26 April 2011
Religious Liberty Partnership calls upon United Nations to assign refugee status to
Pakistan's Christian minority
The Religious Liberty Partnership (RLP), a coalition of religious freedom organisations have joined together to call upon the UN High Commissioner for Refugees to recognise the plight of the endangered Christian population and assign them refugee status. In addition the RLP have also called upon the government of Pakistan to renew its commitment to reforming the country's notorious blasphemy laws and work towards their abolition.
In the Virginia Statement on the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, an official statement issued following the murder of Pakistani Minorities Minister, Shahbaz Bhatti, the RLP called upon the government of Pakistan to establish a judicial inquiry and public report into the murders of Shahbaz Bhatti [and Punjab governor] Salman Taseer'. Further recommendations include the implementation of international standards of non-discrimination based on race, religion and gender as outlined in the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the opportunity for all non-Muslim students to study a faith of their own choice rather than the imposition of Islamic education.
In spite of the murders of Shahbaz Bhatti and Salman Taseer the RLP recognizes the Pakistani coalition government's courageous statements in condemning these acts of senseless violence and the courageous stance of President Asif Ali Zardari in declaring that, "We will not be intimidated nor will we retreat".
The RLP applauds the work of the church around the world, including the Peshawar Diocese of the Church of Pakistan, which has generously given humanitarian relief, disaster aid, assistance to displaced people, and practical assistance to victims of recent natural catastrophes in various parts of Pakistan. And recently after more than a decade of leading efforts by the Organisation of Islamic Conference to pass Defamation of Religions' resolutions through the United Nations, Pakistan has taken the lead in proposing a new resolution which more closely reflects international law on freedom of religion and freedom of expression.
Eddie Lyle, CEO of Open Doors UK and Ireland, stated; "The RLP has rightly decided to highlight the seriously deteriorating situation in Pakistan, the systemic persecution of believers and the seeming inability or unwillingness of the government to put in place effective measures to protect this fragile minority and its leaders from extremists and those seeking to suppress all forms of free-thought.
"To even the most distant observer there exists a huge deficit between rhetoric and decisive action. That gap must be closed decisively and immediately. The Virginia Statement sets out what action the government, judiciary and law enforcement agencies now need to take. Each and every Pakistani Christian deserves the committed protection of the government. Now is the time for those in power to step up and fulfil those responsibilities."
