UN rights experts urge Pakistan to end sectarian violence, protect minorities
(March 05, 2012) A group of independent United Nations human rights experts urged
the government of Pakistan last week to take decisive measures to end sectarian violence
and protect religious minorities after a second incident of targeted killings in two
weeks. At least 18 Shia Muslims were killed on Tuesday after they were ordered off
a bus in the northern district of Kohistan, the three experts said in a joint press
release. “These killings are extremely shocking and constitute acts that require
the strongest response,” said Rita Izsák, the Independent Expert on minority issues.
“They have sadly become a recurrent practice in Pakistan, and we urge the Pakistan
government to identify and prosecute the perpetrators and do everything possible to
establish strengthened security measures.” The experts expressed their condolences
to the families of those killed and to all the people of Pakistan who suffer from
such acts of terror. “These targeted killings once more display the appalling degree
of religious hatred in a country where there seems to be a failure to protect the
security of religious minorities,” said Heiner Bielefeldt, the Special Rapporteur
on freedom of religion or belief. Christof Heyns, the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial,
summary or arbitrary executions, stressed that the Government has an obligation to
take all necessary measures to protect the right to life. The three welcomed the condemnation
expressed by Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.