Right of Reply by India under Agenda Item 9 : General Debate on Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and related forms of intolerance, follow-up to and implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action at the 45th Session of the Human Rights Council (14 September – 07 October 2020) delivered by Mr. S. Senthil Kumar, First Secretary, Permanent Mission of India (Geneva, 01 October 2020)
Madam President,
India exercises its right of reply in response to the statement made by Pakistan under Agenda item 9.
It is unfortunate that Pakistan continues to maintain its track record of misuse of the Human Rights Council with fake narratives against my country.
Madam President,
2. Allow me to set the facts straight.
In September 2020, Kamoke police in Gujranwala, Pakistan registered a case against a three-year-old Shia, Fazl Abbas under Maintenance of Public Order for organising a majlis at his residence without any prior NOC.
In the same month, a Hindu Doctor Lal Chand Bagari was murdered in cold blood in Sindh. In the same month, a minor Hindu girl Prisha Kumari was abducted and forcibly converted and married to the same abductor in Gari mori village of Pakistan.
A Shia Muslim was forced fully converted in the presence of government officials. In the same month, a Christian mother Rubina was beaten up by their employer for praying in their home.
In August, a student Hayat Mirza Baloch was killed by occupying Pakistani forces in front of his elderly parents in Turbat region of Balochistan.
Manzoor Pashteen, a Pashtun social activists was arrested along with nine others for simply demanding human rights after 15 years of suffering.
Madam President,
3. This is just to highlight the atrocities taken place just in one month in Pakistan and territories under its occupation. Systematic enforcement of blasphemy and anti-Ahmadia laws has reduced the number of minorities significantly in Pakistan.
4. In 2020 only, there are nearly 80 individuals who are imprisoned for blasphemy out of which, half are facing death sentence. 62 people have already been murdered on blasphemy allegations and it is reported that more than 50% of all persons in jail for blasphemy charges globally are in Pakistan.
5. It is not surprising that it’s a clear indication of state-sponsored persecution and incitement of violence against persons based on their belief, Minister of Pakistan endorsed beheading as the only punishment for blasphemy. This is evident when authorities refused to take action on 110 cases of conversion in this year.
Madam President,
6. I would advise Pakistan to cleanse its Augean Stable before pointing its fingers to others.
Thank you, Madam President.
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