01/27/2020 Pakistan (International Christian Concern) – The Archbishop of Philadelphia, Archbishop Charles Chaput, recently called on Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Imran Khan, to foster a culture of greater religious freedom in Pakistan. The Archbishop went on to highlight the suffering of Pakistan’s Christian community, who make up approximately 1.6% of the country’s total population.

In a letter to Prime Minister Khan, Archbishop Chaput encouraged Prime Minister Khan to “work urgently to assure true religious liberty for all citizens of Pakistan, especially for members of minority faiths. I believe in the honest intentions of many in the Pakistani government to assure full religious freedom for their nation. But Pakistan still does not fully protect the religious liberty of all of its citizens.”

Archbishop Chaput went on to specifically highlight the suffering of Pakistan’s Christian minority. “Of particular worry – as I’m sure you’re aware – is that Pakistani Christians are vulnerable to the misuse of the blasphemy laws and are at risk of false accusations and wrongful criminal prosecutions,” Archbishop Chaput wrote.

“Neighbors can settle ordinary disputes by leveling a charge of blasphemy against a Christian citizen who is then arrested and jailed,” the Archbishop continued. “Even worse, the charge of blasphemy can sometimes lead to a mob attack on the one accused, and violence against that person’s family and property.”

According to Open Doors USA, Pakistan remains among the world’s worst persecutors of Christians in the world. According to the group’s 2019 World Watch List, Pakistan ranked the 5^th most dangerous country for Christians in the world.

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