Freedom of religion

Being a Christian in Sri Lanka is a book with a striking cover, showing the view from theSigiriya Rock Fortress (built 477 – 495 AD, a UNESCO World Heritage Site). Leonard Pinto, an ecologist and an author of works on ethics and social justice, has taught and researched at universities andindustry in Australia, the Philippines and […]

Human Rights violations remain widespread due to the failings of, and lack of reforms to, the country’s institutional framework, in particular, key institutions of the rule of law – the police, the prosecution, and the judiciary. This is compounded by persisting impunity enjoyed by law enforcement agencies particularly by the Pakistan’s military and intelligence agencies. […]

In the continuity of attacks on the Ahmadi community in Pakistan, Mr. Najeeb Ahmed, pesh imam (leader) of the Sarai Alamgir mosque was punished by unknown Muslim fundamentalists with sharp shaving blades in Gujrat district, Punjab province. On December 1, as Mr. Ahmed entered his house, he was pounced upon, his clothes were removed and […]

Courtessy from daily Pakistan Freedom of religion is a fundamental right that exists only on paper in Pakistan. Each year thousands of Christians, forming 13% of the total population, suffer at the hands of religious bigots who use blasphemy as an excuse to ruin their life. Christian girls are increasingly being forced to convert to Islam. According […]

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has once again been deprived of their fundamental religious freedoms and universal civic rights. For the ongoing local body elections, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has made an addition to their guidelines, instructing registration officers and other staff to enter Ahmadi votes separately in the Initial Electoral List. Through instruction […]

An eight years old girl, Miss N (real name withheld), who is the daughter of Meer Muhammud, from Golrachi Village, in the Badin District of Sindh Province has been raped by a religious leader in the mosque. Her Quran teacher, Imam Khameesa, someone who is also a local mosque leader, reportedly raped her on 25 […]

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding forced conversions and threats to a couple. A Christian groom, who married a Muslim bride, first converted to Islam to avoid a backlash from Muslim religious fanatics. When it was exposed that the couple had re-converted to Christianity later, they came under immense […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that four Christians and one Muslim publisher, including one pastor, were arrested on the charges of using word ‘Sainthood’ on the occasion of death anniversary of a father under the Anti Terrorism act . The Special Judge of Anti terrorism Court, Gujranwala, Punjab, refused […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information that the Ismaili Shia lady professor from N.E.D. Engineering University died at the hospital bed who was victimized by the university authorities on the basis of religious hate campaign against the Shia community, the second largest Shia sect of the country. The teaching […]

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that Islamic fundamentalists have started directing educational institutions to take a stance against members of Muslim minority groups, particularly Shias, the second largest sect of Islam. This time a Pesh Iman (mosque leader), who is also lecturer, has targeted one of the largest engineering […]

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding the gang rape and alleged murder of a Hindu girl from the Meghwar caste by influential people belonging to the ruling party of Sindh Province. The police of District Umer Kot (formerly Amar Kot) have botched up the whole investigation in an effort […]

The Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera, abandoned the practices of the previous government delegations to the UN Human Rights Council in the recent years, has frankly admitted before the Council the mistakes of the past and the weaknesses of the Sri Lankan institutions. Previous delegations came with the sole purpose of denying all allegations […]

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding the brutal attack on members of the Evangelical Church of Indonesia, who were protesting outside a mosque in Karubaga, Tolikara, Papua, by police officers of the Tolikara police resort (Polres Tolikara). One elementary school student died as a result, while 11 adults were […]

Who will account for the death of three year old Aylan whose dead body was washed up at the Aegean beach in Turkey, the photo of the toddler called upon world’s conscience. The photo that went viral over social media sparked a fresh debate on the Syrian refugees facing civil strife since 2011. As mentioned […]

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes to express concern regarding the disrespect of the religion and dignity of 20 prisoners presently detained in General Santos City Jail. Tortured detainees were prevented from complaining due to threats to their families. CASE DETAILS: (Based on the testimony of 20 prisoners of General Santos City Jail, […]

A Press Release from British Pakistani Christian Association forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) Image of Gujrat Hate spilled onto the streets after a large evangelical conference was organised in the city of Gujrat for August 15th. The conference had been organised by Pastor Aftab Gill, son of Pastor Fazal Gill (RIP). The […]

Pakistan courts have finally started taking a proactive approach to support religious minorities and safeguard their interest. On 22 July, the Supreme Court of Pakistan suspended the execution of Asia Bibi, a Christian woman sentenced to death for alleged blasphemy. A three-member bench of the Supreme Court granted leave to appeal to Asia Bibi and […]

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information regarding a writer who was charged and prosecuted for allegedly committing a religious offence. He has now been sentenced to two years imprisonment with hard labour. An excerpt of his speech, which excoriates extremists and jingoists, intended for the benefit of Buddhism, spread […]

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rigth Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding an Ahmadiyya congregation being prevented from holding Friday prayers. Vigilante groups, namely Islamic Defender Front (FPI) in Bukit Duri Tebet, Jakarta, Indonesia, have threatened the Ahmadiyya congregation that if they continue the worship they will be attacked and forcibly dispersed. Threat, intimidation, and violence against […]

In a rare case of successful intervention by the Pakistan police, a Christian couple has been saved from being lynched by an angry mob in a Makki Village, Sheikhapura District, in Punjab, Pakistan. Unlike previous cases, where charged up mobs have burnt and beaten to death innocent Christians, accusing them of blasphemy, the timely intervention […]