April 1 2003

Non-Muslims in the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan (NWFP) fear the Talibanization of the region after the Provincial Cabinet unanimously adopted the Islamic Shar'iah Act.

If enacted by the Provincial Assembly, the Act will give Shari'ah law supremacy in the province while the Qur'an and Sunnah (the examples and sayings of the Prophet Mohammed) will dictate all future legislation and legal reforms.

As the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), Pakistan's radical Islamic opposition party, supports the legislation and holds a two-thirds majority in the Provincial Assembly, the new legislation is expected to be implemented with minimal opposition.

The new legislation will require strict adherence to Muslim practices and will comprehensively discriminate against the political, civil, cultural, economic and social rights of all non-Muslim citizens in the province.

Already, in most of the province, music programmes and cinemas have been banned. The MMA which boasts of its close links to Al-Qaeda and the Taliban, is also putting tremendous pressure on cable TV and intends to closely scrutinise all media.

Some provincial banks have reportedly been asked to stop charging interest on loans in accordance with Islamic teachings.

The MMA has also set up a special ministry, similar to the Taliban's Prevention of Vice and Promotion of Virtue ministry in Afghanistan, with a mandate to bring all existing provincial legislation in conformity with Shari'ah law and to enforce Islamic punishments.

Praying five times a day will be mandatory for all residents in the province and businesses and shops are required to cease trading during prayer times.

With the introduction of the Shari'ah Act, the wearing of shalwar kamez (the national dress) will become compulsory, while alcohol, dancing and other forms of entertainment will be prohibited.

The new Act will also severely curtail the freedom of women. The use of pictures of women in marketing and publicity will be outlawed and the wearing of purdah (veils for the whole body) must be strictly observed by all women, Muslims and non-Muslims alike.

Islamic education will be made compulsory for all and mosques will be built in all the schools, colleges and universities, business centres and hotels.

Christians are particularly concerned that the implementation of Shari'ah law will formally legitimise the persecution of non-Muslim communities in the North West Frontier Province.

At the national level, the MMA has stated its intention to see the implementation of Shari'ah law throughout the country.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide strongly condemns the passing of the Shari'ah Act by the Provincial Cabinet as a flagrant disregard of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Act contravenes a number of international human rights treaties, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, to which Pakistan is a signatory.

Mervyn Thomas, CSW's Chief Executive said: "The Shari'ah Act infringes the fundamental rights and equality of status of all non-Muslims and women in Pakistan. Its introduction is unconstitutional and undermines Pakistan's fragile democratisation process. Pakistan is at risk of following in the footsteps of Taliban Afghanistan. If radical Islam is left unchecked, it will fragment the country and destabilise the entire region. Pakistan's Christians and other non-Muslim minorities are already in enough danger from extremists, but this legislation, if implemented, will further jeopardise their already difficult and often dangerous position."

"We strongly urge the government of Pakistan to vigorously defend its constitution and to oppose the implementation of the Shari'ah Act in the North West Frontier Province or in any other region of Pakistan. The international community, particularly the US and the EU, should also offer strong support to the government of Pakistan in its efforts to contain extremism."