London: Multi-faith rally remembers Shahbaz Bhatti

At Downing Street l-r: Dr Martin Stern, Wilson Chowdhry, Ranbir Singh,Dr John Newton, Matthew Jones

A joint call for religious freedom around the world was made by representatives of different faith groups at a rally in central London marking the second anniversary of the killing of Pakistan Cabinet minister Shahbaz Bhatti.

Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist and Christian lay figures spoke out against human rights violations at an event climaxing in a protest march towards Trafalgar Square where speakers told crowds of shoppers and tourists about the importance of religious freedom.

The event on Saturday 2 March marked the second anniversary of the assassination of Shahbaz Bhatti, Federal Minister for Minorities, the only Christian in the Pakistan government, who was gunned down on 2 March 2011. His killers have still to be brought to justice.

Beginning with speeches and music outside the UK High Commission for Pakistan, in Knightsbridge, the religious freedom campaigners walked to Downing Street. There, they submitted a petition calling for the release of Asia Bibi, a woman on death row in Pakistan for Blasphemy, for whose cause Mr Bhatti had campaigned.

Handing in the petition at Downing Street were Hindu human rights activist Ranbir Singh, Jewish holocaust survivor Dr Martin Stern, who studied medicine in Peshawar, Pakistan, Manoj Raithatha of the Evangelical Alliance's South Asia Forum, event organiser Wilson Chowdhry of the British Pakistani Christian Association and Dr John Newton, from Aid to the Church in Need.

Carrying a large wooden cross, they walked down Whitehall towards Trafalgar Square where Dr Newton read out a statement from Pakistan's Bishop Sebastian Shaw, Apostolic Administrator of Lahore, praising the event and those taking part. And Aid to the Church in Need UK head of press and information John Pontifex described encountering religious freedom violations during various visits to Pakistan where he met Mr Bhatti.

Wilson Chowdhry, chairman of the British Pakistani Christian Association, introduced speakers including Dr Stern and Dr Newton as well as Julian Bond from the Christian/Muslim Forum, Barrister Rubab Mehdi Rizba, former European spokesperson for the Pakistani Ministry of Human Rights.

BPCA trustee and researcher Nathaniel Lewis gave an overview of the findings of an investigation into human rights abuses in Pakistan to be formally launched in Parliament this week.

Also speaking were former candidate for Mayor Alan Craig, leader of the Christian Peoples Alliance, a respected commentator of multiculturalism in the UK, and Matthew Jones for persecution charity Christian Solidarity Worldwide. Another speech was given by Isuru Perera, youth coordinator of the Redbridge Buddhist Centre, east London. Music was provided by Catholic pop band ooberfuse who performed tracks including Free Asia Bibi and Blood Cries Out, about Mr Bhatti.

Mr Chowdhry said afterwards: "I am delighted that such a diverse representation of faith communities was not only present at this important event but were also willing and able to articulate so clearly why religious freedom is so important in our world today and why Shahbaz Bhatti is such a shining example in this respect."

Source: ACN