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International Religious Freedom ACt PDF
International Religious Freedom ACt PDF
International Religious Freedom ACt PDF
To cite this article: Minhas Majeed Khan (2013) US FOREIGN POLICY AND THE FUTURE OF DEMOCRACY
AND RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN PAKISTAN, The Review of Faith & International Affairs, 11:1, 84-86, DOI:
10.1080/15570274.2012.760973
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US FOREIGN POLICY AND THE
FUTURE OF DEMOCRACY AND
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN
PAKISTAN
Downloaded by [Minhas Majeed Khan] at 09:47 06 November 2013
I
n recent years, the need for religious it is often argued that IRF can help in promoting
freedom has mounted due to religious democracy, which as a result will help in
intolerance present among the followers of eradicating religious extremism.
different faiths. Since 9/11, the world has Pakistan has suffered great blows to its
seen a spike in bigotry and prejudice. September standing in world opinion due to cases of
11 became the day the world got divided on religious radicalism and discrimination against
religious lines, as people increasingly began to minorities. Although Pakistan is at war with
view each other as “Us” versus “Them.” extremists, recent instances have raised questions
Consequently, it began affecting international and renewed concerns about its commitment to
relations. Today, no one knows when this divide the cause. Furthermore, Pakistan has received
will come to a peaceful end. How do we cross criticism for its lack of democratic institutions,
the bridge from “divided” to “united”? the unsatisfactory response to sectarian and
Thinkers, politicians, statesmen, and citizens religious violence, its failure to protect
in all walks of life, therefore, have come to a minorities, and the highly abused Blasphemy
common conclusion that this situation of Law (1986).
intolerance and anti-religious sentiments must be Under Pakistan’s anti-blasphemy law,
negated. As such, the International Religious desecrating the Qur’an is an offence punishable
Freedom Act (IRFA), which came into US law in by death. The Gojra incident, the case of Asia
1998, has become highly relevant in recent times. Bibi, and the recent one against an 11-year-old
The IRFA declared freedom of religion and Christian girl, Rimsha Masih, who has learning
conscience a top objective of US foreign policy. It difficulties, and many other cases of alleged
recommends and implements policies to the State blasphemy are glaring examples which have raised
Department in countries where there is gross controversy over these laws.
violation of these issues. Some supporters of the
IRFA favor that religious freedom should be
advanced through punitive measures like Minhas Majeed Khan holds an MA in International Relations and is working on
her PhD dissertation from the University of Peshawar, where she is also a
automatic sanctions against violators. On the
lecturer in the Department of International Relations. She has delivered talks
other hand, others stress diplomacy and on various subjects in national and international seminars in India, Pakistan,
negotiation. Moreover, since religious extremism Turkey, and the United States. She is a member of the Board of Directors of
is believed to take root in undemocratic societies, the Regional Institute of Policy Research and Training in Peshawar.
84 | volume 11, number 1 (spring 2013) © 2013 Institute for Global Engagement
minhas majeed khan
example, it has done in the Swat Valley. The US Station House Officer of a police station, and that
Commission on International Religious these cases should be heard in higher courts rather
Freedom has also expressed concern over the than lower courts for speedy justice. That said,
alleged role of Pakistan’s madrassas in providing much progress could not be achieved because of
ideological training to religious extremists, and the sensitivity of the issue. More importantly,
in creating an atmosphere of intolerance in political leaders are hesitant to provoke religious
which abuses of religious freedom are more political parties, which are capable of bringing the
likely to occur. masses to the streets.
The flawed public policy and unwillingness Meanwhile, the IRFA is criticized in many
on the part of the government and institutions in Muslim-majority countries and is thought to be
Pakistan to isolate certain hostile elements of the associated only with criticizing Muslims. Many
society are also worrisome. Additionally, the see US IRF policy as an attack on religious
killing of Punjab’s Governor Salman Taseer, and traditions or a threat to communal identity. What
Minister for Minority Affairs Shahbaz Bhatti, for is more, there is a widespread perception that US
criticizing the Blasphemy Law, and the support policies on democracy and religious freedom are
that these killings received in some circles, are all designed against non-Christian communities to
very disturbing. Recent killings of Shia minorities empower American missionaries. The argument
also highlight the marginalization of religious that religious freedom is already part of the UN
minorities in Pakistan. Also raising apprehension Universal Declaration of Human Rights
are the harsh restrictions on the equal rights of (UDHR) is also questioned. It was in this context
women to freedom of thought, conscience, and that the scholars in the 19th World Congress on
religion. In fact, most have likened the International History of Religions, held in March
atmosphere prevailing in Pakistan under these 2005 in Tokyo, advocated for changing the
laws and the resulting intolerance to a return to existing formulation of the freedom of religion
the Middle Ages. clause in the UDHR, believing that it favors those
Expressing their concern, US lawmakers in religions that proselytize. Many religious scholars
2009 submitted House Resolution 764 to the in Pakistan stress that the US government should
Committee on Foreign Affairs calling on Pakistan consider revising IRFA as far as conversion from
to repeal the Blasphemy Law. This resolution Islam is concerned.
urged Pakistan to also review other legislation In my view, the IRFA can be beneficial if it is
that restricts the right to profess, practice, and mobilized in the right way, and that is when it
propagate religion or that constitutes pushes for the freedom of every religion in every
discrimination on the basis of religion, in order to way on equal footing. Politicization of the IRF
bring Pakistani law into conformity with issue is not good and it is important to know how
international human rights standards. issues of international religious freedom are
sometimes manipulated. If IRF advocacy focuses as these institutions get massive donations from
on one religion alone it can do little good and can philanthropic and religious minded people. It has
quite possibly create more trouble. Unfortunately been noted that the madrassas have become,
that is how it is seemingly being used today; for more or less, business ventures—and accordingly
example, while IRF policy appears intensely they are springing up in the rural areas on a
interested in the freedom to build churches in massive scale. Moreover, a proper curriculum
Saudi Arabia, it does not appear very interested in should be devised for them with teaching of
the minarets issue in Switzerland. scientific and social disciplines, which could make
In addition, despite always making rhetorical their graduates eligible for jobs. Further, those
claims of promoting democracy and eradicating teaching in the madrassas should be given
extremism, US foreign policy has rarely shown training on a regular basis. Additionally, there
any consistently substantive concern for should be exchange programs for the students
democracy, always supporting dictatorship in and teachers, promoting interfaith harmony and
Pakistan. Many associated with IRF policy dialogue so that religious extremism and conflicts
Downloaded by [Minhas Majeed Khan] at 09:47 06 November 2013
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15570274.2012.760973