A very sad update to this horrific story of an attack on a young Pakistan Christian boy, Nauman Masih, died of his injuries, after being set on fire. News reports and human rights groups have recorded a video declaration by this 14 year old boy as being attacked for his faith. In a video statement made while the child was in the hospital, the now dead boy Nauman Masih stated: “I work at a tailor shop. I was returning from the shop when two men on motorbikes stopped me and asked about my religion. When I told them I am a Christian, they started calling me names.” “When I asked them not to abuse me, one man poured kerosene on me and lit a match. I ran toward a heap of sand and lay down. A few people from the community put out the fire by putting sand on me. After that I fell unconscious.”
His funeral was held at the St Ignatius Catholic Church in Shera Kot, a district of Lahore, and was reportedly led Father Samson Dilawar and a number of other Christian leaders also attended. Christianity Today reports that 2,000 attended his funeral.
BPCA chairman Wilson Chowdhry issued a statement that “Nouman was brave throughout his pain and spoke of forgiveness for his attackers. He dies a martyr and will no doubt be with the Lord today.” “Please pray for his family who have had to endure 5 days of extreme heartache and can expect little justice.”
Nauman Masih – 14 year old Christian Boy Dies from Burns
The Catholic Herald reports that: “Nasir Saeed, director of CLAAS-UK, said: ‘The perpetrators must be brought to justice for lessons to be learned and to act as deterrents. Other people, and if necessary the government, must introduce some stringent punishment.’
Another link to his video testimony is provided below.
“[fbvideo link=”
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Other media in Pakistan have sought to promote a different story.
Those who support our universal human rights know that in every instance, the death of a 14 year old child is disgraceful and a shame to our responsibility to keep our young people safe from such harm. Every person of every faith knows what the moral consequences for burning a child to death will be.
In Lahore, Pakistan, Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) originally reported of the attack which took place Friday, April 10, 2015. He was reportedly set on fire by two unidentified men on motor bikes, who threw kerosene oil on him and ran away after setting him on fire, after first asking him if he was a Christian or a Muslim. After he replied that he was a Christian, he was attacked. The child was admitted in Mayo Hospital Lahore for treatment.
Such a contemptible crime against the universal human rights of our children must be condemned by all people of human decency and all faiths. We urge their support in ending such vicious attacks on children in Pakistan.
We have learned that the Pakistan Christian Post has also reported on this horrific attack, where they have identified the child attacked, and has also provided reference to a report on this by The Voice Society. The Voice Society has provided a detailed report on the attack on this child, and The Voice Society reported that this child had burns over 55 percent of his body. Dr. Nazir S Bhatti, President of Pakistan Christian Congress (PCC) raised a question “where is Chief Minister of Punjab Mian Shahbaz Sharif and Interior Minister of government of Pakistan Chowdhry Nisar Ali” when such attacks on Christian children are happening.
We urge support for our universal human rights, including security and religion for all people, and we call upon the government of Pakistan to end the oppression of Pakistan Christians in their country and use its law enforcement to punish these attackers.
Christian human rights matter, as Christians as oppressed around the world, a call to love one another is a call to action for human rights.
Christians worship and pray on Friday, known as “Good Friday” to the Christian community, as they remember the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. As they do so, there is no greater time for Christians to remember this sacrifice of love and take such action to demonstrate their love for one another by actively supporting the oppressed people around the world, including their Christian brothers and sisters.
Across the nation and the world in churches on Easter Sunday, there will be Christian pastors and worshipers who will rejoice in their eternal salvation through Jesus, which is truly the point of the Christian faith.
On this Good Friday, Christians can also remember Jesus’s painful, brutal sacrifice of his life on Earth for humanity, as well as the commandment he gave his followers. In John 13:34-35, Jesus is quoted as with this new commandment “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” This was a command, not a suggestion, and it is an imperative for the billions in the Christian community.
The commandment to love one another must be more than social pleasantry. Christians are right to offer kindness and friendship in their community and fellow human beings are the world. Love is an active verb seeking more than pleasant thoughts, and it calls for action to help those in need. The command to love one another means giving our outstretched hand to our brothers and sisters in humanity around the world, suffering from oppression, poverty, abuse, and despair. As a Christian myself, surely our hearts are big enough that when we love one another, we can reach out to help one another. That is what people who love one another do.
The Christian ethic requires that we reach out and love one another of every identity group, religion, ethnic background around the world, including our defense of rights of our fellow human beings, who we are taught to love.
Certainly this outreach must also include love and support for their fellow Christians who face oppression and violence. With 2.2 billion Christians in the world, the commandment to love one another should produce group the largest human rights activists in the world. Instead, there are small, but determined groups of human rights activists, missionaries, and asylum supporters, whose courage and persistence provide an example for the entire community. Their impact and influence of these activists far outweighs their limited numbers. The Christian community of 2.2 billion can do much more and must coordinate more of their efforts in defending the human rights of oppressed people around the world, including our own Christian brothers and sisters.
As a starting point, let us assume that if we love one another, we believe that our fellow human lives’ matter. The eternal lives of Christians have always been our priority, as it must be in the Christian faith. But our love for one another should also include a commitment to work for the rights and security of our fellow Christians, rather than abandon them around the world to be hunted down, tortured, imprisoned, and killed. Our loved ones deserve that we care for their well-being. All of the lives of our fellow human beings matter; Christian lives matter as well.
Yet in many churches around the world, the oppression of our fellow human beings and of our fellow Christians will be not the topic of sermons in weeks and months to come. Many are uncomfortable discussing such issues, and billions of Christians are uninformed by their religious leaders. Christian churches are for prayer and honoring God, not for politics. But following the command to love one another is not a political issue; it is a moral issue of responsibility to love one another, and to care for each other’s well-being.
The oppression of Christians around the world is every bit of an evil as the historic bondage and slavery that we have challenged for generations for Christians and others around the world. Within the Christian community, we need a new generation of abolitionists, who seek the abolition of oppression of our Christian brothers and sisters. They need to be freed from the slavery of oppression, torture, and murder; they need to be freed from prisons where they are enslaved for their faith. If we love one another, surely the injustice to them must be a cause for our action.
We can do more in defending the human rights of oppressed Christians around the world, who are regularly being tortured, raped, murdered, and imprisoned. We Christians must pray. But we must also reach out our hands, open our hearts, and open our lives to our brothers and sisters who need help. There must be more than us shaking our heads and stating “isn’t that a shame.” If we are commanded to love one another, that command calls for us to do something to help our loved ones in times of need. As we remember the sacrifice for us, surely we can sacrifice for those we are commanded to demonstrate our love.
The Open Doors organization estimates 100 million Christians face persecution, and according to the International Society for Human Rights, up to 80% of acts of persecution are directed at people of the Christian faith. If we seek to act to love one another, we must also work to help our brothers and sisters suffering around the world. It is not pleasant to see this suffering or to recount it. Perhaps some leaders view the problem of our oppressed brothers and sisters too unpleasant to discuss. But the Christian community must come together to understand the magnitude of the oppression of Christians today. This is a global problem, and it requires context of the global issue for the resources of the billions of Christians to work together.
There is no crime, no abuse of human rights, no murder that cannot be committed against Christians around the world – without apparent impunity. The billions of Christians need to become aware of this and develop a voice of love for one another, where we seek the protection of our loved ones. Our love for one another must be a challenge to those who oppress Christians around the world, and to reject the policies of Dechristianization by extremists in nation after nation. The universal human rights of all people include the freedom of religion for Christians.
In Pakistan, we have seen attacks on three churches in the past two weeks, and we have seen the continuing institutional abuses of Christian minorities. On March 15, two Christian churches were attacked during Sunday prayer services in the Youhanabad neighborhood of Lahore, with 15 killed that day and nearly 80 injured. Another three more Christians died from the attack, including a six year old girl, bringing the death toll from that attack alone to 18, and the situation has continued to worsen with arrests of hundreds of Christians. Days later, another Christian church was targeted for an attack in Pakistan. Pakistan Christians have long been a target of attack, abuse, mob murder, violence, and oppression. This has included use of the Pakistan “blasphemy” law to rationalize oppression, imprisonment, and violence against Christians. Mobs have previously destroyed Christian villages in Gojra, burned to death a Christian husband and wife in Kasur district, and have made numerous attacks on Christians. The Pakistan “blasphemy” law is also used to imprison Christians such as Pakistan woman Asia Bibi, based on hatred and grudges from non-Christians against them; Asia Bibi has been given the death sentence for trumped up and false charges of blasphemy and remains in a Pakistani prison.
In Thailand, Pakistan Christian refugees have been seeking asylum, and 300 have recently been arrested and placed in Immigration Detention Centers, while the UNHCR reviews their status in applying for asylum in fleeing from the oppression of Pakistan. We continue to reach out to the Kingdom of Thailand government, the UNHCR, and United States government to provide some mercy for these refugees seeking asylum from oppression due to their faith.
In Kenya, the latest crime against Christian human rights took place on Thursday in the attacks by the terrorist group Al-Shabaab killing 147 and wounding 79 at the Garissa University College. Christians were hunted down and hand-picked for execution by the terrorist group. The terrorist group has previously targeted Christians in a December 2014, killing 36 in the village of Kormey. The Al-Shabaab group has made numerous other attacks in Niger and Kenya – attacking churches, Christian shops, and pastor’s homes.
In India, an elderly nun was recently raped in West Bengal’s Ranaghat at the Convent of Jesus and Mary at Ranaghat, Nadia District. A rash of recent anti-Christian attacks in India has including an attack on a church under construction in the Haryana’s Hisar district. Reuters India has reported that Christians feel “under siege” in India as a result of recent attacks on them.
In Libya in February 2015, 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians were marched on their knees to a bloody beheading filmed by the ISIS terrorist organization, with the beaches of Libya covered with their blood. The ISIS terror group was proud of its grisly accomplishment and shared the video of their terrorist atrocity which it called as “a message signed with blood to the nation of the cross.” Egyptian Copts have protested the outrageous murder of Christians by this terrorist group.
In Syria, ISIS terrorists recently kidnapped over 200 Christians, thousands of Christians have been forced from their homes, and according to the BBC, Syrian Christians have been ordered to convert to Islam, pay jizya (a religious levy), or face death.
In Egypt on March 27, 2015, a Coptic Christian church being built in Al Our village in the Minya governorate being built to honor the 21 Christians beheaded by ISIS in Libya, was attacked by an angry mob with Molotov cocktails, injuring seven people and burning a Christian worshiper’s car.
In Nigeria, reports continually flow in about Christian churches being burned down in town after town. As of October 2014, Nigerian news reported that “185 churches have been razed and 190,545 people displaced.” This was after the global terror organization Boko Haram’s attack on Nigerian towns in Borno and Adamawa states. In November 2014, Fr. Gideon Obasogie, Head of Social Communications of the Diocese of Maiduguri, has provided news media with further updates on the destruction of Diocese of Maiduguri, with the fall of Mubi, with an estimated 2,500 Catholic Christians killed, 100,00 Catholics displaced, and over 50 churches destroyed. Christian churches and lives have been a target for destruction by the Boko Haram terrorist group, as well as terrorist attacks throughout northern Nigerian causing thousands of women and children to flee the country to neighboring nations.
In Communist China, on March 25, 2015, a Chinese Christian preacher Huang Yizi, who opposed an ongoing “anti-church” demolition campaign that saw hundreds of places of worship destroyed, has now been jailed on trumped-up charges of “gathering crowds to disturb social order.” The Communist Chinese Party (CCP) court sentenced him to one year in prison. The totalitarian CCP has long sought to oppress people of faith and conscience as part of oppression of universal human rights. Chinese Christian have regularly had prayer sessions to protect their houses of worship, but we have reported on numerous cases where the CCP authorities bully Chinese Christians and bulldoze their house of worship.
In the United States of America, African-Americans have been a target of abuse in major cities throughout the country. This has included Christian African-Americans in the city of Ferguson, Missouri. Christian leaders have come out of their pulpit to have a voice for human rights, dignity, and justice, but also to call for peace. As one woman pastor sought to keep the peace, she was shot in the stomach by a 60 caliber rubber bullet causing a bloody wound. But she stood back up and continued her commitment for peace and dignity.
As Christians worship during this Holy Week, in terms of rights, lives, and dignity of their fellow Christians and other fellow human beings, there is much that needs to be done. This is hardly a comprehensive list of the current oppression on Christians’ human rights, but the point is that this is a global problem, which needs a global solution.
The commandment for love is not only for quiet prayer, but also a call for acting in love. For our fellow Christians, it is a call to get our leaders to influence and change the views of nations where Christians are routinely oppressed, tortured, imprisoned, and killed. It is a call to work together to find ways to help, provide asylum, and find routes for Christians who flee such oppression to find a safe haven.
Americans had a history in addressing the disgrace of slavery for those fleeing such states where human rights and dignity were denied for African-Americans. They created a network of secret routes and safe houses for enslaved African-Americans to escape slave states and their oppressors. This commitment to their journey to freedom was a commitment to human rights. Just as Americans did in their history of providing safe haven (and continuing to fight for the rights) of African-Americans, so Christians around the world must come to the aid of those Christians seeking asylum from oppressive nations.
To help Christians in crisis, we also need our own “underground railroad” to help oppressed Christians fleeing oppressor nations to find freedom. We need to work with our government agencies, United Nations refugee organizations, NGOs, and other refugee organizations to help oppressed Christians who are forced to flee their oppressors find a refuge in a free nation. Christian human rights organizations need to find ways to work more cohesively together for greater impact in human rights and safety of Christians around the world.
Open Doors reports that each month 322 Christians are killed for their faith, 214 churches and Christian properties are destroyed, and 772 forms of violence are committed against Christians. In Kenya alone, on Thursday, 147 people were killed, mostly Christian – in ONE DAY.
If we follow the commandment to love one another, and we respect the human rights of our fellow human beings, these global patterns of oppression must be unacceptable to the billions of Christians.
Love Means Action. Christian Lives Matter. All Lives Matter.
The volunteer human rights group Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) extends its sympathies to the families who lost loved ones and calls for all human rights groups to make a public and international statement of outrage on the terrorist attacks on Pakistan Christian churches, killing 15 and injuring nearly 80, as of current news reports. The bombings on Christian churches during Sunday prayer services occurred in the Youhanabad neighborhood of Lahore on Catholic and Protestant churches. We have been reporting on the abuse of Christians and other religious minorities in Pakistan for years.
The Pakistan Christian Post reports that the churches attacked were the St. John Church and Christ Church in Youhanabad, where two suicide bombers attacked at the gates of the churches. The Post reported that the Punjab government has failed to provide adequate security for Christian churches in Punjab.
R.E.A.L. calls for the Pakistan government to provide security for Christians and all minority religions in Pakistan. R.E.A.L. also calls upon the United Nations to act to stop the genocide of Christians and religious minorities in Pakistan, including protecting their universal human rights and acknowledging their need for refugee asylum from this ongoing genocide.
The Pakistan Christian Congress (PCC) has denounced these terrorist attacks. The PCC’s Dr. Nazir Bhatti stated that “Violence is rising against Christians in Punjab province where incidents of burning alive Christian children, women and men happen on pretext to blasphemy law while setting on fire homes of Christians is matter of every week and culprits walk free on street.”
Bishop of Pakistan’s Sadiq Daniel condemned the blasts and termed them an attack on Pakistan. He said that all the missionary schools will remain closed on Monday against the attack.
GEO News reported that the blast was so powerful that “Windowpanes of the nearby buildings were shattered due to the explosions.” CNN reported that “CNN affiliate GEO News showed twisted metal, shattered glass and panicked residents outside a church compound. Ambulance and security personnel were seen moving in. Later footage showed water cannons arriving to disperse the crowd.” CNN also reported that the terrorist Taliban organization took responsibility for this atrocity. CNN reported “Ehsanullah Ehsan, a spokesman for the Pakistani Taliban, said by telephone that his group was responsible for the suicide bombings, declaring that such attacks would continue until Sharia law is implemented in Pakistan.”
R.E.A.L. calls for human rights and government organizations to reject and condemn the actions of the terrorist organization Taliban.
March 15, 2015 – Terrorist Attack Outside Lahore Area Church
Pakistan: Taliban Attack on Lahore Churches – Grief of Those Lost Loved Ones (Source: Associated Press)
Volunteer human rights group Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) is receiving updates on continuing arrests of Pakistan Christian refugees in Thailand, as well as new communications with refugee organizations on this urgent issue. We urge the human rights community to act to end the ongoing arrests of Pakistan Christian refugee seekers in Thailand. Today’s arrests this afternoon (March 13) was mostly of Pakistan Christian women and children seeking asylum from oppression in Pakistan.
New Arrests
After what appeared to be a brief delay, there has been a massive group of arrests of Pakistan Christian refugee seekers in Thailand today. The Thailand police have been arresting such refugees who have been waiting for the UNHCR to act on their application for refugee status. The most recent arrests include an emphasis on arresting women and children of such individuals who have applied to UNHCR for refugee status. We are receiving new reports both of new arrests and of new interest by some in the UNHCR and other refugee organizations. (UPDATE: CBN has posted a video news story on the recent arrests.)
In terms of has received local reports that there were arrests of 300 refugee seekers early today, on March 13, 2015. We have been getting reports arrests in the early morning in Thailand, arresting women, children, and men who are Pakistan Christian refugees, with Thai police searching in building to arrest Pakistan Christians. Later in the day on March 13, 2015, we received reports that that “44 children, 43 women, and 35 men were arrested by police.”
The Farrukh Saif Foundation reports: “Immigration Police of Thailand, with the military, raided the houses of asylum seekers living in Samrong district. Hours before raiding the houses, the area and streets were cordoned off by Thai military; it was like an operation against Criminals. Asylum seekers from inside their homes kept calling around to their other asylum seekers for prayers, calling UNHCR also for protection, but their fate was unavoidable. As soon as the operation started, the Thai military smashed the doors and entered in the rooms of asylum seekers and started arresting the people. Minor kids, women, young and old everyone were treated in an inhuman way. Loads of people were arrested and shifted to Samrong Police station. Many were crying, begging and requesting, showing their asylum seekers certificates but none paid any heed. We immediately rushed to the Samrong Police station but no one was in the mood to cooperate. All arrested people were held in the car parking area and later on they were be seated on the floor inside the police station and Immigration police and other authorities were not ready to listen to any request.”
As reported on March 9, 2015, R.E.A.L. and other human rights groups have appealed to the UNHCR HQ, UNHCR Bangkok, Thailand Prime Minister, Thailand Ambassador in the United States, and the United States Charge d’affaires at the United States embassy in Bangkok, and the United States Immigration Service at the United States embassy in Bangkok.
We are receiving reports that the double-persecuted Pakistani Christian refugees who fled religious oppression and persecution in Pakistan are now suffering in Thailand detention. The detention center’s condition has been reported as very poor, overcrowded and highly unhygienic, with women, children, and elderly sick in jail.
The U.N. has previously reported on this issue in 2011, four years ago.
New Communications on Refugee Issues
R.E.A.L. has been calling the Thailand ambassador in the United States and we are trying to get an audience with him on this matter in Washington, D.C.
One suggestion that we offered was to urge the United States of America government to provide sanctuary to these Pakistan Christian refugees.
The U.S. Bangkok Refugee Section (BnkRefugeeSection@state.gov) replied to R.E.A.L. that if the UNHCR refers such cases to the United States, then the United States can act under the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP). In response to our request if such Pakistan Christian refugees could be accommodated under U.S. CIS asylum application Form I-589, Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal, we received the following response from U.S. Bangkok Refugee Section: “Regarding resettlement to the United States, under the guidelines of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP), refugees are eligible for consideration for refugee resettlement in the United States if UNHCR determines that they require third country resettlement for protection reasons and refers the case to the USRAP. If UNHCR believes someone should be resettled in a third country, they will refer the case to a resettlement country, such as the United States, Canada, or Australia. ”
Many mature Americans will remember the past activities of the United States in granting asylum to Russian refugees from the Communist Totalitarian U.S.S.R. within U.S. Embassies around the world. Certainly the Pakistan Christian refugees fleeing their oppression have just as much right to asylum and protection by free nations.
Within the United States, R.E.A.L. has also contacted the UNHRC offices in New York City and Washington DC in our efforts to get attention on this issue. We previously contacted the UNHCR headquarters offices in Switzerland and the UNHRC Bangkok field office. We have expanded our call to action the UNHRC Director’s office in New York City, and the Washington DC office, with a call to expedite the issue of Pakistan Christian refugees.
We are in communication with those who are also reaching out to U.S. Congressional representatives on this issue.
Among all of the arrests of refugees in Thailand, we have also heard that some in the UNHRC are beginning to listen, and some additional asylum interviews are being scheduled. This is the importance of using our global voice to defend our oppressed brothers and sisters in humanity.
R.E.A.L. has been urged to reach out to other Christian leaders to get their international support, and we call for major Christian leaders around the world to take a stand on this issue of religious freedom and dignity. We call upon American Christian leaders, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, Pope Francis, and Christian leaders around the world to speak out for the oppressed Pakistan Christians, both the refugees in Thailand and those continuing to be oppressed in Pakistan. R.E.A.L has been in touch with the Jubilee Campaign, Open Doors, and other organizations.
We have also been contacted by other Pakistan Christian refugee organizations looking to make a difference.
Government and Refugee Community Points of Contacts
The following are points of contact that we have reached on this topic within the government and the refugee community. These are being shared in the hopes that other human rights activists will also follow up with these individuals to make it clear that this is a shared concern for action on this urgent issue. If you have other contacts, please let us know at usa@realcourage.org, so that we can update this information.
UNHCR, New York: The Director of UNHCR Office in New York, P.O. Box 20 Grand NY 10017, Grand Central, 10017 New York, NY, United States,
Telephone: 1-212-963-0032
Fax: 1-212-963-0074
Email: usane@unhcr.org
UNHCR Regional Representative in Thailand
3rd Floor, United Nations Building, Rajdamnern Nok Avenue, 10200 Bangkok, Thailand
Telephone: 66 2 288 1858
FAX: 66 2 280 0555
Email: thaba@unhcr.org
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Case Postale 2500
CH-1211 Genève 2 Dépôt
Suisse (Switzerland)
Telephone: +41 22 739 8111
FAX: +41 22 739 7377
UNHCR, Washington DC
1775 K Street, NW, Suite 300, 20006 Washington, DC, United States
Telephone: 1-202-296-5191
Fax: 1-202-296-5660
Email: usawa@unhcr.org
Embassy of the United States of America
Bangkok, Thailand
Chargé d’affaires, a.i.
W. Patrick Murphy
GPF Tower A, 10th Floor, 93/1 Wireless Road, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Telephone: +66-2-205-4485
Central Fax: +66-2-650-8921
http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/cda.html
U.S. Bangkok Refugee Section
Embassy of the United States of America
Bangkok, Thailand
Refugee and Migration Affairs (RMA) Office
Political Section
120-122 Wireless Road, Bangkok, 10330 Thailand
Telephone: +66-2-205-4000
Fax: +66-2-205-4375
E-mail: BnkRefugeeSection@state.gov
http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/rma_contact.html
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (BKK CIS)
Address: Sindhorn Building, Tower 2, 15th Floor, 130-132 Wireless Road, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Telephone: 02-205-5352 (within Thailand)
Telephone: 011-662-205-5352 (from the United States)
Email: BKKCIS.Inquiries@uscis.dhs.gov
Field Office Director: Gregory Sanders
http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/embassy/usgmain/uscis.html
Kingdom of Thailand
The Secretariat of the Prime Minister
Government House, 1 Phitsanulok Road, Dusit, Bangkok 10300
General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister
FAX: 66 2 282 5131
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Today’s letter by R.E.A.L received by UNHCR in NYC and Washington DC.
March 13, 2015
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
The Director of UNHCR Office
P.O. Box 20
Grand Central, New York, NY 10017
United States
Telephone: 1-212-963-0032
Facsimile: 1-212-963-0074
Email: usane@unhcr.org
cc:
UNHCR Regional Representative in Thailand
3rd Floor, United Nations Building, Rajdamnern Nok Avenue, 10200 Bangkok, Thailand
(Telephone: 66 2 288 1858 FAX: 66 2 280 0555 Email: thaba@unhcr.org)
UNHCR, Washington DC: 1775 K Street, NW, Suite 300, 20006 Washington, DC,
(Telephone: 1-202-296-5191, Facsimile: 1-202-296-5660, Email: usawa@unhcr.org)
URGENT: UNHCR Action Needed for Pakistan Christian Refugees in Thailand
UNHCR Director’s Office –
I am with the human rights volunteer group Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.), and I am contacting you on behalf of Pakistan Christian refugees who have fled from Pakistan due to the oppressive religious discrimination that they are facing in that country. They have applied for UNHCR refugee status and they are seeking asylum as refugees.
On March 9, 2015, I contacted the UNHCR Headquarters and the UNHCR Regional Representative in Thailand on this issue, and I have not heard back from either on this emergency issue.
I have heard directly from Thailand-based refugees who have applied for asylum as refugees with the UNHCR offices in Bangkok, Thailand. Some of these refugees have been waiting for years on a refugee status decision. In the meantime, the Thailand police are arresting Pakistan Christian asylum seekers.
On March 9, 2015, I was directly contacted about a round of arrests of Pakistan Christian refugees in Thailand. On the early morning of March 13, 2015, I have heard that 300 such Pakistan Christian refugees were arrested in Thailand. In the past two hours, I have heard that more arrests of Pakistan Christian refugees have happened “44 children, 43 women, and 35 men arrested by police.” We have also been told today that the Thai military smashed the doors and entered in the rooms of asylum seekers and started arresting the people. Minor kids, women, young and old everyone were treated in an inhuman way. Loads of people were arrested and shifted to Samrong Police station. Many were crying, begging and requesting, showing their asylum seekers certificates but none paid any heed.”
We are calling for the UNHCR Director’s Office, the Thailand field office, and the UNHCR Headquarters to act on behalf of these UNHCR Pakistan Christian refugees seeking asylum.
In addition, I have been in direct contact with the U.S. Bangkok Refugee Section (BnkRefugeeSection@state.gov) on this matter. The U.S. Bangkok Refugee Section states that if your UNHCR organization refers these cases to the United States, then the United States can act under the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP). I am certain that many, many Americans would support such an action to assist in the refugee support. At least give this opportunity a chance.
Pakistan Christian women, children, and men refugees are desperately seeking asylum as refugees from the oppression that they routinely face in Pakistan.
I join with the Pakistan Christian Congress and other human rights groups which call for your agencies to take action to protect the universal human rights, dignity, and security, of such refugees who have placed their hopes in your commitment to the universal human rights that the United Nations has itself declared as standard for all nations of the world.
On March 8, the world celebrated International Women’s Day. Today women and children Christian refugees fleeing from Pakistan are now hiding from arrests going on in Thailand, while they have been awaiting action by the UNHCR.
There are many thousands of Pakistan Christian asylum seekers who are contributing members to Thailand and its economy while they await the UNHCR decision on their asylum applications with office of UNHCR in different cities of Thailand.
Pakistan Christian refugees seeking asylum by Thailand have been communicating in an appeal to human rights groups to address their plight. One such Pakistan Christian asylum seeker, Jarvas Jerry, died last week as he was waiting for medical care, which apparently came too late. Mr. Jarvas Jerry died in the Siri raj hospital Bangkok on February 28, 2015. He had applied for asylum with the UNCHR.
Please act to support these women, children, and men Christian refugees in Thailand who are only seeking the universal human rights that the United Nation is committed to in its Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) for the world.
Jeffrey Imm, Founder
Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.)
The United States of America
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Thailand: Pakistan Christians have fled to Bangkok as refugees from oppression in Pakistan
Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) and other human rights-supporting organizations are holding an International Women’s Day event on the afternoon of Sunday, March 8, from 1:30 to 4:30 PM, at a meeting room in the Bethesda Regional Library. This International Women’s Day event will be to share successes and challenges over the past year, as well as to discuss actions we can take to make a difference in challenges towards women’s equality and human rights.
We are inviting women from all backgrounds to join us at this event, where we will share the experiences of women around the world today, and ongoing struggle for equal rights, and in the United States of America, the struggle for Constitutional Equality. During the past year, we have seen the public response to high profile cases of battery, abuse, rape, murder, and persecution of women by misogynists. We demand that women’s equality and rights are considered an essential part of our shared human rights. #WomensEqualityMatters#MakeItHappen
We have invited leaders from United4Equality, Montgomery County Business & Professional Women (MC BPW), and supporters of the National Organization of Women (NOW). Please share this event with other women activists interesting in participating in this Sunday, March 8, International Women’s Day event.
EVENT LOCATION:
Given the recent weather conditions, we are holding this as an indoor event at the following address:
EVENT TIME:
We are planning the total even from 1:30 PM to 4:30 PM, but we anticipate most participants will be actively there from 2 PM to 4 PM.
CONTACT:
Jeffrey Imm, 301-613-8789, jeffrey.m.imm@gmail.com.
(Please contact us prior to the event to let us know that you will be coming.)
TRANSPORTATION:
Weekend parking is free at the Bethesda library.
The Bethesda Librarymeeting location is also within walking distance from the Bethesda Metro Station (Red Line) at 7450 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20814. We can also coordinate to pick up some people from the Bethesda Metro to the library meeting room, if necessary. Ride On Bus 36 also stops outside the Bethesda Library.
Walking Directions to Bethesda Library Meeting Room from Bethesda Metro Station:
— Bear left at the top of the station’s escalator.
— Walk through the bus terminal and then straight ahead 2 blocks on Edgemoor Lane to the library.
Honorable Eliana Marengo
Court of Québec
Montréal
1 rue Notre-Dame E.
Montréal, Québec H2Y 1B6
Phone: 514-393-2370
Fax: 514-873-8950
Judge Eliana Marengo –
My name is Jeffrey Imm. I am with the volunteer human rights group Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.). I am an American citizen, but our activist efforts for human rights have supported the human rights, dignity, and security for our fellow human beings in Canada before, and we are doing so again in this case.
I am writing you regarding the human rights of Rania El-Alloul, and your ejection of her from the Montreal courtroom until she removes her hijab. This was not a case of someone covering their face or hiding their identity. This was simply a matter of someone with a head-covering, which was part of their religious beliefs.
I am certain you have heard at this point from Canadian Prime Minster Harper’s office on your decision to prevent this Muslim woman from testifying in a Canadian court of law.
I will address this issue to you based on the Montreal court’s responsibility to respect international law, human rights, religious freedom, and standards of legal justice, based on United Nations’ agreements and treaties signed by Canada. Based on such international standing, Responsible for Equality And Liberty requests your court to allow Rania El-Alloul to proceed with the court proceedings, while respecting her religious freedom and associated dress.
A. Montreal Court’s Responsibility to Respect International Law, Treaties, and Human Rights Agreed to by Canada
The Montreal court certainly has its rules and regulations, as do all courts. But the courts of law of our world must begin with a shared understanding and commitment to our universal human rights.
Your nation, Canada, is a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) accepted by the United Nations and your country on December 10, 1948. This includes Canada’s May 19, 1976 accession to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), G.A. res. 2200A (XXI), 21 U.N. GAOR Supp. (No. 16) at 52, U.N. Doc. A/6316 (1966), 999 U.N.T.S. 171.
Our standing on this matter is as fellow global citizens within the community of nations who are also accountable to our nations’ agreements on the UDHR and the ICCPR.
If the Montreal court rules are used to reject these international treaties and standards of human rights, then the United Nations and countries of the world need to seek accountability for change in Montreal through the Canadian government. I urge you to reconsider your position on the case of Rania El-Alloul, as a responsible Canadian and citizen of the world, who respects and defends law and order.
Based on Canada’s commitment to the UDHR and the ICCPR, it is the responsibility of Canadian courts of law to recognize and respect the international human rights standards and treaties that your nation has agreed to.
The UDHR and ICCPR are not for some nations, some people, some religions, and some instances. As stated in Article 28 of the UDHR, which Canada is a signatory to, you have a responsibility to recognize the rights of the UDHR in your nation. Canada’s commitment to UDHR includes UDHR Article 28, which states: “Everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration can be fully realized.”
Canada’s international treaty commitment in the ICCPR Article 3 includes that: “The States Parties to the present Covenant undertake to ensure the equal right of men and women to the enjoyment of all civil and political rights set forth in the present Covenant.”
B. Montreal Court’s Responsibility to Respect Religious Freedom Defined in International Law, Treaties, and Human Rights Agreed to by Canada
Canada’s commitment to the UDHR also respects the religious freedoms of all people, per Article 18. UDHR Article 18 states: “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.”
Canada’s commitment to the ICCPR Article 18 echoes this message: “1. Everyone shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This right shall include freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice, and freedom, either individually or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in worship, observance, practice and teaching.” and “2. No one shall be subject to coercion which would impair his freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice.”
These articles of the UDHR and ICCPR apply to all nations, all cities, and to all courts, including the Montreal courtroom. Rania El-Alloul’s religious freedoms should not be abrogated because she seeks law and order in a Montreal courtroom. This is a rejection of Canada’s commitment to the UDHR, a rejection of law and order under the ICCPR treaty, and a rejection of the standards of legal fairness which must be the basis for such courts of law.
C. Montreal Court’s Responsibility to Respect International Standard of Law and Court Proceedings Agreed to by Canada
Canada’s commitment to the UDHR also respects the standards of fair equitable hearings and court proceedings for all people, per Article 10. UDHR Article 10 states: “Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.”
Canada’s commitment to the ICCPR includes ICCPR Article 14, which states: “1. All persons shall be equal before the courts and tribunals. In the determination of any criminal charge against him, or of his rights and obligations in a suit at law, everyone shall be entitled to a fair and public hearing by a competent, independent and impartial tribunal established by law.” ICCPR Article 14 also states numerous other guarantees, which are required to ensure fairness and impartiality in any criminal trials.
In addition, Canada’s commitment to the ICCPR includes ICCPR Article 26, which states that “All persons are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to the equal protection of the law. In this respect, the law shall prohibit any discrimination and guarantee to all persons equal and effective protection against discrimination on any ground such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.”
Furthermore, Canada’s commitment to the ICCPR includes ICCPR Article 27, which states that “In those States in which ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities exist, persons belonging to such minorities shall not be denied the right, in community with the other members of their group, to enjoy their own culture, to profess and practise their own religion, or to use their own language.”
Your honor, these are not my subjective views or my opinions, which I am sure you have heard plenty of. These are the written standards and treaties, which the Government of Canada has agreed to in its role within the community of nations of the world.
Honorable Eliana Marengo, I send this letter to you with my respect for your authority. We must have rules to have order in our society. That is precisely the point that I making here in my letter to you. We must have rules. If we ever hope to any semblance of justice in Canada or anywhere else in the world, we must have consistency in those rules that is in accordance with the international law and treaties accepted by our nations, in this case the ones signed by the Canadian government, under which Montreal and its courts gets their authority.
Rules are rules, your Honor, and the law is the law. This is not just for the rest of the world, but also for Canada, and also for Montreal. That law is defined and constrained not only by regional and parochial regulations, but also by the international commitment which our countries have made as a civilized and unified community of nations. Those international rules are rules, your honor, and those international treaties and laws are law.
A position for consistency cannot merely argue that we are consistent with the standards we consider important; they must also be consistent with the standards which our nations and our collective community of nations agree to and accept for the people of the world.
I send you this letter with respect for your position and your authority, as well as your sense of honor in respecting the law, not just Montreal law, not just Canadian law, but all of the law our nations have agreed to. Rules are rules. The law is the law.
I am available to speak further with you on this. I am sure there are plenty of individuals well qualified to speak with you on this, but in support of our universal human rights, an “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” As previously mentioned, our standing on this matter is as fellow global citizens within the community of nations who are also accountable to our nations’ agreements on the UDHR and the ICCPR. We share your responsibility for upholding the law and rules that our nations have agreed to. We are all responsible for equality and liberty.
I look forward to your commitment to consistency on our shared law and our shared rules, and your court allowing Rania El-Alloul to proceed with the court proceedings.
Sincerely,
Jeffrey Imm
Founder, Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.)
United States of America
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Rania El-Alloul says she was told by a Quebec judge to remove her headscarf immediately or apply for a postponement in order to consult a lawyer. (Source: CBC)
It must not be too controversial for dialogue on extremism to take a consistent stand and commitment on our shared universal human rights, or then we have missed the primary challenge. We will not defeat extremism with political compromise, but by unyielding commitment to our shared universal human rights – for everyone, for every religion, for every identity group.
Extremist violence begins with denying the human rights, dignity, and security of others. Weakness in ignoring this reality only gives strength to those who seek power through violence, rejecting those human rights which they believe have no defenders.
When we offer a “counter extremist narrative,” we must ask, and what is that narrative based on – if not our universal human rights? What would appeal to diverse extremists of different ideologies that would be effective, if it is not grounded in our shared universal human rights? The ideas of building awareness and seeking intervention of the problem of such violence makes sense, but if such intervention is not based on our shared human right rights, we must ask “based on what?”
The economic aspect of the countering violent extremism (CVE) summit is worthy of consideration for some, but it is not going to be the answer to many, and we must keep human rights as our top priority. The fact is that people who have “something to lose” are (in general) less attracted to extremist violence. People may have extremist views in private, but when they have a family to support, a job to keep, and community responsibilities, the appeal of extremist violence is countered by the practical realities of other responsibilities in their lives. It is true that jobs and economic opportunity won’t stop people from pursuing a path to terrorism domestically or globally, but such other responsibilities will provide a distraction for some.
However, we will not convince many extremists that on solution focused on “prosperity,” “progress,” and other general terms are going to cause them to stop pursuing extremist goals and activities. We must recognize that for those with a different view on human rights, our chief objective must be a counter argument that all of our shared human rights will suffer, if we are not consistent on human rights for everyone.
When we lead with a commitment to our shared universal human rights, we don’t need explanations of “nuances” in policies to challenge violent extremist activity. There is no nuance in the call for our shared universal human rights to challenge violent extremist behavior.
The United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), ratified in 1958, creates a written standards of human rights for the people of the world. The UDHR was followed by an international treaty, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. These standards of human rights provide the international agreements to counter violent extremist behavior from any ideology and any part of the world. Our leaders need to be governing based on these standards, which they are consciously ignoring. Those nations which have not ratified such human rights standards need to be challenged as to why they will not accept such fundamental human rights for all people.
The Hope for Our Children Around the World - A Commitment to Our Shared Universal Human Rights (Source: United Nations)
While politicians typically focus on compromise, effective support of human rights requires consistency and sacrifice. Human rights campaigns are not a popularity contest, which appeals to politicians.
When we take a consistent stand on our shared universal human rights, the situation changes. We can challenge violent extremist activity by any ideology, because the activity is against our shared universal human rights. For example, from a human rights perspective, we must challenge both the terrorist activity by ISIS as well as the human rights abuses by Bashar al-Assad. Wrong is wrong, and our human rights matter in every instance.
A consistent stand is not the political one of making the “least bad choice,” but seeking support for shared human rights by all. If we really want to make change, if we really want to hear “grievances,” then this is where we start – consistency on our shared universal human rights.
It does not make sense for politicians and government leaders to extend an outstretched hand to groups known for extremist views, without urging them to support our shared universal human rights.
R.E.A.L. calls for a new summit, not of politicians, not of government leaders, but of individual leaders and identity group organizations to challenge violent extremist activity, who are willing to begin this discussion based on our shared universal human rights. R.E.A.L. calls for a summit based on support for our shared universal human rights, shared human dignity, and shared security.
We call for individuals and leaders to demand that our national leaders, our political leaders, and our representatives take a new view on challenging extremist activity, one where our share human rights is the focal point and the cornerstone, not swept aside as something we won’t talk about.
We call for national and global leaders to adopt and support the United Nations’ 1958 Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), and we call for leaders to use this as the basis to challenge and defy the ideologies of violent extremism in the United States of America and around the world.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is as relevant today as it was in the shadow of the atrocities by Nazi Germany, as described in its Preamble:
“Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,”
“Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people,”
“Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law,”
“Whereas it is essential to promote the development of friendly relations between nations,”
“Whereas the peoples of the United Nations have in the Charter reaffirmed their faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women and have determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,”
“Whereas Member States have pledged themselves to achieve, in co-operation with the United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms,”
“Whereas a common understanding of these rights and freedoms is of the greatest importance for the full realization of this pledge,”
“Now, Therefore THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY proclaims THIS UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples of Member States themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction.”
Article One of the UDHR provides the basis for challenging all violent extremist activity: “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.”
We must have a summit of our fellow human beings, not based on political positioning, but based on our support of these shared universal human rights.
We urge all of our brothers and sisters in humanity to be Responsible for Equality And Liberty for all.
Eleanor Roosevelt Holding the Universal Declaration of Human Rights - in English (Source: United Nations)Universal Declaration of Human Rights Preamble - in Arabic (Source: United Nations)Universal Declaration of Human Rights Preamble - Punjab (Source: United Nations)
The Coptic Christian church has confirmed the murder of 21 Coptic Christians by the global terrorist organization ISIS in Libya.
Our human rights, dignity, and security must be for ALL of our fellow human beings of all identity groups. Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) condemns this gruesome and outrageous attack by ISIS in Libya, which was clearly documented as a deliberate hate crime attack on Christians. There is a long and grim history of abuse, murder, and intolerance against Coptic Christians, which people of conscience must reject without qualification.
The global terrorist group ISIS paraded the Christians in orange jumpsuits and cut their throat on the beach.
21 Coptic Christians Murdered in Libya by Global Terrorist Organization, ISISGlobal Terrorist Organization ISIS Justifies Hate Crime Murders as Attacking "Nation of the Cross"
The actions of ISIS terrorist group in wanton and gruesome murder of 21 Christians must be rejected by all people of all identity groups, all religions, all ethnic groups, and all people of conscience. Their murder was an attack on all of us. When someone attacks the shared universal human rights, security, and dignity of one of us, it is an attack on all of us. There is never any rationale, religion, or ideology which justifies such attacks on and murders of our fellow human beings. We must reject any such extremist views as wrong – all the time.
Our human rights, dignity, and security must be for ALL of our fellow human beings of all identity groups. Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) condemns the terrorist attack last night, Tuesday night, which led to the death of three young American Muslims.
The family has created a Facebook website of three American Muslims in Chapel Hill, North Carolina: Deah Shaddy Barakat, 23, and his wife Yusor Abu-Salha, 21, and Abu-Salha’s sister, Razan Abu-Salha, 19, of Raleigh. My sympathies and prayers go out to their families and loved ones.
They were murdered in Chapel Hill, NC, with Craig Stephen Hicks arrested for the murders. Every such murder is a terrorist attack when people of an identity group are targeted.
The actions of the murderer of these young people must be rejected by all people of all identity groups, all religions, all ethnic groups, and all people of conscience. Their murder was an attack on all of us. When someone attacks the shared universal human rights, security, and dignity of one of us, it is an attack on all of us. There is never any rationale, religion, or ideology which justifies such attacks on and murders of our fellow human beings. We must reject any such extremist views as wrong – all the time.
As more information becomes available, R.E.A.L. will update this posting.
R.E.A.L. rejects and condemns violence against Muslim-Americans, and we urge our fellow Americans and our human beings to show respect for Muslim lives, as we respect all lives. #MuslimLivesMatter
R.E.A.L. rejects the anti-human rights view that any would have in targeting people for violence, murder, and abuse of their human rights due to their religion, their ethnic background, and their identity group. We urge all of our fellow human beings to continue working with us to improve our global culture to accept our universal human rights as a priority for all of our leaders, all of our governments, and in all of our lives.
23-year-old Deah Shaddy Barakat, his wife, Yusor Mohammad Abu-Salha, 21, and her sister, Razan Mohammad Abu-Salha, 19 (Source: Facebook)
Most of us cannot imagine a life without loyalties. Our shared loyalties build trust, unity, community, and personal growth. It would be a sad life and grim world for us to have no devotion to any higher cause or larger community other than ourselves. But our loyalties begin with a shared respect and commitment to our values, ethics, integrity, safety, and most of all, our shared universal human rights. If we don’t have loyalty to those shared values and principles, we don’t have loyalty with our brothers and sisters in humanity at all.
Loyalty matters. Loyalty defines our lives and our characters as individuals.
Loyalty is never an excuse to allow the human rights abuses and suffering of others, or to excuse those whose actions have allowed the human rights abuses and suffering of others. That is not loyalty at all. That is disloyalty to the truths that we hold self-evident and the human rights values we all share as human beings.
Loyalty without values, without principles, without a commitment to our universal human rights has nothing to do with community. Such shallow expressions of “loyalty” are nothing more than gangs who seek to use their force to suppress the rights, the dignity, and the security of others. We have seen this throughout history, and we see this today. This shallow view of loyalty is devoid of a sense of responsibility for our shared universal human rights and dignity, putting the pride and ego of their clan above the dignity and decency of others, even the weakest and most vulnerable of our citizens.
Loyalty does not justify bullies. Loyalty does not just committing crimes and violence against the helpless among us. Loyalty is not an excuse for those who rationalize such anti-social behavior and anti-human rights behavior by others in their group. There is no loyalty in the actions of criminals, their co-conspirators, and those who rationalize their anti-social behavior.
A life without loyalties is a grim existence. This is why, as human beings, our community is more than our own self-interest. This is why we urge of all our fellow human beings to work in improving the priority of our shared universal human rights in our culture. This is why we urge all to be responsible for equality and liberty.
