Religious Minorities Archives

Pakistan’s iconic human rights defender I.A. Rehman dies

Apr 12, 2021

An iconic Pakistani human rights defender and journalist I.A. Rehman has died in the eastern city of Lahore after a brief illness, his family and friends said Monday. Rehman was 90. He spent his life defending human rights, opposing military dictators, fighting for the rule of law and democracy.

By Associated Press

Visit by Pope gives hope to all Iraq’s minorities, not just Christians

Mar 5, 2021

When Pope Francis lands in Iraq March 5, his primary mission will be to encourage the embattled local Christian community, a population existing from the times of the Apostles but now facing extinction.

By Inés San Martín

Religious minorities need help, active protection, say advocates

Nov 22, 2020

Religious minorities are highly vulnerable during conflicts, often exposed to grave violence, and require active protection and assistance, religious freedom advocates said during the 2020 Ministerial to Advance Freedom of Religion or Belief, sponsored by the U.S. State Department and hosted by Poland.

By Dale Gavlak

Report gives Pakistan failing grade on human rights

May 1, 2020

An annual human rights report released this week gives Pakistan a failing grade, charging that too little is being done to protect the country’s most vulnerable, including women and children.

By Kathy Gannon

Indian celebrities protest attacks on dissent, minorities

Jul 24, 2019

Dozens of Indian celebrities have asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene and stop rising incidents of attacks on minorities, misuse of religion by Hindu hard-liners and intolerance against dissent in the country.

By Ashok Sharma

Church in Pakistan expresses concern over recent violence against minorities

May 30, 2019

A series of violent incidents against religious minorities in Pakistan has been condemned by the social justice arm of the nation’s bishops’ conference.

By Nirmala Carvalho

Expert sees Asia Bibi acquittal fueling push for ‘rule of law’ in Pakistan

Jan 30, 2019

Following Tuesday’s “definitive” acquittal of Asia Bibi, an illiterate Catholic mother of four who spent almost a decade on death row on blasphemy charges, one Asia expert says the next frontier for minorities in Pakistan is the press for full equality as citizens under the law.

By Elise Harris

Pope Francis meets with Nobel Peace prize winner Nadia Murad

Dec 21, 2018

Pope Francis met Thursday with the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize winner Nadia Murad, a survivor of ISIS enslavement and an advocate for human rights and persecuted Iraqi minorities.

By Courtney Grogan