'CAA' an attempt to give identity to persecuted minorities from Pakistan: NGOs

Mar 06, 2020

Geneva (Switzerland), Mar 06 (ANI): Non-government organisations have accused Pakistan for systemic persecution of minorities who can be given a new lease of life with newly introduced Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) by the Indian government. Jayesh Joshi of Vaagdhara lambasted on Pakistan in its intervention during the 43rd session of UN Human Rights Council in Geneva and said, "Hindus, Christians, Sikhs and other minorities communities have faced systematic and systemic violation of their rights, very right to live- many of them have been forced to convert, face persecution or flee." He added, "Despite repeated recommendations from international human rights mechanisms and other organizations, the blasphemy law in Pakistan, has not been amended or repealed, which had led to continuation of violence against religious minorities, as well as to arbitrary arrests and prosecution". Narender Kumar of Shivi Development Society, an NGO said, "In some South Asian countries, the terrible conflict between the religious freedom and blasphemy laws continues unabated. For instance, the blasphemy law has been frequently misused to hound members of Pakistan's minority communities to grab land and property and settle personal scores. Even unproven allegations risk violent and bloody death at the hands of a rabid mob. The use of death penalty for frees thinkers; their enforced disappearances and application of blasphemy laws brazenly violate core human rights." He told the Council, "Reports after reports indicate that episodes of intolerance toward the Hindu community had been increasing in Pakistan, including abductions, forced conversions to Islam, and coerced marriages of Hindu girls. Because of such unabated persecution, members of minorities communities are forced to flee in desperation".