Religious freedom in Pakistan is in growing danger, partly due to a rising number of false allegations of blasphemy, according to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP).
In a report which analysed breaches of religious freedom in the nation between July 2024 and the end of June this year, the organisation claimed that the state is increasingly being subjected to pressure and intimidation by Muslim extremists who are gradually gaining a grip of several levers of the state.
The report warned that the increasingly “emboldened” extremists are “shrinking” the space for appropriate and impartial civic dialogue and decision-making through “hate speech” and threatening behaviour.
They also claimed that the country’s legal entities are increasingly aligning themselves with Islamic ideology, leaving legal professionals susceptible to bias against the likes of Christians before their cases are heard, according to Morning Star News (MSN).
False blasphemy allegations were noted as a major cause of many of Pakistan’s problems, with allegations such as these often leading to the violent and forceful persecution the nation is notorious for. Additionally, the report claimed that police officers have been known to align with those who have committed crimes including the forced abduction of girls.
The HRCP report’s release follows on from recent rallies by religious minority groups which have featured public calls for Pakistan’s parliament to investigate a growing number of false blasphemy allegations, as MSN reported.
Juliet Chowdhry, of the British Asian Christian Association (BACA) told en: “Pakistan is at a crossroads. Either it begins to deliver real accountability for mob violence and false allegations, or it risks cementing a culture of impunity that will only deepen divisions. Christians remain committed to peaceful engagement, but without meaningful reforms and protection, their right to live as equal citizens will remain aspirational rather than real.”
