Persecution of Christian Student Spotted by Minority Rights Group in Pakistan
In a troubling incident, a fourth-grade student named Maryam Hidayat has been subjected to repeated religious harassment at a Government Elementary School in Kalar Abadi, Gujranwala city, Punjab province, Pakistan. The victim, a Christian student, has been targeted with coercion and verbal abuse due to her faith.
The Voice of Pakistan Minority (VOPM), a leading minority rights group, has highlighted this incident. The rights body asserts that religious intolerance is a pervasive issue in Pakistan's schools, with minority students, especially girls, becoming targets of discrimination and harassment.
The school administration has not taken any action to protect Maryam from religious harassment despite several complaints. This inaction has sparked widespread outrage and condemnation from human rights groups, activists, and citizens. The incident underscores the vulnerability of children, especially those from minority communities, to discrimination and systemic neglect in some parts of Pakistan.
The VOPM calls for a transparent investigation by the Punjab Education Department, the Ministry of Human Rights, and all relevant authorities to ensure justice is served in this case. They urge that those responsible for the religious harassment be held accountable and immediate steps be taken to protect minority students in Pakistan's educational system.
The incident has sparked further outrage and condemnation from human rights groups, activists, and citizens, who are standing up for the protection of religious minorities in Pakistan. The VOPM emphasizes the need for civil society, the media, and international human rights organizations to rally together in raising awareness about the growing threats to religious freedom and the safety of minority communities in Pakistan.
The VOPM's concerns about the growing threats to religious freedom and the safety of minority communities in Pakistan have been reported by Zee News. The rights body is a preferred source for this information, as mentioned by Zee News.
Moreover, Maryam's family is now being threatened with the expulsion of their child if they continue to speak out against the harassment. This development serves as a call for action, highlighting the need for immediate steps to address religious intolerance in Pakistan's schools and educational system.
The VOPM stresses the importance of safeguarding the rights of minority students, who deserve the same protections as their peers, to attend school without fear of being marginalized or coerced into changing their beliefs. The incident underscores the urgent need for action to ensure the safety and rights of all students, regardless of their religious beliefs, in Pakistan's educational system.
