US adds Pakistan to blacklist for 'religious freedom violations'

[Chimgathar]

Lol 2018 is full of jokes, US wants to open kan**r khana in Pakistan and promote non muslims, non believers, gays etc as victims. US is acting like a bully on steroids.

 

[Daghalodi]

Yes:

Q: Why does the United States have a responsibility to publish an annual report on International Religious Freedom?

A: Religious freedom is a universally acknowledged right enshrined in numerous international covenants and declarations such as the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Helsinki Accords, and others. When we strive to advance religious freedom, we are simply urging other nations to join with us in upholding a high but universal standard. In addition, respect for religious freedom and tolerance of the practices and beliefs of people of all faiths lie at the heart of the American identity and constitute some of main principles on which this country was founded. The United States has continued to attract new citizens from all over the world for this very reason. No country has a perfect record of religious freedom, including the United States, and we can all endeavor to reach a higher standard. We support the right of all countries to speak out when human rights, including religious freedom, are abused.

Q: Under what authority does the Department of State produce its annual report on International Religious Freedom and designate "Countries of Particular Concern" (CPCs)?

A: Congress passed the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) of 1998 that established the Department of State's Office of International Religious Freedom headed by an Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom. The IRFA requires the preparation and transmittal to Congress of an Annual Report on International Religious Freedom detailing the status of religious freedom in each foreign country, violations of religious freedom by foreign governments, and United States' actions and policies in support of religious freedom. Separately, the IRFA also requires that each year the President designate as a "Country of Particular Concern" each country the government of which has engaged in or tolerated systematic, ongoing and egregious violations of religious freedom.​

Pakistan voted for the adoption of the UDHR seventy years ago, on December 10, 1948.

This is the debate in U.S. diplomatic circles - and not a new one, either: fulfilling the legal mandate of IRFA may also spoil the relationship between the U.S. and IRFA-deficient countries. However, if such nations behave so poorly towards their own, is it really in American interests to remain on good terms with them?

Im surprised when you post quotes like "Religious Freedom is a universally acknowledged right" and US has a responsibility to publish annual report on International Religious Freedom

Which surprisingly doesnt speak about The law in European countries where speaking against the Holocaust is a crime and considered anti-semtic.

Why is it that Western World wants Pakistan (An Islamic Country) to bend its laws for Religious freedom or Speech yet depicting a jewish rabbi as a nazi a crime???

 

[Baby Leone]

lol hahhah good joke

which countries are on top? lets guess Israel, India or even Afghanistan or KSA can top the list being US pets now a days along with India? hahhah

BTW except India does any other country takes US seriously?

 

[Theparadox]

‘Furnish UN’s review of human rights in Pakistan in Parliament’

ISLAMABAD: Former Senator Farhatullah Babar on Friday called for placing before the Parliament the report of the third Universal Periodic Review (UPR) done last year, containing recommendations made by the UN and the promises made by Pakistan to improve its human rights record.

He was speaking at a discussion at the HRCP office in Islamabad on Friday. The human rights situation in the country has been progressively deteriorating because of the war on terror and the so-called national security considerations, he said, adding that conflict zones of tribal areas and Balochistan had become inaccessible, and internment centres set up in the areas had been turned into Guantanamo bay like prisons. There was no legislation in the country to protect the rights of refugees, he said. Besides, he said enforced disappearances continued with impunity despite admission recently before a Senate panel by the Chairman of Commission on Disappearances that 153 security personnel were found involved in it.

A great threat to human rights is the diminishing security of human rights defenders, who are under attack from both state and non state actors. The nature of attacks varies, he said, mentioning threats to life, limb, liberty, restrictions on movement, character assassination, surveillance, censorship etc. He said that 2018 marked the 20th anniversary of adoption by UNGA of UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, a move supported by Pakistan. However, in November 2015, Pakistan voted against a UNGA Resolution recognising role of human rights defenders and seeking protection for them. He also called for subjecting the internment centres to the prison rules as well as demilitarisation of the erstwhile tribal areas as it had been merged with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Babar proposed legislation to recognise the role of human rights defenders and ensure their protection against excesses. He said a bill for the protection and security of journalists had been finalised by the Senate Committee and called for its early adoption.

State response to calls for enforcing human rights has been to use force, intimidation and coercion as witnessed in the case of reaction on the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement, he said.

 

[Path-Finder]

‘Furnish UN’s review of human rights in Pakistan in Parliament’

ISLAMABAD: Former Senator Farhatullah Babar on Friday called for placing before the Parliament the report of the third Universal Periodic Review (UPR) done last year, containing recommendations made by the UN and the promises made by Pakistan to improve its human rights record.

He was speaking at a discussion at the HRCP office in Islamabad on Friday. The human rights situation in the country has been progressively deteriorating because of the war on terror and the so-called national security considerations, he said, adding that conflict zones of tribal areas and Balochistan had become inaccessible, and internment centres set up in the areas had been turned into Guantanamo bay like prisons. There was no legislation in the country to protect the rights of refugees, he said. Besides, he said enforced disappearances continued with impunity despite admission recently before a Senate panel by the Chairman of Commission on Disappearances that 153 security personnel were found involved in it.

A great threat to human rights is the diminishing security of human rights defenders, who are under attack from both state and non state actors. The nature of attacks varies, he said, mentioning threats to life, limb, liberty, restrictions on movement, character assassination, surveillance, censorship etc. He said that 2018 marked the 20th anniversary of adoption by UNGA of UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, a move supported by Pakistan. However, in November 2015, Pakistan voted against a UNGA Resolution recognising role of human rights defenders and seeking protection for them. He also called for subjecting the internment centres to the prison rules as well as demilitarisation of the erstwhile tribal areas as it had been merged with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Babar proposed legislation to recognise the role of human rights defenders and ensure their protection against excesses. He said a bill for the protection and security of journalists had been finalised by the Senate Committee and called for its early adoption.

State response to calls for enforcing human rights has been to use force, intimidation and coercion as witnessed in the case of reaction on the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement, he said.

I am glad farhatullah babar has brought up these issues. Lets visit Sindh and visit the private jails and torture cells of ppp? Not forgetting the handy works of zardari's favorite hitmen like uzair baloch and rao anwar.

 

[TMA]

Im surprised when you post quotes like "Religious Freedom is a universally acknowledged right" and US has a responsibility to publish annual report on International Religious Freedom

Which surprisingly doesnt speak about The law in European countries where speaking against the Holocaust is a crime and considered anti-semtic.

Why is it that Western World wants Pakistan (An Islamic Country) to bend its laws for Religious freedom or Speech yet depicting a jewish rabbi as a nazi a crime???

Well the Chosen people are after all Chosen....it is a shame that Pakistanis do not recognise this like the Europeans (!)