LAHORE: The Social Justice Center (CSJ) has published its annual report of human rights observers, revealing a disturbing increase in accusations of blasphemy, forced conversions and systemic discrimination against religious minorities in the country during 2024.
The report covers critical problems, including the misuse of blasphemy laws, forced conversions of minority girls/women, issues in the educational system, obstacles to establishing the National Commission for Minority Rights, Discriminatory Treatment of Minority Prisoners, Rights of Minorities in Parliamentary Businesses and Minorities in the National Population Census.
The report also presents practical recommendations to address these problems, in addition to covering important developments and incidents throughout the year.
The report documents 344 new cases of blasphemy in 2024, with 70 % of the suspects that are Muslims, followed by Ahmadis (14pc), Christians (6pc) and Hindus (9pc).
Punjab registered the largest number of cases (62pc), with Sheikhupura (32) and Lahore (28) being the most affected districts. Tragically, 10 individuals were extrajudicially killed by accusations of blasphemy last year. Since 1987, at least 2,793 people have been accused under the laws of blasphemy, with 104 extrajudicial murders registered between 1994 and 2024.
Forced conversions remain a critical problem, with 421 cases reported between 2021 and 2024, predominantly involving Hindu (282) and Christian girls (137). Surprisingly, 71pc of victims were minor, with Sindh representing 69 % of cases.
The report also highlights discriminatory prison policies, where minority inmates are denied the remission benefits available for Muslim prisoners. In addition, textbooks continue to promote Islamic content on non -religious issues, undermining the rights of minority students.
Despite the introduction of the bill of the National Minority Commission, 2025, the delays and the weak application of the law persist. Of 186 bills submitted to assemblies, only 23 addressed human rights, with only a bill related to minorities that became law.
The executive director of CSJ, Peter Jacob, urged the Government to implement the recommendations of the report to strengthen institutional protections for minorities.
Posted in Dawn, April 18, 2025
