On October 2, 2024, GHRD hosted a side event at the 57th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland. The event was chaired by GHRD’s Mariana Mayor Lima and featured three key speakers: Professor Nicolas Levrat, the UN Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues, Ammarah Balouch, Sindhi lawyer, activist and UN Women UK delegate, and Jamal Baloch, a political activist from Balochistan and previous victim of an enforced disappearance orchestrated by the Pakistani State.
On this day of International Refugee Day, we express our solidarity with the individuals who have been compelled to leave their homes and love ones due to conflicts, violence and persecution. Among them are members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community who endure discrimination, oppression and even threats to their lives in countries like Pakistan.
In the heart of this region a new wave of unrest has emerged, shedding light on the challenges faced by residents in their fight for rights. The streets have become a battleground as members of the Joint Action Committee clash with authorities, including police forces and commandos painting a picture of the situation.
In recent years, Pakistan has grappled with numerous challenges concerning religious freedom, particularly regarding the Ahmadiyya community. This issue has once again come to the forefront following a recent decision by the Pakistan Supreme Court defending the right to free expression of religious beliefs.
The Bar Council is profoundly concerned by recent announcements in parts of Pakistan that Ahmadi Muslims lawyers must renounce their religion in order to...