February 2023 Persecution Magazine

Quick Facts
POPULATION: 238,181,034
RELIGIOUS BREAKDOWN: 96.5% Muslim, 3.5% Other
(Christian and Hindu)
MAJOR SOURCES OF PERSECUTION: Radical Islam, government
oppression, religious nationalism, religious extremism, cultural
threat.
Forms of Persecution
DIRECT
FORCED
CONVERSION/
MARRIAGE
ATTACKS ON
PLACES OF
WORSHIP
FALSE BLASPHEMY
ACCUSATIONS
INDIRECT
DISCRIMINATION
FORCED CONVERSION AND
MARRIAGE: Women and girls are
kidnapped from their families, married
to an assailant, and held in sexual
captivity. The perpetrators justify this
through forged marriage and conversion
documents. Investigations into these
crimes are often nonexistent and a lack of
justice encourages further victimization.
ATTACKS ON PLACES OF WORSHIP:
Extremists often target Christian places of
worship for deadly terrorist attacks. Many
Pakistani Christians fear the possibility
of further attacks, particularly when
celebrating major Christian holidays.
FALSE BLASPHEMY ACCUSATIONS:
According to a 2020 report by the Center
for Social Justice (CSJ), a human rights
organization in Pakistan, at least 200
people were accused of committing
blasphemy. Blasphemy accusations often
have their roots in personal, professional,
or business disputes. These types of
comments can spark mob lynchings,
vigilante murders, and mass protests.
DISCRIMINATION: Pakistani Christians
face extreme levels of discrimination
due to their religious identity. They are
often regarded as second-class citizens,
working the filthiest jobs with no hope
of advancement. This discrimination
is frequently seen in the number
of Christians involved in Pakistan’s
sanitation workforce.
1990
1991
2000
2010
2020
Time Line of Events
Sharia law formally incorporated
into Pakistan’s legal code
leading to a spike of persecution
incidents.
2001
Pakistan postures itself toward
the west by joining the U.S. in
its fight against the Taliban in
Afghanistan.
2002
Election results strengthen role
of Islamist parties within the
political system.
2004
Two pastors killed and a church
compound bombed. Police
protection is absent from these
and other cases.
2009
A mob murders eight Christians,
leading to mass protests from the
Christian community about the
state of persecution.
2013
Two suicide bombers kill scores
of congregants at the All-Saints
Church in Peshawar.
2018
A ruling by Islamabad’s High
Court states that citizens must
declare their religion when
applying for ID documents,
voting, or applying for
government positions.
2022
Gunmen assassinate a pastoral
leader at All-Saints Church;
vote of non-confidence thrusts
Pakistan into political instability.
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