In a stark reminder of the increasing religious intolerance in Pakistan, the rights-based organization DIGNITY First has urgently appealed to both federal and provincial governments to safeguard the Christian community. This call to action follows a troubling surge in violence and discrimination against Christians in the first half of 2024.
DIGNITY First has recently unveiled "Persecution Watch," a comprehensive research-based report documenting the alarming rise in persecution incidents against Christians from January to June 2024. The report meticulously details a range of human rights abuses, including violent attacks, killings, torture, abductions, sexual assault, land grabbing, evictions, forced conversions, and blasphemy allegations.
During a press conference, Yousaf Benjamin, the Executive Director of DIGNITY First, emphasized the urgent need for government intervention. "The incidents that occurred in the past six months are alarming. Authorities must take immediate practical steps to ensure the protection and religious freedom of minority groups," stated Benjamin.
According to the "Persecution Watch" report, over 70 incidents of violence and discrimination were recorded, affecting more than 140 Christian families. The province of Punjab alone witnessed five violent attacks: three targeted Christian families, and two were aimed at churches.
The report also highlights severe workplace discrimination faced by Christian sanitation workers. Eight workers lost their lives due to inadequate safety measures, with five deaths in Punjab and three in Sindh. Additionally, a Christian couple engaged in sanitation work were injured by a car in Lahore, and sanitation employees in Faisalabad and Sheikhupura were denied three months of salaries.
One particularly egregious incident involved a discriminatory job advertisement in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which specified that "only Christians" could apply for sanitation work. Furthermore, a Christian student was forced to leave a private university in Lahore due to religious abuse and discrimination.
DIGNITY First's "Persecution Watch" report serves as a critical call to action for the Pakistani government to address and curtail the rising wave of persecution against Christians. The organization urges immediate and effective measures to ensure the protection and religious freedom of all minority groups in the country.