Even though the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) recently recommended redesignating Pakistan as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), the persecution of Christians in Pakistan is escalating, emphasizing the critical need for international action. Extremist groups in Pakistan are not only targeting places of worship but entire Christian communities, leading to significant challenges faced by the Christian church in the country. Kidnappings, forced conversions, and forced marriages of Christian girls, some as young as 12 years old, are alarming trends in Pakistan, with families often left helpless in the face of such atrocities.
Mob violence is also a concern, especially when Christians are falsely accused or conversions draw attention from influential individuals. Greg Kelley of Unknown Nations, an organization working with indigenous missionaries globally, highlighted the importance of international pressure, particularly from the US, in addressing the situation in Pakistan. The USCIRF’s annual report underscored the deteriorating religious freedom conditions in Pakistan, citing the government’s strict enforcement of blasphemy laws that impact people of all faiths, including religious minorities like Ahmadiyya Muslims and Christians.
The report mentioned instances where individuals were sentenced to death for alleged blasphemy, with some cases involving social media posts or mere accusations of insulting religious sentiments. The plight of individuals like Farhan Masih and Junaid Hafeez, who faced imprisonment and death sentences under blasphemy charges, reflects the ongoing challenges to religious freedom in Pakistan. The USCIRF’s call for redesignating Pakistan as a CPC stems from the country’s continued violations of religious freedom, creating a climate of fear and intolerance for religious minorities.
