Petitions calling for action to protect Christians and other minorities in Pakistan have been handed in at 10 Downing Street.
The documents, bearing the names of more than 6,000 people, were presented at Number 10 by an ecumenical delegation that included Neville Kyrke-Smith, director of Aid to the Church in Need UK, the Catholic charity for persecuted and other suffering Christians.
The visit to the Prime Minister’s residence on Saturday July 2 came at the end of a two-mile protest march highlighting human rights violations in Pakistan.
Both the march and the petitions called for protection of Christians and other minorities amid widespread criticism of Pakistan’s blasphemy laws, which impose sentences including execution and life imprisonment for offences against Islam.
The Pakistani authorities have been criticised for inaction over widespread abuse of the laws and the petitions called for improved law enforcement.
Earlier this year Punjab governor Salman Taseer and federal minorities’ minister Shahbaz Bhatti were killed after criticising the controversial legislation and related mob violence.
Tributes to Mr Bhatti were paid at the event which was organised by Wilson Chowdhry and the British Pakistani Christian Association and involved Aid to the Church in Need, Christian Solidarity Worldwide and Christian Concern.
Speaking outside Number 10 Mr Kyrke-Smith said: “Please help us to change these blasphemous blasphemy laws. They lead to killings.”
Sikhs, Hundus and Muslims also took part in the event.
Areas of Catholic Herald business are still recovering post-pandemic.
However, we are reaching out to the Catholic community and readership, that has been so loyal to the Catholic Herald. Please join us on our 135 year mission by supporting us.
We are raising £250,000 to safeguard the Herald as a world-leading voice in Catholic journalism and teaching.
We have been a bold and influential voice in the church since 1888, standing up for traditional Catholic culture and values. Please consider donating.