In a country of institutionalized religious persecution, Hindus continue to pay a heavy price. “Bitter Winter” collected several testimonies.
Pakistan
Pakistan: A Good Supreme Court Decision for the Ahmadis—But What’s Next?
The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court ordered the release of a man who had distributed an Ahmadi commentary to the Holy Quran. A step in the right direction, but problems remain.
Pakistan, Two Christian Brothers Beaten with Iron Rods and Forcibly Converted to Islam
Azam and Nadeem Masih were savagely abused until they recited the formula of conversion and recorded a video where they said they had converted freely.
Pakistani Clerics Issue Fatwa Prohibiting Election Campaigning by Women
In Kohistan, Deobandi ulema does not challenge the law allowing women to be candidates—but they say they cannot campaign.
Pakistan, Ahmadi Cemetery Desecrated in Daska
At least 80 graves were destroyed just two weeks before the elections.
Pakistan’s Elections: Religious Minorities Claim Their Rights
A ten-point manifesto asks the new government and Parliament to succeed where politicians have always failed: grant freedom of religion to non-Muslim citizens.
Pakistan: Christian Musarrat Bibi, Acquitted of False Blasphemy Charges, Lives Under Constant Threat
A judge ruled that charges of Quran-burning were fabricated but she lost her job and has to live in hiding.
China, ISIS, and Pakistan: Unholy Alliance Eyes Maldives
A new pro-China President has asked Indian troops to leave the Maldives within two months. The United States wants to know what he plans to do with ISIS-connected terrorists.
Pakistan Wants to Ban TikTok for “Immorality”
A tragic incident where a girl killed her sister over a TikTok quarrel is used by conservative clerics to call for a broad crackdown on social media.
USCIRF: Blasphemy Laws in Pakistan from Bad to Worse
Anti-blasphemy statutes are being amended to make them even more dangerous for religious minorities, says the US Commission on International Religious Freedom.