A coalition of 17 international human rights organizations is demanding Pakistan be suspended from the Commonwealth of Nations due its blasphemy laws and other rights violations, but local activists said that could result in more hardship for religious minorities.
The coalition sent an open letter to the Commonwealth Secretariat ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa Oct. 21–26, signed by groups including Human Rights Without Frontiers, Bitter Winter, the European Association for the Defense of Minorities, the Center for Studies on Freedom of Religion Belief and Conscience, the European Federation for Freedom of Belief and Jubilee Campaign.
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It emphasizes how the country’s controversial blasphemy laws have been used to falsely accuse and persecute people, leading to widespread violence, extrajudicial killings and unlawful detentions. The letter argues that these actions violate the core values of the Commonwealth Charter, which promotes democracy, human rights and equality for all citizens.
The letter highlights Pakistan’s failure to reform its blasphemy laws, stating that while no state-sanctioned executions have occurred, vigilante justice and mob violence have become rampant. It cites at least 85 cases of people accused of blasphemy being murdered before their cases could be heard in court, with many of involving public lynchings and mob attacks.
“The Pakistani government’s inaction has resulted in the deaths of many innocent people, and its refusal to reform these oppressive laws contradicts the values espoused by the Commonwealth,” stated Willy Fautré, director of Human Rights Without Frontiers.
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EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written and originally published by Morning Star News.
