AMMWEC Hosts Religious Freedom Roundtable in Peshawar
Religious Freedom is a fundamental right of all Pakistanis. Under the Constitution of Pakistan “all citizens are equal before the law and are entitled to equal protection by the law” [Article 25 (1)]. Additionally, according to Article 5, “adequate provision shall be made for the minorities to freely profess and practice their religions and develop their cultures.”
Yet, recently we have witnessed a growing number of incidents of intolerance and violence against minorities in Pakistan. On January 22nd, 2022, Priest William Siraj was gunned down and Rev Patrick Naeem was injured in an attack by extremists in Peshawar. In another incident, a Shia mosque was bombed with more than 56 people killed.
These incidents of hate and extremism do immense damage to Pakistan and Islam. Although condemned by Pakistani politicians iterating that “this is not Islam”, these heinous crimes are committed in the name of Islam. It is our responsibility as Muslims and of our clergy to call out the Islamists and show by our actions that Islam is indeed a religion of peace and not just empty words.
To address the alarming increase in religiously motivated violence, an International Religious Freedom (IRF) Roundtable was held in Peshawar on March 10th, 2022. Members of religious minorities and marginalized communities convened to discuss the threats and develop a set of recommendations to end this violence.
The Roundtable was moderated by Anila Ali, Chair of the IRF Roundtable in Pakistan. The event was facilitated by Wagma Feroze, a women’s rights activist, and hosted by the American Muslim & Multifaith Women’s Empowerment Council (AMMWEC).
After the Roundtable, Anila Ali, visited the home of Priest William Siraj and met with his widow. Sharing the grief of the family, Ali vowed to elevate the voices of the Christian community and of the vulnerable Christian women who are often pressured to convert to Islam. Oftentimes, underage marriages are held as a way to protect Hindu and Christian girls from forced conversions. Moreover, blasphemy laws are often used as a tool of religious persecution despite global outrage.
The first-ever women-led Roundtable held in Karachi in November of 2021 continues to strengthen communities and empower women to create their own narratives and advocate for themselves. Developing female leadership and creating the next generation of women peacemakers who will impact positive change. - AMMWEC
