This is refreshing. During the previous administration, the USCIRF would likely have responded to this by opening an inquiry into “Islamophobia.”
“Denial of food to Hindus, Christians in Pakistan ‘reprehensible’: US government,” by Dipanjan Roy Chaudhury, Economic Times, April 14, 2020:
New Delhi : The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has stated that it was “troubled by reports of food aid being denied to the minority Hindus and Christians in Pakistan” following the coronavirus outbreak.
“These actions are simply reprehensible. As COVID-19 continues to spread, vulnerable communities within Pakistan are fighting hunger and to keep their families safe and healthy. Food aid must not be denied because of one’s faith,” said USCIRF Commissioner Anurima Bhargava on Monday.
The Commissioner requested the Pakistan government to “ensure that food aid from distributing organisations is shared equally” with Hindus, Christians, and other religions minorities….
USCIRF Commissioner Johnnie Moore said, “In a recent address by Prime Minister Khan (Imran Khan) to the international community, he highlighted that the challenge facing governments in the developing world is to save people from dying of hunger while also trying to halt the spread of COVID-19.””This is a monumental task laying before many countries. Prime Minister Khan’s government has the opportunity to lead the way but they must not leave religious minorities behind. Otherwise, they may add on top of it all one more crisis, created by religious discrimination and inter-communal strife.”
In its 2019 Annual Report, USCIRF had noted that Hindus and Christians in Pakistan “face continued threats to their security and are subjected to various forms of harassment and social exclusion.”Pakistan has often been criticised internationally for cracking down on the minorities in the country.
Boromir's Horn says
“reprehensible”
Alrighty now, hit them 5 syllable words, that’ll teach ’em
Spiro says
Exactly. Now what are they going to do about it
gravenimage says
Still better than ignoring it or excusing it, as Obama likely would have done.
mortimer says
Western politicians assume the Golden Rule is found in Islam. However, that is false. Koran 48:29 is a verse that clearly and unmistakably, perhaps even deliberately, contradicts the Golden Rule:
Koran 48.29 “Muhammad is the messenger of Allah; Those with him are HARSH or VIOLENT (ashiddaa’) against the disbelievers (kufaar); Compassionate amongst themselves.”
What could be harsher than the slow starvation of a people?
Koran 48.29 is Islam’s counterpart as well as Islam’s counterpoint to the Golden Rule. Islam’s goal is the political supremacism of Muslims over disbelievers by whatever means possible including violence, extortion, enslavement, genocide, rape or deception. Koran 48.29 is a commandment to use violence against disbelievers.
________________________________________
Iambob says
Great insight: Muslims have no shame because their religious texts promote the supremacy of Allah (Satan) dictating ill-treatment of non-Muslims.
Therefore, commissions such as this can only express disappointment without any power, whatsoever, to even influence-much less alter-Islamic discrimination and hatred.
Pakistan could care less about anything they have to say. Their opinions are worthless to Muslims.
mortimer says
Kafirs may not receive any part of Islamic charity (zakat)
-Al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said, after quoting the hadith of Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet [an error occurred while processing this directive] (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said to Mu’adh (may Allah be pleased with him): “Tell them that they have to give sadaqah (charity) that is to be taken from their wealth and given to the poor”: “It is not permissible to give any part of zakah to a kafir, whether it is zakat al-fitr or zakat al-mal… Malik, al-Layth, Ahmad and Abu Thawr said: ‘They (i.e. the kafirs) should not be given it.’”
-EShaykh.com says that while one may give voluntary alms to non-Muslims, the obligatory alms (zakat) required of all Muslims may be given to Muslims only, for “the verse determining the lawful recipients of zakat (9:60) refers to Muslims exclusively, i.e. those poor and needy are Muslims, as well as the mu’allafat al-qulub i.e. new Muslims….{Alms are for the poor and the needy, and those employed to administer the (funds); for those whose hearts have been (recently) reconciled (to Truth); for those in bondage and in debt; in the cause of Allah (jihad); and for the wayfarer: (thus is it) ordained by Allah and Allah is full of knowledge and wisdom.} [Qur’an] 9:60”
– K. 28:86 says: “Lend not thou support IN ANY WAY to those who reject Allah’s Message.”
Ray Jarman says
I would think that the person who wrote the 2019 Annual Report, USCIRF which states, ”Pakistan has often been criticised internationally for cracking down on the minorities in the country” could have used the proper gerund to describe the Pakistani’s actions more accurately. Cracking down refers what parents do to miss behaved children or a police force when it enforces a law that has been disregarded by a group or individual, not damaging or destroying the lives of citizens by a government. The USCIRF writer should have used words like harassment or destroy to describe the Pakistani government actions. I also did not read where the organization was going remove the funding that is being paid by the American tax payer.
Murall says
+1
gravenimage says
Agreed, Ray.
gravenimage says
US Commission on International Religious Freedom: Denial of food to Christians in Pakistan ‘reprehensible’
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Kudos to USCIRF Commissioner Anurima Bhargava for speaking the truth.