Protest held outside UN seeking protection for Christians in Pakistan
Protesters urge world body to persuade Pakistan to make laws to end future attacks on minorities.
UNITED NATIONS: Hundreds of Pakistani Christians protested outside the UN headquarters on Thursday evening, urging the world body to take decisive action to protect Christians from mob attacks.
Although it was a working day, about 1,000 Christians came from across the US east coast to “show how the mob attacks in Jaranwala have hurt every Christian,” said James Cyprian, one of the organisers of the rally.
The park outside the UN headquarters, which is reserved for protests and rallies, was filled to capacity while some protesters were also marching on adjacent streets and roads.
Usually, such protests do not get more than 100 to 200 people on a weekday.
In a resolution shared with UN officials, the protesters urged the world body to persuade Pakistan to make laws to end future attacks on minorities.
The resolution demanded legislation to stop the misuse of blasphemy laws, and to end the practice of using blasphemy allegations for personal interests. It also urged the United Nations to play its role in guaranteeing religious freedom and to stop forced conversions.
Christian leaders, who organised Wednesday’s rally, traveled to Washington on Friday to share their demands with Pakistan’s US envoy, Ambassador Masood Khan.
Earlier, Pakistani Christian leaders told the protest rally how an unsubstantiated allegation of blasphemy against two local youths was used as an excuse to burn down churches and ransack homes in Jaranwala.
“Even crosses and holy books were not spared,” said Aron Bashir, a Republican leader of Pakistani origin from Pennsylvania.
“We feel insecure in our own homeland,” said Ziba Gill, another Pakistani Christian activist. “We are now seeking protection from the United Nations.”
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