Latest Minority Rights News & Updates

Islamabad, April 14 (IANS) Family of Christian youth, who was shot dead at a local market in his village in Pakistan’s Punjab province, has demanded a speedy and fair investigation into the incident. Daud Masih (16) was shot dead at a local market in his village, Bhikhi, on April 8, a report detailed. Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Ghulam Ullah has said that police have arrested Muhammad Junaid as the prime suspect in the killing of Daud Masih. Although victim’s family expressed a sense of relief…

Washington, April 11 (IANS) Pakistan’s head of the Catholic Church, Bishop Samson Shukardin, has expressed concern over a government committee formed to review a recent ruling by the country’s top constitutional court that validated the marriage and forced conversion of a Christian minor girl. Pakistan’s Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Attaullah Tarar on April 5 announced that a committee had been formed to review the March 25 judgement of the Federal Constitutional Court validati…

Brussels, April 9 (IANS) Bangladesh’s persistent failure to ensure effective restitution for Hindus, coupled with escalating attacks on the minority communities during the 18-month tenure of the previous Muhammad Yunus-led interim government, has sparked concerns over the protection of their fundamental rights, a report detailed this week. According to Brussels-based EU Reporter, the situation could test the ruling Tarique Rahman-led Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and his stated commitments …

Ahmedabad, April 4 (IANS) All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) Chief and MP Asaduddin Owaisi, on Saturday, rejected allegations that his party acts as a proxy for the BJP and criticised the Congress for failing to effectively counter the ruling party, during his visit to Gujarat. Addressing a press conference in Ahmedabad, Owaisi said: “I am not a B-team of the BJP. I am the original ‘M’ team — the team of the marginalised, not just minorities”, asserting that AIMIM represents underre…

Islamabad, March 30 (IANS) A leading minority rights group on Monday highlighted that members of the Ahmadi community were once again prevented from offering Eid prayers in several districts of Pakistan’s Punjab province — turning what should have been a “moment of unity” into yet another instance of exclusion.According to the Voice of Pakistan Minority (VOPM), police deployments, administrative barriers, and the looming threat of legal consequences ensured that gatherings were either disrupted…

Islamabad, March 30 (IANS) Human rights activists and civil society organisations have strongly condemned the planned demolition and forced eviction of residents in Allama Iqbal Colony, a 25-year-old predominantly Christian working-class settlement in Islamabad. The community now faces an imminent threat of clearance in the coming days, raising serious concerns over minority rights and displacement.Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), alongside the All Party Alliance for Katchi Abadis, th…

Kolkata/New Delhi, March 21 (IANS) A 40-year-old visitor died in a freak lift accident at Kolkata’s R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital, early on Friday, recalling reports of administrative lapse and criminal activity that allegedly affect services rendered even at West Bengal’s public health centres of repute.Friday’s incident raises fresh questions about public hospital infrastructure, safety, and accountability in West Bengal, reviving memories of the August 2024 rape-and-murder of a …

Islamabad, March 18 (IANS) A leading minority rights organisation flagged a troubling trend of abductions and forced religious conversions of girls from the minority community across Pakistan between 2021 and 2025, during which 515 cases were recorded. Citing data from various reports, the Voice of Pakistan Minority (VOPM) highlighted that while the figures may appear to be mere statistics, each number represents a human tragedy — “a frightened girl, a devastated family, and a community living …

Washington, Feb 10 (IANS) Hindu community members and human rights advocates held a peaceful protest outside the US State Department here, urging the government to take stronger action over what they described as persecution of religious minorities in Bangladesh.The demonstrators gathered in the cold weather, holding banners and placards that called for justice and accountability. Several speakers appealed directly to US officials, international bodies, and global human rights organisations to i…

Dhaka, Jan 30 (IANS) The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council, a human rights organisation against religious discrimination, claimed that at least 522 communal violence incidents occurred across Bangladesh in 2025, in stark contrast to the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government’s recent figures, which said only 71 incidents involved communal elements, local media reported.Addressing a press conference in Dhaka on Thursday, the minority rights organisation’s Acting General Secreta…