GUEST EDITORIAL

Pakistan Must do More to Protect Religious Minorities

BY FARZANA HASSAN

It is mortally dangerous to be a Sikh in Pakistan these days.  Having two Sikh men beheaded by the Taliban and three held for ransom is alarming not only for Sikhs, but also for those of us who cherish freedom of conscience and religion as inalienable human rights.  The failure of the Pakistan government to exact accountability from the Taliban for its criminal actions has once again raised concerns over the security of religious minorities in the country. As a result, the 20,000 or so Sikh residents of north-western Pakistan now live in abject fear of increased Taliban atrocities. Many have fled the country to avoid the oppression and forced conversions on pain of death.  

The two victims were beheaded after their refusal to convert to Islam, according to some reports. Others suggest it was their refusal to pay the jizya, a tax imposed on non-Muslims in exchange for protection that sparked the attacks on the two Sikh businessmen. The Taliban’s puritanical outlook calls for the revival of medieval practices that accentuate differences between religious identities. There is a continuing genocide of the Shia Parachinari Pushtoons and Sunni Barelvis as well. 

While the Taliban’s fanatical behavior is no surprise, the apathy of moderate Pakistanis in not decrying such actions is astonishing and wildly disturbing. 

It even appears as if the Taliban has tacit support of various lobbies and groups. The Sipah Sahaba, which has been at the forefront of killing minorities and Sunni Brehlvis is now an official ally of the Punjab Government. What lends credence to this view is that the Punjabi, Jamaat Islami dominated Judiciary has repeatedly freed militant sectarian leaders. Additionally, it has refused to extradite Afghani Taliban leaders back to their home countries to be prosecuted for war crimes. A rabid pro-Taliban media also does not help, whose only human rights concern is in protecting their employer's (ISI) assets like the Taliban and Dr. Aafia.

Pakistan’s record on protecting its minorities from the Taliban remains abysmal.  Previously,  Ahmedis, Islmailis, Asna Ashri Shias,  and Hindus have experienced similar hostility from these  self-appointed custodians of the faith, who in the name of religion kill, maim, rape and plunder with impunity. The world remains a silent onlooker, thinking the threat will pass. The Taliban commits its nefarious deeds undeterred. 

Governed by a hate-filled ideology, the Taliban dismisses all appeals to humanity or universal brotherhood. Driven by a supremacist mindset which accommodates only the most rabid and vile expressions of religiosity, the Taliban sees the world as an unshakeable dichotomy between the believer and the infidel, between Muslims—the fundamentalist variety---and moderate Muslims and non-Muslims. Moderate Muslims often do not measure up to the Taliban’s skewed morality and fundamentalist piety. In fact, they are often seen as traitors who collude with the West to bring about the downfall of “true believers.” 

Contrary to Islam’s vision of delivering a compassionate society based on principles of universality, the Taliban is wont to treat the lives of these perceived infidels with utter disregard and merciless disdain.  These rancorous ideologues would not think twice about raping women they consider non-Muslim, treating the dignity and honor of such women as something quite dispensable. Killing their fathers, brothers, sons and husbands for their failure to pay the head tax would be regarded as the ultimate act of righteousness. 

Their viciousness knows no bounds when dealing with the “infidel”. It is time the Pakistani government, Canada and the rest of the world joined forces to rid the world of the Taliban scourge. Canada must increase pressure on the Pakistani government to step up efforts to protect its religious minorities. There are innocent lives at stake as well as the honor and respect of the weakest and most vulnerable among the religious minorities of Pakistan. 

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[Farzana Hassan is a Freelance writer, public speaker and author of  "Prophecy and the Fundamentalist Quest".]