Earlier this week, Pakistan criticised a report released by the US, which places it on a list of countries violating religious freedoms. Instead of addressing the issue, the Pakistani Foreign Office raised concerns over the growing trend of Islamophobia in many Western countries including the U.S.
Crux of the Matter
Pakistan along with a couple of countries around the world including China, Myanmar, Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, were placed in the list for having engaged in or tolerated systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom.
According to the statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pakistan is a multi-religious and pluralistic country where people of all faiths enjoy religious freedom under constitutional protections, professing and practising their religion in full freedom.
Calling the move “unilateral and arbitrary”, the Foreign Office spokesperson finds it detached from ground realities and raised questions about the credibility and transparency of the entire exercise.
Pakistan also said that challenges to religious freedom were a global concern and only cooperative efforts and constructive engagement could help address them.
It is to be noted that the cumulative minority population in Pakistan has dropped from 23% in 1947 to less than 3% today.
Curiopedia
Religious Freedom, is a principle that supports the freedom of an individual or community, in public or private, to manifest religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship, and observance. It also includes the freedom to change one’s religion or beliefs. Freedom of religion is considered by many people and most of the nations to be a fundamental human right. It allows the right to believe what a person, group or religion wishes, but it does not necessarily allow the right to practice the religion or belief openly and outwardly in a public manner, a central facet of religious freedom More Info
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