Congressional Resolutions Express Concern About Religious Freedom in Pakistan

Two new Congressional resolutions, H. Res. 319 in the House and S. Res. 162 in the Senate, call special attention to threats to religious freedom in Pakistan. The Senate Resolution, which reaffirms the commitment of the United States to promoting religious freedom, includes the following language specific to Pakistan:

Whereas, according to Human Rights Watch, in Pakistan, Christians, Hindus, and Ahmadis are often the victims of violent extremists; forced conversion and marriage of Christian and Hindu girls and young women remains a systemic problem; and blasphemy laws are often used as an excuse to settle personal scores or stir up religious animosity against marginalized religious minorities, resulting in a climate of fear and a chilling effect on religious expression;

The House Resolution includes additional language:

Whereas according to Human Rights Watch, in Pakistan Christians, Hindu, and Ahmadis are often targeted because of their religious identities by violent religious extremists; forced conversion and marriage of Christian and Hindu girls and young women into Islam remains a systemic problem; where blasphemy laws are often used as an excuse to settle personal scores or stir up religious animosity against marginalized religious minorities, resulting in a climate of fear and a chilling effect on religious expression; and whereas, according to the United States Commission for International Religious Freedom, there are more people serving on death row or serving life sentences for blasphemy in Pakistan than in any other country in the world;

Both resolutions urge the President to incorporate religious freedom into US national security strategy.