This month, defenders of religious freedom strongly condemned the worsening human rights in Pakistan, particularly the continued abuse of the country’s harsh blasphemous laws and forced conversions of minority girls.
They set my people freely and won the European Law and Judicial Centre at a side event hosted by rights group Jubilee Campaign USA during the regular session of the 58th UN Human Rights Council (HRC) in Geneva on March 11th. The event focused on the systematic use of torture and persecution in Pakistan, Eritrea, Nicaragua and Sudan.
Charlie Weimers, a member of the European Parliament, described Pakistan’s blasphemous ASP law as “a weapon of fear against religious minorities.”
“Christians and others in Pakistan are facing mob violence, illegal imprisonment and forced conversion,” Weimers said, adding that the Jalanwara riots in August 2023 had 26 church buildings torched and multiple Christian homes and businesses were looted.
In 2021, the European Parliament called on Pakistan to amend its blasphemous ASP law, urging targeted sanctions on international jurisdiction over the crimes of Eritrean officials and Nicaraguan dictator Daniel Ortega, but nothing has changed since.
“The European Union must stop enabling Pakistan’s persecution aircraft,” he said. “Trade, aid, and visas must be conditioned on actual human rights reforms and sanctions must be imposed on offenders.”
He also warned of the transfer of religious persecution of Europe to Europe, citing an increase in attacks on church buildings, clergy and other faithful attacks.
“We cannot argue that we will fight for religious freedom overseas while ignoring the crisis at home,” he warned, criticizing the unconfirmed spread of reckless immigration policies and radical ideology.
Weimers claimed that over 800 church buildings were abolished in France, whilst violent attacks against Christians in Germany, Sweden and the UK had surged.
“How can we criticize Pakistan’s blasphemous law when European citizens are afraid to wear a cross in public?” he said. “If Europe is serious about defending religious freedom, it must regain control at home and confront persecution abroad with unwavering resolve.”
Joseph Jansen, the head of advocacy for the Jubilee Campaign, condemned the ruthless enforcement of Pakistan’s blasphemous law, saying it has been turned into death sentences for Christians, Hindus and other minorities.
“The victims face state-sponsored physical and psychological torture, indefinite detention without trial and extrajudicial executions at the hands of violent mobs,” Janssen said.
He spoke about several people suffering in prison for false accusations, including Nadeem James. Anwar Kenneth, who was deemed mentally ineligible, spent 23 years in prison on charges of blasphemous ASP. And Shagufta Kiran, a mother of four, is jailed for accusations of social media posts.
At the same time, the perpetrators of mob violence against Christians have walked freely, Jansen said almost all of the more than 300 suspects arrested following the Jalanwara riots were released on bail.
“These abuses call for urgent global action. The international community must step in now to protect Pakistan’s religious minorities, be accountable to perpetrators, and promote immediate legal reform,” he said.
Shahid Maubine, president of the Italian Roundtable on Religious Freedom, said 307 million Christians face persecution around the world.
“The murders of Shabaz Batti and Salman Tazer to protect Pakistan’s religious freedom serve as a harsh reminder of the cost of speaking the truth,” Moveen said. “The government must counter radicalization, dismantle blasphemous laws and enforce protections for religious minorities.”
Organizers called on the international community, including the UN, the European Union and the central government, to act immediately to increase UN human rights surveillance in high-risk countries. Requiring legal protection from religious communities and repeal oppressive laws. Impact target sanctions on government officials responsible for religious persecution. We will launch an independent investigation into religious persecution and ensure that perpetrators are accountable under international law. They will then pressure them to abolish blasphemy laws and eliminate state-supported religious discrimination.
The speaker emphasized that polite diplomacy time was over and decisive action was necessary. International interventions to hold perpetrators accountable, strengthen protection of vulnerable communities, and ensure justice for victims of state-supported religious oppression.
Nazila Ghanea, a special rapporteur on freedom of religion and belief, said the state is trampling on religious freedom and the right to prohibit torture. She added that the recent HRC report highlights the need for stronger actions, namely accountability for serious violations, rather than empty condemnations.
Pakistan ranked 8th on the 2025 World Watchlist, where it’s the hardest place to become a Christian.
