and global allies. We are horrified by the recent violence against Pakistan’s religious minorities. In the span of just two days, we have seen the killings of members of three minority communities:
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Birbal Genani, a Hindu doctor who was killed in Karachi on March 30
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Dayal Singh, a Sikh businessman who was killed in Peshawar on March 31
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Kashif Masih, a Christian sanitation worker who was killed in Peshawar on March 31
In recent months, we have also seen the vandalization and destruction of Ahmadi mosques in Sindh and Punjab. These incidents are indicative of the fear, discrimination, and violence that Pakistani minorities have faced for decades: Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, Shi’a Muslims, Ahmadi Muslims, and others.
These recent acts of hate and violence contradict the words spoken by Pakistan’s founder Mohammad Ali Jinnah in 1947: “You may belong to any religion or caste or creed — that has nothing to do with the business of the State.”
We see these attacks as part of a disturbing trend of rising violence against South Asia’s many religious and cultural minorities and oppressed-caste communities. For example, in India, we see hate and violence directed at Muslims, Dalits, Christians, and Sikhs, and in Sri Lanka, against Muslims, Christians, and Hindus. All majoritarian violence in South Asia, and around the world, must be vigorously condemned.
We are relieved that local law enforcement in Peshawar and Karachi are investigating these killings. However, there is much more work to be done to ensure that religious, cultural, and ethnic minorities in Pakistan are able to live with dignity, safety, and equal rights.
We call upon the Pakistani government to repeal its blasphemy laws and the second amendment of Pakistan’s Constitution, ensure that religious minorities are depicted fairly in Pakistani school textbooks, take action against perpetrators of hate speech, and safeguard the places of worship of all religious minority communities.
Sincerely,
Organizations:
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Alliance of South Asians Taking Action
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Ambedkar International Center
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Ambedkar King Study Circle
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Americans For Kashmir
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Bangladeshi Americans for Political Progress
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Center for Pluralism
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Dalit Solidarity Forum in the USA
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Grace Trading Inc
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GreenFaith
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Hindus for Human Rights
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India Civil Watch International
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International Commission for Dalit Rights
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Muslims for Progressive Values
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Ranjanee, Inc
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The Humanism Project
Individuals:
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AJ Khursheed, Food & Beverage Manager, Tampa Convention Center
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Aminta Kilawan-Narine, Esq., Co-Founder, Sadhana: Coalition of Progressive Hindus
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Anup Saha
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Dr. Asha Rani Shahed
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D.B. Sagar, President, International Commission for Dalit Rights
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Devleena Ghosh, Professor, University of Technology Sydney
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Fergal O’Connor
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Gautham Reddy, Board Member, Sadhana: Coalition of Progressive Hindus
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Haroon Kasim, Co-Founder, The Humanism Project
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Madiha Shafique, Ranjanee, Inc.
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Mir Nasar Ahmad, Barrister at Law, Repeal the Second
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Parkash Meghwar, Stevens Institute of Technology
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Sena, Chairman, Global Federation of Afghan-Hindus and Sikhs
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Shehab Chowdhury, Co-Chair, Bangladeshi Americans for Political Progress
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Shumon Alam
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Simon Mathew, Managing Partner, Grace Trading Inc
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Dr. Sudhir Vombatkere
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Sumi Sarkar, Co-Chair, Bangladeshi Americans for Political Progress
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Suvir Kaul, Professor, University of Pennsylvania
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Syed Shahed
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Tahil Sharma, Interfaith Activist
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T.O. Shanavas
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Uma Shankari
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Umme Antora, Bangladeshi Americans for Political Progress
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Zaineb Majoka, Economist