Religious intolerance rising across South Asia: Amnesty International

LONDON: Amnesty International has claimed to witness a rise in incidents of religious intolerance across South Asia.

Amnesty International on International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief has called on the governments in South Asia to the freedom of religion is protected.

In a series of tweets, Amnesty International wrote that there is a rise in incidents of religious intolerance and violence based on religion or belief, with few or no steps taken by authorities to protect religious minorities under attack.

THREAD: Across South Asia, we see a rise in incidents of religious intolerance and violence based on religion or belief, with few or no steps taken by authorities to protect religious minorities under attack.

— Amnesty International South Asia (@amnestysasia) August 22, 2020

In Pakistan, the blasphemy laws continue to facilitate abuses, including two murders of members of the persecuted minority Ahmadi community in Peshawar this month. The construction of a Hindu temple in the capital Islamabad was halted after pressure was mounted by mobs in July.

In another tweet, the Amnesty International revealed that in Afghanistan, the Sikh and Hindu communities have come under increasing attacks from armed groups, including the massacre of 25 Sikhs at a temple in Kabul in May. The Afghan authorities must protect them and their places of worship, and hold the perpetrators accountable, it added.

Amnesty International also included Bangladesh in the list that the Buddhist community in Bangladesh’s Chattogram district and their temple came under repeated attacks in recent months by local mobs. “The authorities must ensure the safety and security of the Buddhist community and uphold the right to freedom of religion or belief,” it added.

In Sri Lanka, the Muslim community has been targeted by both state and non-state actors. Laws have discriminated against the community while coronavirus regulations have violated their right to freedom of religion. Authorities must ensure equal treatment, in keeping with international law, it further tweeted.