Religious Rights

Several religious bodies recently testified before the U.N. Commission on Human Rights about religious intolerance and discrimination in Pakistan. "Since Sept. 11, 2001, there have been eight serious incidents targeting Christian institutions and their members, killing 43 Christians and injuring many," said a joint statement by the World Council of Churches, Dominicans for Justice and Peace, Franciscans International, the Pakistan Justice and Peace Commission, and the Pakistan Commission of Catholic Bishops. The groups called on the government of Pakistan to repeal "all discriminatory laws," including the blasphemy laws, and to ratify human rights treaties.