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| India-Pakistan |
| US panel urges action on Pakistan religious freedom |
| 2014-05-01 |
| [DAWN] An expert panel on Wednesday urged the United States to add Pakistain to a blacklist of violators of religious freedom, saying that the Ahmadi minority suffers "apartheid-like" conditions. The US Commission on International Religious Freedom, which advises the government on policy but does not take action on its own, urged the State Department to add Pakistain to its list of "countries of particular concern"subject to potential sanctions. In an annual report, the commission said Pakistain "represents the worst situation in the world for religious freedom" among countries that are not already on the US blacklist and that conditions in the past year "hit an all-time low." Robert George, chairman of the commission, voiced alarm over treatment of the Ahmadis, who were declared by Pakistain to be non-Moslems in 1974. "The Ahmadi minority in Pakistain live under something really resembling an apartheid-like system subject to severe legal restrictions," said George, comparing the situation to South Africa's 1948-1994 system of forced racial separation. "They suffer from officially sanctioned discrimination, not just social or cultural prejudice," he told news hounds. Ahmadis have faced a series of deadly attacks and desecration of their graves. Ahmadis boycotted last year's election because they would have had to identify themselves as non-Moslems. The report also voiced alarm about Pakistain's treatment of Hindus, Christians and Shia Moslems. It said Pakistain has sentenced to death or enjugged Keep yer hands where we can see 'em, if yez please! for life 36 people for blasphemy, far more than any other country. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #3 Given the administration's trampling of and animosity towards the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993, it's a bit rich. Matthew 7:5 |
| Posted by: P2kontheroad 2014-05-01 19:41 |
| #2 Pakistan doesn't have oil. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2014-05-01 09:58 |
| #1 I would put Saudi up there with Pakistan. |
| Posted by: Paul D 2014-05-01 07:56 |