A formal complaint filed by Hindus Advancing Human Rights India (HAHRI), an initiative of HinduPACT, has drawn significant international attention after the massacre of 25 Hindus in Pahalgam on April 22, an attack which the complaint claims was sponsored by Pakistan. This tragic event has become a focal point for raising concerns about the systematic persecution of Hindus in the region.
According to HAHRI, this massacre serves as a stark reminder of what they describe as the “drip-drip genocide” of Hindus in the region. The complaint emphasizes the urgency of its message, calling for immediate action from international bodies, particularly the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).
The complaint, officially lodged with the UNHRC, accuses Pakistan of violating Article 2 of the 1948 Genocide Convention, which prohibits actions aimed at the destruction of any national, ethnical, racial, or religious group. The document is supported by 60 individuals and organizations representing a diverse range of communities, including Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, Jews, Muslims, and ex-Muslims from various countries, including India, Pakistan, the United States, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and Kenya. Signatories also include human rights groups, scholars, authors, and former officials from renowned institutions such as the United Nations, World Bank, and the U.S. Department of State.
The complaint makes the serious allegation that “genocide is being committed by every level of Pakistan’s state machinery and its fanatical citizens.” It points to a significant decline in the population of religious minorities in Pakistan, from 23 percent in 1947 to a mere 3 percent today, as physical evidence of this alleged systematic violence and persecution. This alarming demographic shift, the complaint argues, reflects the ongoing religious persecution in Pakistan.
In addition to the massacre, the complaint outlines a long history of abuses directed at religious minorities in Pakistan. It draws attention to the abduction and forced conversion of Hindu and Christian women and girls, a practice that has been documented by various sources, including UN Special Rapporteurs and Pakistani government reports. The complaint also cites the promotion of hatred in school textbooks, the widespread use of false blasphemy charges, and the desecration of non-Muslim religious sites as part of a larger pattern of systemic abuse.
These actions, the complaint claims, are driven by “an Islamist ideology rooted in Pakistan’s founding hatred and a quest for a purer Islamic state.” This ideology persists despite Pakistan’s pledge in 1950 to protect the rights of its religious minorities. The complaint argues that this failure to honor commitments to minority protection has contributed to the continued marginalization and violence against non-Muslim communities in the country.
The complaint was coordinated by Rahul Sur, the executive director of HAHRI, and Deepti Mahajan, the co-convenor of HinduPACT. Key organizational signatories include the Hindu American Foundation (HAF), the Coalition of Hindus in North America (CoHNA), Insight UK, Americans4Hindus, members of the Clarity Coalition, and the AHA Foundation. These organizations have united to call for urgent action from the international community to address what they view as a long-standing human rights crisis.
The complaint presents several demands to the UNHRC in light of the ongoing violence and persecution. First, it urges the UNHRC to refer the case to the UN Security Council to establish an international tribunal. The goal of this tribunal would be to identify and prosecute the perpetrators of the alleged genocide, holding them accountable for their actions.
Second, the complaint calls on the UN to mandate its agencies, including UN Women, to support the tribunal and work to prevent coercive religious conversions. This includes efforts to protect vulnerable women and girls who are often targeted in these forced conversions, which have been a longstanding issue in Pakistan.
Another demand is that the UN instruct Pakistan to confiscate all educational materials that promote hate and intolerance. The complaint argues that such materials contribute to the perpetuation of violence and discrimination against religious minorities, further entrenching the cycle of hatred and division within the country.
Lastly, the complaint calls for the creation of a compensation mechanism for victims of religious persecution in Pakistan. This fund, it proposes, should be financed by the Pakistani government and would serve to provide financial support and assistance to those who have suffered as a result of the violence and persecution they have faced.
By filing this complaint, HAHRI and its supporters hope to bring greater international attention to the plight of Hindus and other religious minorities in Pakistan. The groups involved in the complaint argue that the international community must take decisive action to halt the ongoing abuses and ensure that those responsible for religious persecution are held accountable.
The complaint highlights the urgent need for comprehensive measures to protect religious minorities in Pakistan, including both immediate actions to stop the ongoing violence and long-term efforts to address the root causes of religious intolerance.
For its part, Pakistan has consistently denied accusations of systemic violence against religious minorities, but the continued reports of abuse and the declining numbers of religious minorities in the country point to a different reality. The complaint submitted to the UNHRC is not only a call for justice for the victims of the Pahalgam massacre but also an effort to address the broader, long-standing issue of religious persecution in Pakistan.
In conclusion, the formal complaint filed by Hindus Advancing Human Rights India and its supporters represents a significant step in the fight for religious freedom and justice for persecuted minorities in Pakistan. The international community, according to the complainants, must act decisively to hold Pakistan accountable for its alleged actions and to provide much-needed protection and support to religious minorities who have suffered for far too long.