The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief has called for contributions from all over the world on the topic of religious freedom for migrants, internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees. This initiative is aimed at the increasing problems faced by people and communities who have been forced to leave their homes on account of religious persecution. The Special Rapporteur’s report provides a general picture of systemic violations of religious freedom affecting primarily vulnerable populations such as asylum seekers and IDPs.
The International Human Rights Committee (IHRC) and CAP Liberté de Conscience (CAP LC) have provided a report in response to this call describing the severe and systematic persecution of religious minorities with emphasis on the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Pakistan. It also highlights the need for international intervention to address the plight of religious minorities and ensure that states comply with international human rights norms.
The report written by the IHRC and CAP LC gives a tragic picture of the situation of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Pakistan, a religious minority who is persecuted by the state. This community is subjected to a widespread campaign of discrimination and violence, it is prevented from exercising its right to vote, excluded from education and employment and has had its places of worship demolished. As the report indicates, “The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Pakistan has been subjected to physical violence and killings. It is a sustained, multifaceted act of psychological terrorism, coercion, and social exclusion with the aim of eradicating Ahmadis as a religious group and depriving them of their religious identity.”
One of the most worrying aspects of the report is the legal system on which the persecution of Ahmadis is based. The 1974 constitutional amendment which declared Ahmadis as non-Muslim, Ordinance XX of 1984 made it criminal to practice their religion and identify as Muslim. The consequences of this legal codification of the discrimination are that, not only are Ahmadis barred from public life, but they are persecuted on the basis of their beliefs. It can be noted that “Ahmadis are made to sign declarations rejecting the prophet of their faith in order to obtain a passport and to attend school. This is a form of forced rejection which is a violation of article 18 of the ICCPR which guarantees the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.”
The report also has a broader perspective, which shows that this persecution is a violation of several international human rights treaties, including the ICCPR and the Genocide Convention. The persecution of Ahmadis includes the desecration of their mosques and graves, a clear attempt to erase them from the face of the earth. “The international community cannot turn a blind eye while a people is being wiped out, the report says, urging Pakistan to be investigated over these violations.
Persecution of religious minorities does not start and end with Pakistan. Another form of transnational religious persecution can be seen in the situation of members of the Church of Almighty God (CAG), a Christian new religious movement whose roots are in China. The CAG has also faced severe persecution in its homeland, including imprisonment, torture, and extrajudicial killings. This persecution has resulted in many CAG members seeking asylum abroad; however, their struggle does not end there.
A coalition of NGOs, initially brought to light by Bitter Winter, including CAP LC, has documented the transnational nature of China’s crackdown on the Church of Almighty God (CAG). Drawing from Bitter Winter’s investigative reporting and original sources, a letter to international organizations explained how Chinese authorities have persuaded foreign states to deport or deny asylum to CAG congregants, labeling them as criminals or extremists. This strategy not only attacks the rights of asylum seekers but also puts them in even more danger. As the letter notes, “The transnational persecution of the Church of Almighty God is an assault on international human rights principles and the refugee protection system.”
In Italy, the situation for CAG members remains precarious, with Bitter Winter providing critical insights into their challenges. Chinese state media has released the names of CAG refugees in Italy, an action that was intended to expose them to intimidation and aggression. Paradoxically, this tactic, which Bitter Winter extensively reported, has actually assisted some CAG members in obtaining asylum by providing concrete evidence of their persecution. Nevertheless, the consequences of such actions are deeply alarming, signaling a significant escalation in the global suppression of religious freedom.
The situations of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Pakistan and the Church of Almighty God in China show that action needs to be taken by the international community to defend religious minorities and promote freedom of religion or belief. The UN Special Rapporteur’s report on this issue is an important effort to address these challenges, but it must be followed by real steps to ensure that states comply with the principles established in the report.
As the IHRC and CAP LC report concludes, “Inaction will only strengthen the barons of the society who wish to erase the religious minorities from the face of the earth.”
