The Rise of Religious Intolerance in Pakistan: Implications for Democratic Development and Human Rights

My talk at the National Endowment for Democracy on religious intolerance in Pakistan.

In early November 2014, a mob in Kasur, Pakistan burned a Christian couple to death in a brick kiln for allegedly desecrating the Quran.

Although the government has vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice, this incident is part of a more alarming trend of increasing violence and intolerance against religious minorities.

Religious minorities have endured suicide bombings, destruction of property, killings, and other forms of targeted violence and harassment.

Sectarian attacks by Sunni militant groups against Shias, especially Hazaras, and vigilantes attacking individuals or entire communities based on accusations of blasphemy occur with alarming frequency and with impunity.

This raises serious questions about Pakistan’s democratic evolution and the implementation of the country’s human rights commitments.

Listen to my full talk below:


Raza Rumi on The Rise of Religious Intolerance… by razarumi1


Raza Rumi on The Rise of Religious Intolerance… by razarumi1

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