Pakistan: Christians, Muslims both against human rights violations
By Joseph DeCaro, Worthy News Correspondent
ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN (Worthy News)– Last week in Faisalabad, Christian and Muslim activists laid down guidelines for the creation of a new interfaith network to curb any abuses arising from Pakistan’s notorious blasphemy laws, according to AsiaNews.
“The blasphemy law,” said Naveed Walter, “affects Christians and Muslims, who become the target of false accusations. The law is often abused to target rivals, opponents or settle personal vendettas.”
The new network will also be tasked with stopping attacks against entire communities and to guarantee the right of free expression, assembly and worship.
Naseem Anthony, a Christian activist, told AsiaNews that human rights defenders could act as arbitrators through an “early warning system” to help resolve conflicts peacefully before they escalate.
Christian activist Shazia George favored dialogue with the more tolerant Muslims of Pakistan while opposing those political parties that foment intolerance. Her words were echoed by Suneel Malik who said that religious intolerance was more dangerous to civilization than the atomic bomb!
Muslim journalist Jahangir Ashfar said that religious leaders could promote harmony by avoiding sermons that incite hatred and insult the followers of other religions; his co-religionist, Iftikhar Ahmed, said that no community should be blamed for the actions of any individual.
Ahmed was referring to the recent violence in Gojra where an entire Christian community was attacked by Muslims over an alleged case of blasphemy by one Christian.