HRC53: Oral statement on Pakistan UPR outcomes

Item 6:UPR Outcome, Pakistan

Organisation:Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW)

Speaker:埃利斯·希斯利

Thank you Mr President,

CSW welcomes Pakistan’s co-operation with the UPR process and its acceptance of recommendations relating to the right to freedom of religion or belief and to ensuring protection for religious minorities in the country.

While we welcome Pakistan’s acceptance of recommendations from the Netherlands and Norway to take steps to prevent the misuse of the country’s blasphemy laws, we are disappointed that all recommendations calling for the reform or repeal of these laws were noted.

Instead of reforming the laws, in January 2023 the Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill 2023 was passed, further increasing the punishments for blaspheming against the companions of the Prophet of Islam.Pakistan’s blasphemy laws are incompatible with its national and international commitments to the right to freedom of religion or belief, including with some of those made during this UPR process.

The laws are poorly defined and often used as a weapon of revenge to settle personal scores or to resolve disputes over money, property or business.

Blasphemy accusations also often trigger mob violence.

For example on 6 May, Maulana Nigar Alam, a local cleric in the city of Mardan, was killed by a mob after he was accused of making a blasphemous reference during a political rally of former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s party.

It was the second incident of mob violence and killing triggered by blasphemy accusations in Pakistan this year following the 11 February lynching of a 35-year-old man in Nankana Sahib, Punjab Province.

CSW believes there is a clear link between laws which stipulate that the punishment for blasphemy is death, and the fact that radical Islamist elements within the country feel emboldened to take matters into their own hands.

As long as the laws remain in place, these acts of violence will continue and Pakistan will fail to fulfil accepted recommendations such that of Norway ‘to protect all religious minorities or those with differing beliefs from discrimination and persecution.’

We therefore urge Pakistan to reconsider calls for the reform and eventual repeal of the blasphemy laws as a matter of urgency.

We also call on authorities within the country to ensure that all those responsible for recent blasphemy related killings and violence are held to account.

Thank you