WASHINGTON: The US State Department has made it clear that it firmly opposes the weaponization of blasphemy laws in Pakistan.
Also read: US panel urges removal of Pakistan’s religious freedom waivers
State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel, while addressing a media briefing, said the US Commission on International Religious Freedom is an independent commission that provides policy recommendations to the President, Secretary of State, and Congress, and that it is not a part of the State Department or the Executive Branch.
Addressing a media briefing, State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel said “although there may be some overlap between the Commission’s recommendations and the State Department’s Country of Particular Concern list, the Commission’s report reflects the importance of religious freedom to the American people. Governments or entities with questions or comments about the report should contact the Commission directly.
His comments came in response to question related to a report, released by United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, suggesting to include Pakistan and India into CPC countries.
Vedant Patel said “the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom is an independent U.S. commission established to provide policy recommendations to the President, to the Secretary of State, and Congress. It is not a branch of the State Department or the Executive Branch, and its report reflects the importance of religious freedom to the American people. While the report’s recommendations for designations overlap for some extent with the State Department’s lists of Country of Particular Concern, it is not entirely conclusive. Governments or other entities that have questions or comments about this report should reach out to the commission directly.”
When asked to comment on one of the subject of the report, suggesting that current prime minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, weaponized the blasphemy laws against Imran Khan and his cabinet member, which resulted in an assassination attempt on former Prime Minister Imran Khan, the State Department spokesperson said “ What I would say is that we strongly oppose laws that impede the ability of any individuals – irrespective of their national identity – to choose a faith, practice a faith, change their religion, not have a religion, or tell others about their religious beliefs and practices.”
When asked if he could provide insight into the U.S. government’s stance on democratic values in Pakistan, especially in the backdrop of senior members of U.S. Congress raising the issues of free and fair elections in Pakistan, the State Department spokesperson said “Our belief is that we would support and look forward to engaging any government in Pakistan that is reflective of the will of the Pakistani people. And we certainly don’t have anything to say on internal or domestic politics or dynamics there. And I would refer you to Congressman Sherman to speak to his comments. I’ve not seen those.”
