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US lawmakers address alleged religious persecution in Pakistan
The briefing featured remarks from several Members of Congress, including Rep. Shri Thanedar, Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, and Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi.
Rep.Thanedar, Rep. Krishnamoporthi and Rep. Subramanyam. / Courtesy Photo
A congressional briefing was held at the Rayburn House Office Building, Washington D.C. on Mar.12 to bring attention to the alleged persecution of religious minorities in Pakistan, with a focus on the alleged abduction and forced conversion of Hindu, Christian, and Sikh women.
Organized by HinduACTion, the event gathered U.S. lawmakers, human rights advocates, and media experts to discuss policy measures aimed at addressing these human rights violations.
The briefing featured remarks from several Members of Congress, including Rep. Shri Thanedar, Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, and Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi. Staff representatives from the offices of Rep. Zach Nunn and Rep. Bill Huizenga, Chair of the Subcommittee on South and Central Asia, were also present. Additionally, a representative from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, attended, signaling the issue’s broader national security implications.
Rep. Shri Thanedar called for decisive action from the U.S. government, urging the State Department to exert diplomatic pressure on Pakistan. "The U.S. must demand the swift and safe release of kidnapped Hindu women and girls and ensure that Pakistan enacts laws preventing forced conversions through abduction and coercion," he said. He also called for conditioning economic aid to Pakistan on measurable improvements in the safety and welfare of its religious minorities.
Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi praised the organizers for shedding light on the plight of Pakistan’s minorities, emphasizing his commitment to advocating for persecuted communities worldwide.
Danish Kaneria, a former cricketer, recounted his personal experience of what he called “systemic discrimination faced during his career”, stating, "I am a refugee from Pakistan. I am a Hindu, and I am here to be the voice for Pakistan’s minorities. Hindus, Sikhs, and Christians are treated as less than third-class citizens, subjected to state-sanctioned persecution and daily trauma from abductions."
Panel of speakers
Asra Q. Nomani, a veteran journalist and former Wall Street Journal reporter, described Pakistan as a country "that thrives on radicalism and sectarian hate. If you are Hindu, Christian, Sikh, Ahmadiyya, or Shia, you are treated as a lesser human."
Geeta Sikand, a media analyst and board member of A4H, examined the role of global narratives in downplaying religious persecution. She criticized the lack of media coverage on the issue.
Courtesy Photo / Speakers at the event.Richa Gautam, executive director at Cares-Global, which rehabilitates persecuted refugees, called for U.S. action against the alleged abuse of minority women. "The U.S. must condemn the systematic brutality and genocidal rape of Hindu, Christian, and Sikh girls," she said. "The only way to save defenseless girls like Chanda Maharaj is to make every financial aid package contingent upon ensuring demographic diversity in Pakistan."
The event was hosted by Anjalee Swamy, a board member of HinduACTion, who shared her personal journey and commitment to advocating for Pakistani Hindus.
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