Update to Response to Information Request PAK18021.E of 20 July 1994 on the treatment of Christians in Pakistan and on whether the blasphemy code is implemented against Christians [PAK24368.E]

Information on Christians in Pakistan is scarce among the sources consulted by the DIRB.

On 11 August 1995, hundreds of Christians marched through Islamabad, demonstrating for changes to the blasphemy laws to protect non-Muslims (UPI 11 Aug. 1995; The Washington Times 12 Aug. 1995).

On 8 September 1995, Christians celebrated the birth of the Virgin Mary in Mariamabad, 85 km from Lahore (Églises d'Asie 16 Oct. 1995, 8). This festival has been celebrated for the last 48 years (ibid.).

From 12-24 October 1995, 15 Christians and Hindus participated in a seminar in Islamabad that dealt with the theme of minority rights and tolerance (Églises d'Asie 16 Dec. 1995, 9).

According to Églises d'Asie of 1 December 1995, M. Mukhtar Makkhu, a Christian detained by police for blasphemy, died on 7 November 1995 in police custody (7). A hundred Christians demonstrated in the streets of Younahabad following his death (ibid.). According to Reuters of 15 November 1995 and AP Worldstream of 18 November 1995, Mukhtar Masih, a Christian detained in Lahore on blasphemy charges, also died in police custody.

Information on the treatment of Christians in Pakistan in the period since January 1996 could not be found among the sources consulted by the DIRB.

The following Responses to Information Requests may also be of general interest: PAK19515.E of 7 February 1995 on the implementation of 295(c) of the Pakistan Penal Code, PAK22282.E of 16 November 1995 on the status of the draft law since May 1995 to amend the blasphemy laws, and PAK20248.E of 6 June 1995 for a copy of the Supreme Court ruling on the constitutionality of 298(c) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References


Associated Press (AP). 18 November 1995. Worldstream. "Christian's Death in Police Custody Triggers Inquiry." (NEXIS)

Églises d'Asie [Paris]. 16 December 1995. No. 211. "Pakistan: Les minorités religieuses s'engagent à continuer la lutte pour la reconnaissance de leurs droits."

_____. 1 December 1995. No. 210. "Pakistan: En bref: Un chrétien accusé de blasphème meurt en prison."

_____. 16 October 1995. No. 207. "Pakistan: Culte de la Vierge et tradition religieuse populaire à Mariamabad."

Reuters World Service. 15 November 1995. BC Cycle. "Pakistani Christian Dies in Police Custody." (NEXIS)

The United Press International (UPI). 11 August 1995. BC Cycle. Anwar Iqbal. "Hundreds of Christians Marched ..." (NEXIS)

The Washington Times. 12 August 1995. Final Edition. "Pakistani Christians Protest Blasphemy Law." (NEXIS)

Attachments

Églises d'Asie [Paris]. 16 December 1995. No. 211. "Pakistan: Les minorités religieuses s'engagent à continuer la lutte pour la reconnaissance de leurs droits," p. 9.

_____. 1 December 1995. No. 210. "Pakistan: En bref: Un chrétien accusé de blasphème meurt en prison," p. 7.

_____. 16 October 1995. No. 207. "Pakistan: Culte de la Vierge et tradition religieuse populaire à Mariamabad," p. 8.

Reuters World Service. 15 November 1995. BC Cycle. "Pakistani Christian Dies in Police Custody." (NEXIS)

The United Press International (UPI). 11 August 1995. BC Cycle. Anwar Iqbal. "Hundreds of Christians Marched ..." (NEXIS)

Additional Sources Consulted

Amnesty International. July 1994. Pakistan: Use and Abuse of Blasphemy Laws.

Asian Survey [Berkeley, Calif.]. Monthly. January to April 1996.

Current History [Philadelphia]. Monthly. January to May 1996.

DIRB. "Amnesty International: Pakistan" country file. December 1995 to present.

_____. Indexed Media Review [Ottawa]. Weekly. January to July 1996.

_____. "Pakistan" country file. November 1995 to present.

Foreign Broadcast Information Service (FBIS) Daily Reports. CD ROM. 1996.

Journal of South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies [Villanova, Pa.]. Quarterly. 1995 to present.

La lettre hebdomadaire de la FIDH [Paris]. Fortnightly. November 1995 to May 1996.

The Minority Rights Group Reports [London]. Various dates. 1995 to present.

New Internationalist [Toronto]. Monthly. January to July 1996.

News from Asia Watch [New York]. Monthly. 1993 to present.

Le nouvel Afrique-Asie [Paris]. Monthly. January to July/August 1996.

The Outsider: The Newsletter of MRG [London]. Quarterly. 1995 to present.

Pacific Affairs [Vancouver]. Quarterly. 1995 to present.

Refugee Branch, Asylum Division, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Ottawa. Infrequent reports. 1996.

Swiss Review of World Affairs [Zurich]. Monthly. June 1995 to July 1996.

Third World Quarterly [London]. Quarterly. 1995 to present.

United Nations. Economic and Social Council. Commission on Human Rights, Geneva. 2 January 1996. Implementation of the Declaration on the Elimination of all Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief: Report Submitted by Mr. Abdelfattah Amor, Special Rapporteur, in Accordance with Commission on Human Rights Resolution 1995/23.

On-line search of media sources.