Demonstration in Lahore (Atlas Shrugs)
Pakistan is clearly a nation in turmoil. Now a focal point in the war against al-Qaeda and the Taliban, the reports of mass killings, explosions and one Muslim group attacking another are all too common. In a country that is over 96% Muslim, violence between the sects continues. How often do we read about mosques being blown (by other Muslim sects)? Recent victims have been the minority Ahmadi sect. In addition, the tiny Christian population (about 1.5%) is being persecuted for their religious beliefs. It is a story the news media doesn't pay any attention to. It needs to be publicized.
-Compass Direct
In addition, Persecution.org, a Christian website that monitors persecution against Christians world-wide, has this report on Pakistan which includes several cases.
http://www.persecution.org/suffering/countryinfodetail.php?countrycode=4
The stories are disturbing; sexual assaults against young girls, murders, homes burnt, families being driven from their homes, demands to convert to Islam, and rigid enforcement of blasphemy laws (which pertain only to Islam).
Meanwhile, where is the UN? Where is our State Department? Amnesty International has much on the situation of people who live in the northwest tribal area of Pakistan and who are caught in the fighting, bur scarcely a mention about religious persecution. Here is the report on Pakistan from Amnesty International:
http://www.amnestyusa.org/all-countries/pakistan/page.do?id=1011216
According to its website, AI has no presence in Pakistan.
Here is the 2009 UN Human Rights Council report on Pakistan. You will note that only in section 19 does it directly address religious issues-and only briefly. It is basically a whitewash.
http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G09411/14/PDF/G0941114.pdf?OpenElement
Oh, by the way, Pakistan now happens to be a current member on the council
(June 2010-June 2011).
After considerable searching on the State Dept. website, I was able to find this page from the Human Rights Dept. (under Michael Posner)-Religious Liberty section (under Suzan Cook):
http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2009/127370.htm
The report emphasizes incidents of violence against Ahmadi Muslims by majority Muslims, but also includes cases of persecution against Christians that are also alarming. Somewhere in that long report is the statement that the DOS is "discussing" the religious liberty issue with the Pakistani Government.
Well, that's what State does best-discuss. Don't we give millions annually to this cesspool of a nation?
Clearly, not enough international attention is being paid to this issue-obviously for political or ideological reasons. It needs to be in the public spotlight. This is a nation where tiny minorities are being persecuted daily-with the connivance of the government.
13 comments:
Funny that I never see you post about all of the religious persecution carried out by Hindu extremists in India. But I suppose that doesn't fit into your little narrative, now does it?
Anonymous,
Fill me in. All I know is that Hindus and Muslims in India don't like each other much. Which leads to another question-why is it that in so many countries, there is friction and violence between Muslims and non-Muslims?.
Ah yes, Gary, and in countries where no Muslims are present, all of the religious groups live in perfect peace and harmony with one another. Of course.
Examples here, here, and here.
Anonymous,
How far back in history do you want to go-back to the Middle Ages? Not even the Holocaust was carried out for theological reasons. In the US, we have done pretty darn well-and we want to keep it that way.
But you never addressed the situation in Pakistan. Where was I wrong? And if you are talking about Hindus, you must mean India since they are about 1% in Pakistan, right?
While you are at it, perhaps you could say a few words about Egypt and the Coptic Christians, or why some 700,000 Jews were driven out of Arab countries post 1948-or the situation today in Yemen. How about what is happening to European Jews today as we speak and who is doing it?
Do you really want to get into this debate?
You're just proving my point perfectly: you are only concerned with and/or report on religious persecution if it is Muslims who are the perpetrators. Otherwise it doesn't fit into your delusional worldview or the silly narrative you try to create. Even when presented with evidence about persecution carried out by other religions.
That was my original point. Now you're just going to start trying to move the goal posts, of course.
Gary, the links he provided were about persecution against Muslims by present-day Hindus. Why are you bringing up the Middle Ages and the Holocaust?
But in light of that, I have to comment on this statement of yours:
Not even the Holocaust was carried out for theological reasons.
While it would be a mistake to say that it was carried out solely for theological reasons, it's also a mistake to completely dismiss that component of the issue. Don't you think that over a thousand years of the Catholics and Protestants in Germany, teaching that Jews were "Christ killers" had any impact on why the Jews were singled out? Ever read what Martin Luther had to say about the Jews? I'm pretty sure his teachings had some influence in Germany, don't you think?
Anonymous,
What was the point of those 3 examples?
1 Honor killing because of caste difference._Religion not mentioned
Number 2- Hindus in India who hate Muslims- (This is your best) So that's news? Why was India partitioned into two nations after the Brits left? Because Hindus and Muslims hated each other.
Number 3- Ignorant people in India killing "witches".
OK, so you have proved that India has a lot of ignorant people in the back woods. (I have been to India twice.) We know Hindus and Moslems in India don't like each other.
Let's talk about Pakistan-that was the original point.
Lance,
Two of the three linkes had nothing to do with Muslims. One was a caste issue and one was a witch issue. The one valid example merely illustrates what we already know-Hindus and Muslims in India "don't get along"-and I am not taking sides on that one.
My point about the Holocaust was that Hitler and the Nazis cared less about Judaism as a religion. It was about race (and economic jealousy.) Of course, there is a historical buildup to anti-Semitism in Europe(Luther etc.)
How many times do I have to repeat this:
My point is that you IGNORE any sort of persecution carried out by members of religions other than Islam. You do this because it doesn't fit in with your pre-determined world views or narrative of this site.
Why do you act so incensed when accused of being an Islamophobe, when you constantly air out the Islamic community's dirty laundry, yet do not do the same for ANY OTHER religious group?
If it walks like a duck...
"If it walks like a duck..."
Anonymous,
First of all, you refuse to discuss the issue of religious persecution in Pakistan-the theme of the article. You seem fixed on India and the Hindus. I cannot speak with authority on that situation, but from what I have seen, it looks like both sides have committed attacks on innocent people from the other group.
Here is the point that you must deal with: With few exceptions, the only religious group that is practicing religious persecution in the world today is Islam. What other groups are currently killing people in the name of religion?
It's even going on WITHIN Islam. (Sunnis vs Shia, the Ahmadis in Pakistan)
I know it makes me look like I hate Muslims to you to even say the unmentionable, but we need to face reality here. Do you want me to act like Eric Holder, who cannot even bring himself to say in front of Congress that acts of terror like Ft Hood are committed out of religious reasons?
It all comes down to this; every time an act of Islamic terror is carried out, those of us who call it what it is are called Islamophobes who hate all Muslims.
Let's drop the excuses and changing of subjects. Do you condemn what is happening in Pakistan or do you not?
If not, then you, Sir, are the duck.
"Here is the point that you must deal with: With few exceptions, the only religious group that is practicing religious persecution in the world today is Islam."
That is simply FALSE. I could give you plenty of examples of members of all of the world's major religions persecuting other groups. But what would be the point? You've shown time and time again that you will pretty much ignore or brush off any evidence that you're presented with. It's like trying to debate a brick wall. A dismissive brick wall, at that.
Keep living in your delusional world, Islamophobe.
My point about the Holocaust was that Hitler and the Nazis cared less about Judaism as a religion. It was about race (and economic jealousy.) Of course, there is a historical buildup to anti-Semitism in Europe(Luther etc.)
Okay. I'm with you on that.
Anonymous,
It is not false. If you want to go back through the centuries, you can find all kinds of cases-true. I specifically stated "today". I also added "with few exceptions" That I stand by.
You, on the other hand, completely hid from the main topic-the persecution in Pakistan. A brick wall could not have done better.
Finally, Mr Anonymous, calling me an "Islamophobe" won't silence what I have to say.
Well, if quoting cases of Indians chasing witches around doesn't win your argument, you can always use that "Islamophobe" card.
Do yourself a favor and remain anonymous.
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