Author: cswpress

India’s Muslims voted for justice and equality, but this remains a distant future

Posted on by cswpress in Asia, India

India is home to more than two hundred million Muslims, one of the largest Muslim populations in the world. However, in a crowd of close to 1.5 billion people, even this large community is reduced to a minority, accounting for just 14% of the population. In recent years, the community has been constantly reminded of this fact, having to fight to prove that they are equals and that they deserve the same rights as the Hindu majority.

Although the majority of India’s Muslims are native to the country, with a very small number of them having emigrated there from the Arab world, most Muslims today would agree that they are not made to feel equal to other Indian citizens.

Their plight has deteriorated significantly since India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power in 2014 under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with Muslims treated largely as second-class citizens by a government that has embraced a dangerous Hindu nationalist rhetoric.

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How the new Labour government can craft a robust foreign policy with FoRB at its core

Posted on by cswpress in International Arenas, UK Government

In many situations around the world, issues involving religion or belief either create or worsen instability, destabilising international peace and security. Despite this, there is no overarching consensus on practical steps to enhance the promotion and protection of freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) within a broader foreign policy framework.

A robust UK foreign policy that integrates FoRB would necessitate a multifaceted approach, strategically weaving FoRB into various aspects of international engagement. Such a policy would not only cement the UK’s commitment to human rights but also enhance its global influence by promoting peace, stability, and mutual respect among nations. Here is a comprehensive outline of what this foreign policy could look like:

1. Diplomatic Engagement

Special Envoy for FoRB: Establish a ministerial-level Special Envoy for FoRB to advocate for FoRB globally. This envoy would engage with international organisations, foreign governments, and civil society to address FoRB violations and promote interfaith engagement. In particular, the envoy would continue the UK’s admirable contributions to the International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance (IRFBA).

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Ten long years: Reflections on the Supreme Court ruling that promised much for Pakistan’s religious minorities

Posted on by cswpress in Asia, Pakistan

On 19 June 2014, the Supreme Court of Pakistan, under the leadership of the then Chief Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani, made a historic ruling that significantly advanced the protection and promotion of the rights of religious minorities in the country. This judgment was a pivotal moment in the country’s legal and human rights history, reflecting a commitment to upholding the principles of equality and non-discrimination enshrined within the Constitution of Pakistan.

Since its inception, Pakistan has grappled with issues surrounding the rights and protection of religious minorities. Despite the vision of its founding father, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who advocated for a secular and inclusive Pakistan, the reality for religious minorities has often been marred by persecution, discrimination, violence, and marginalisation. Incidents of blasphemy accusations, mob attacks, forced conversions, desecration of places of worship, and targeted violence have highlighted the urgent need for robust legal safeguards and proactive measures.

The 2014 judgment stemmed from a Suo motu notice taken by the Supreme Court following the Peshawar church bombing in September 2013, which resulted in the tragic loss of over 80 lives. This incident underscored the vulnerability of religious minorities and the need for the state to ensure their protection.

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Freedom of religion or belief and the UK general election: what do the manifestos say?

Posted on by cswpress in International Arenas, UK Government

Around the world, hundreds of thousands of people face discrimination, marginalisation, harassment, intimidation, violence and even persecution for their religion or belief.  At the same time, in the policy circles of many countries, freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) is increasingly gaining prominence and being recognised as inextricably connected with wider human rights initiatives.

As the political parties in the UK release their manifestos for the July 2024 General Election, it is essential they take into account the current status of FoRB in the foreign policy landscape. This is a tricky landscape to navigate.

Foreign policy is not typically a hot electoral issue, and of course much depends on the internal and external political situations, among other considerations. Yet it is essential for parties to formulate a position on effectiveness in this field, for both ethical and practical reasons. The former lies in the responsibility of a modern democracy to have a principled approach to the world; the ethical responsibility inherent in working for the welfare of others who are less fortunate. The latter dictates that international relations and trade are best conducted with partners who respect human rights and are intolerant of any kind of inhumanity.

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In the eyes of the Cuban government, leading a church can make you a threat to national security

Posted on by cswpress in Cuba, Latin America

Pastors Mario Jorge Travieso Medina and wife Velmis Adriana Mariño González just want to be allowed to visit their daughters in the United States. They long to attend an international conference for leaders affiliated with their religious network. They would very much like to be able to accept an offer, made by friends, to send them on a long overdue and well-deserved holiday. But they are unable to do any of these things, because since 2020, the Cuban government has prohibited them from leaving the island for ‘reasons of national security’.

It would be logical to assume that in order to be considered a threat to national security, the couple must be guilty of criminal activity. In the eyes of the Cuban government, this is so. Though they have never been charged or tried, Pastors Travieso Medina and Mariño González founded and have led an illegal association for over 20 years. Rather than an organised criminal organisation, however, their association is religious in nature, peaceful, and provides much needed humanitarian aid to those in the surrounding community. This is the kind of work that the Cuban government considers to be a threat to national security.

Pastor Travieso Medina graduated with a teaching degree in 1980, after completing his studies in physical education. Ten years later, he decided on a change of career, and took a full-time position as a pastor at a church associated with a legally recognised Protestant Christian denomination. In 1998, he completed post-graduate work via distance learning with a US-based seminary, earning a master’s degree and a doctorate in theology, neither of which was recognized by Cuban institutions.

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