The UK must do more to stamp out the systematic persecution and “truly disgusting” treatment of Christians and other religious minorities in Pakistan, the bishops have told bishops.
The bishops of Guildford and Leicester on Thursday contributed to a debate in the House of Lords, started by Lord Alton, on how British aid is being used to support minorities in Pakistan.
Introducing the topic, Lord Alton said that 3.72 per cent of Pakistan’s 230 million people are from religious minority backgrounds. He cited evidence of “discrimination and persecution against ethnic minorities ingrained in school textbooks” found by the Pakistan APPG for Ethnic Minorities. Prejudice in schools and universities. And the primitive and dire conditions in the so-called colonies where Christians live, often without running water, sanitation, or electricity. ”
Lord Alton also spoke of “violent attacks, including murder”. and denial of the same voting rights as other citizens. . . Kidnapping, forced conversion, rape and forced marriage of Hindu and Christian girls – all these problems can and should be addressed with British aid. ” The Ahmadi community was also targeted, he said.
The Bishop of Guildford, the Reverend Andrew Watson, vice-chair of the Pakistan Minority APPG, told colleagues: About British aid. ”
He said his diocese was affiliated with Sialkot diocese in Punjab’s Majha region. “There is no question that discrimination exists against religious minorities in Pakistan at all levels.” This is partly due to extremism, blasphemy laws, poverty, lack of education, and “Christian and Hindu This is due to the continuing legacy of a caste system in which religious people are often relegated to the lowest ranks.
Bishop Watson said: “British aid should include religious minorities in the list of marginalized communities in Pakistan,” and “reserve a portion of the aid budget for minorities and spend the majority of it.” The money should be spent on education and professional training projects.”
Former Oxford Bishop Lord Harries echoed the urgency of the situation, saying: “Since 2006, Pakistan’s parliament has contributed around 6,000 projects to the National Poverty Reduction Plan. While this progress is welcome, none of these projects are directly focused on the challenges faced by Dalits, who suffer from a vicious cycle of poverty and land scarcity. This dire economic situation has resulted in high rates of suicide in this community.
The Bishop of Leicester, the Reverend Martin Snow, spoke about two issues raised by members of Leicester’s large Pakistani heritage community. “The plight of Christians forced to work as gutter cleaners without personal protective equipment” and “the need for small-scale, safe and legal routes for persecuted minorities to come to the UK.”
Although less than 2 percent of Pakistan’s population is Christian, they make up more than 80 percent of the workforce in sewerage and street cleaning, he said. It causes accidents, illnesses, and deaths that could not be prevented.
“Descriptions of their working conditions are truly disgusting, made even more shocking by the fact that government agencies advertise cleaner jobs only for Christians and other religious minorities.”
In a safe and legal route, he said: “I was approached by a bishop in Pakistan to help secure asylum for one of his priests.” However, despite all my efforts, and indeed despite the intervention of the Archbishop of Canterbury, I was unable to secure a visa for the priest and his family.
He concluded: “I would venture to say that we have a moral obligation to provide such assistance.”
Responding to the debate, Sir Ahmad welcomed the specific concerns raised and said the UK’s Pakistan development budget had more than tripled this year. He said the government was committed to eradicating all forms of modern slavery, and called for it to “unequivocally condemn the desecration of religious sites and cemeteries and violence against individuals and hold perpetrators accountable.” Ta.
Regarding safe and legal routes, he said: “The Government has a very strong policy on immigration, but as we have seen in recent months, it is important that we retain, maintain and strengthen the number of people seeking asylum in the UK, particularly asylum seekers. ” They were persecuted simply for their faith.
“Frankly, I have seen the people who have come to this country benefit. When you look at the proper analysis, they have made an incredible contribution to the progress of our country. , we find ourselves richer because of it.”
