PAKISTAN: Two MEPs appeal to EU human rights envoy on behalf of persecuted Christians
An initiative of MEPs Bert-Jan Ruissen and Miriam Lexmann, co-chairs of the European Parliament’s intergroup on religious freedom
SGP (23.01.2025) – MEP Bert-Jan Ruissen (SGP) has urged the EU human rights envoy, Mr. Olov Skoog, to call particular attention to the difficult position of the Christian minority in the country during his visit to Pakistan. The EU envoy is visiting Pakistan later this month. Ruissen is making this appeal together with Slovak MEP Miriam Lexmann, in their capacity as co-chairs of the European Parliament’s intergroup on religious freedom.
Ruissen: ”The situation of Christians in the country is quite troublesome. I think, for example, of the very sad case of Shagufta Kiran, a Christian and mother of four children. She was sentenced to death under Pakistan’s blasphemy laws. It is imperative that the EU envoy press for her, and others, to be released.”
Christians are fiercely persecuted in predominantly Muslim Pakistan. The country ranks high on Open Doors’ 2024 Christian persecution ranking. Alleged blasphemy is punishable by death. Moreover, many incidents are known in which angry crowds attack or even kill Christians and other religious minorities. Ruissen: “Keep in mind that Pakistan receives around 100 million euros a year in development aid from the European Union, in addition to contributions from individual member states.
There is no need for the EU to be cautious. The EU envoy can and should exert considerable pressure to protect Christians.” The SGP MEP continued: ”Less well known is that in Pakistan many Christian girls are kidnapped, forced to convert to Islam and then sold and married off to older men. Pakistani authorities rarely act against this, but the suffering is immense. The EU must not turn a blind eye on this.”
In addition to development aid, the European Union has allocated about 100 to 150 million euros for Pakistani schools and teaching materials in recent years. Research shows that these EU-funded teaching materials actually encourage discrimination against Christians and other minorities. Ruissen and Lexmann also urge a review of these teaching materials.