Seventh session of Minority Rights Forum November 25-26, 2014 Statement Pirbhu Lal Satyani Pakistan Dalit Solidarity Network (PDSN) Good afternoon ladies and gentleman! It’s great privilege for me to join you in the 7th session of minority rights forum. I have been given limited time so I would like to highlight the key issues of religious minorities in Pakistan. The issue of religious minorities is a serious human rights issue in Pakistan that is increasing day by day. The transition of a country from secular values given by its founder (Mr. Mohammad Ali Jinnah) to Islamic ideology by religious fundamentalists has promoted religious extremism, making religious minorities in Pakistan more vulnerable and putting their lives at risk. The increasing role of madrassas, biased curriculum, and misuse of anti-blasphemy laws, forced conversion of young and minor minority girls and attacks on religious places of minorities has built the sense of insecurity and fear among the religious minorities in Pakistan. The government of Pakistan has completely failed to protect religious minorities and Dalits in Pakistan. As a religious minority, Dalit women experience violations such as rape and torture as a form of punitive measure and prosecution. In the Sindh province about 1.8 million people live in bonded labour, a majority of which are Dalits. A combined effect of low education levels, exclusion from family decision making processes and a lack of property rights make dalit women vulnerable to labour exploitation and bondage. Rape of female bonded labourers is widespread and violent, and there is little legal recourse. In last three weeks seven incidents were reported of forced conversion of Hindu girls and all were dalits below 18. The Madrasas are playing a key role to forcefully convert non-Muslim girls into Islam. The curriculum of madrasas and government schools promote hatred among children. Extremists groups specifically target religious minorities in Pakistan by attacking temples and churches; they kill and kidnap doctors, lawyers, and active leaders from the Christian, Hindu and Ahmedi minorities.