by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Europe Bureau Chief
BRUSSELS/ISLAMABAD (Worthy News) – Pakistani Christian advocacy leaders have praised the European Union’s legislature for condemning the persecution of Christians and other violations of freedom of religion or belief in Pakistan and several other countries.
Last week, the European Parliament adopted three resolutions addressing the human rights situations in Pakistan, Nigeria, and Sudan, calling for stronger action to address religious persecution, alleged war crimes, forced conversions, and violence against civilians.
The measures urge governments to strengthen protections for vulnerable minorities, uphold international human rights obligations, and ensure accountability for those responsible for abuses.
In Pakistan, lawmakers focused on the plight of Christian and Hindu girls who are abducted, forcibly converted, and married against their will, describing such abuses as part of a broader pattern of discrimination against religious minorities.
The Pakistan resolution highlighted the case of 13-year-old Pakistani Christian Maria Shahbaz, who lawmakers said was abducted, converted to Islam, and forcibly married to her alleged abductor in March 2026.
PAKISTAN RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
According to the Pakistan resolution seen by Worthy News, lawmakers called on Pakistani authorities to ensure Maria Shahbaz has access to legal representation, her family, and psychological support.
They also urged Pakistan to fully implement national measures to end child marriage, establish an effective mechanism for handling complaints involving abducted or forcibly converted minority girls, and guarantee transparent investigations into cases involving minors or allegations of coercion.
Lawmakers said perpetrators should be prosecuted, victims allowed to return safely to their families, and religious minorities afforded stronger legal protection.
The Pakistan resolution was adopted by a show of hands.
Pakistani Christian advocacy group LEAD Ministries welcomed Parliament’s action, saying it offered renewed hope to vulnerable religious minorities.
CHRISTIAN LEADERS RESPOND
Pastor Imran Amanat, head of LEAD Ministries in Pakistan, told Worthy News the European Parliament’s action encouraged vulnerable religious minorities seeking justice.
“LEAD Ministries deeply appreciates the European Union for standing with vulnerable religious communities and for emphasizing the importance of human dignity, freedom of religion, and the protection of women and children,” Amanat said. “International attention gives encouragement to those who seek justice and equal rights.”
Sardar Mushtaq Gill, founder of LEAD Ministries and a Christian human rights lawyer, also told Worthy News that sustained international engagement remained essential for those facing persecution because of their faith.
“The voice of the international community is significant for people who face discrimination, persecution, and threats because of their faith,” Gill said. “We appreciate efforts that promote religious freedom and the protection of fundamental human rights.”
LEAD Ministries also urged the European Union and international human rights organizations to continue raising concerns over Pakistan’s controversial blasphemy laws, warning that accusations can place entire Christian communities at risk of mob violence.
The organization referred to the 2023 attacks in Jaranwala, where allegations of Quran desecration triggered widespread assaults on churches and Christian homes, forcing many families to flee.
GLOBAL PERSECUTION CONCERNS
Gill warned that false blasphemy accusations can be exploited to settle personal disputes or intimidate religious minorities and stressed that allegations involving religious material should be investigated through lawful procedures rather than violence or mob justice.
According to the 2026 edition of the Open Doors World Watch List, Pakistan ranks eighth among the world’s most difficult countries in which to live as a Christian, with believers facing discrimination, attacks linked to blasphemy accusations, forced conversions, and violence against churches and Christian communities.
Gill said the European Parliament’s action comes amid continuing persecution of Christians in Pakistan, Nigeria, Sudan, China, and parts of India.
“The suffering of persecuted Christians should never be ignored,” Gill told Worthy News. “When believers face injustice because of their faith, the global Church has a responsibility to stand with them through prayer, compassion, and action.”
International religious freedom organizations continue to document attacks on Christian communities in Nigeria, restrictions affecting churches in China, conflict-related suffering in Sudan, and concerns over blasphemy allegations, forced conversions, and discrimination in Pakistan. Rights advocates have also reported attacks on Christians and concerns over anti-conversion legislation in parts of India.
SUDAN AND NIGERIA
Gill stressed that defending persecuted Christians “is not a call against any religion or community, but a stand against hatred, extremism, discrimination, and injustice.”
“The protection of religious freedom benefits everyone,” he added. “When one community suffers because of intolerance, the whole society is affected.”
He called on churches, governments, and human rights organizations to continue supporting vulnerable believers through prayer, legal advocacy, humanitarian assistance, and efforts to strengthen freedom of religion or belief.
Beyond Pakistan, lawmakers also adopted measures condemning alleged war crimes in Sudan and escalating violence against Christians in Nigeria.
In the Sudan resolution, MEPs strongly condemned atrocities committed during the country’s civil war, including alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity linked to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). They urged the European Union to expand humanitarian assistance, impose sanctions on those responsible for attacks against civilians, support independent investigations, and consider adding the RSF to the EU’s list of terrorist organizations. The resolution was adopted by 476 votes to 28, with 96 abstentions.
BROADER HUMAN RIGHTS FOCUS
In a separate resolution, lawmakers condemned the recent massacre in Kawel village in Nigeria’s Plateau State and expressed solidarity with Christians facing escalating violence.
They urged Nigerian authorities to strengthen civilian protection, intensify efforts against Boko Haram and other armed groups while respecting human rights, improve early warning systems, and address the underlying causes of conflict.
The Nigeria resolution was adopted by 510 votes to one, with 86 abstentions.
The European Parliament reaffirmed that freedom of religion or belief is a fundamental human right and stressed that governments have a responsibility to protect vulnerable communities regardless of their faith.
Pakistani Christian leaders suggested the European Parliament’s action marked renewed international recognition of the dangers facing faith communities and served as a reminder that, despite diplomatic pressure, much work remains to safeguard religious freedom.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
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EU Parliament Condemns Persecution Of Christians In Pakistan, Nigeria, Sudan
by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Europe Bureau Chief
BRUSSELS/ISLAMABAD (Worthy News) – Pakistani Christian advocacy leaders have praised the European Union’s legislature for condemning the persecution of Christians and other violations of freedom of religion or belief in Pakistan and several other countries.
Last week, the European Parliament adopted three resolutions addressing the human rights situations in Pakistan, Nigeria, and Sudan, calling for stronger action to address religious persecution, alleged war crimes, forced conversions, and violence against civilians.
The measures urge governments to strengthen protections for vulnerable minorities, uphold international human rights obligations, and ensure accountability for those responsible for abuses.
In Pakistan, lawmakers focused on the plight of Christian and Hindu girls who are abducted, forcibly converted, and married against their will, describing such abuses as part of a broader pattern of discrimination against religious minorities.
The Pakistan resolution highlighted the case of 13-year-old Pakistani Christian Maria Shahbaz, who lawmakers said was abducted, converted to Islam, and forcibly married to her alleged abductor in March 2026.
PAKISTAN RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
According to the Pakistan resolution seen by Worthy News, lawmakers called on Pakistani authorities to ensure Maria Shahbaz has access to legal representation, her family, and psychological support.
They also urged Pakistan to fully implement national measures to end child marriage, establish an effective mechanism for handling complaints involving abducted or forcibly converted minority girls, and guarantee transparent investigations into cases involving minors or allegations of coercion.
Lawmakers said perpetrators should be prosecuted, victims allowed to return safely to their families, and religious minorities afforded stronger legal protection.
The Pakistan resolution was adopted by a show of hands.
Pakistani Christian advocacy group LEAD Ministries welcomed Parliament’s action, saying it offered renewed hope to vulnerable religious minorities.
CHRISTIAN LEADERS RESPOND
Pastor Imran Amanat, head of LEAD Ministries in Pakistan, told Worthy News the European Parliament’s action encouraged vulnerable religious minorities seeking justice.
“LEAD Ministries deeply appreciates the European Union for standing with vulnerable religious communities and for emphasizing the importance of human dignity, freedom of religion, and the protection of women and children,” Amanat said. “International attention gives encouragement to those who seek justice and equal rights.”
Sardar Mushtaq Gill, founder of LEAD Ministries and a Christian human rights lawyer, also told Worthy News that sustained international engagement remained essential for those facing persecution because of their faith.
“The voice of the international community is significant for people who face discrimination, persecution, and threats because of their faith,” Gill said. “We appreciate efforts that promote religious freedom and the protection of fundamental human rights.”
LEAD Ministries also urged the European Union and international human rights organizations to continue raising concerns over Pakistan’s controversial blasphemy laws, warning that accusations can place entire Christian communities at risk of mob violence.
The organization referred to the 2023 attacks in Jaranwala, where allegations of Quran desecration triggered widespread assaults on churches and Christian homes, forcing many families to flee.
GLOBAL PERSECUTION CONCERNS
Gill warned that false blasphemy accusations can be exploited to settle personal disputes or intimidate religious minorities and stressed that allegations involving religious material should be investigated through lawful procedures rather than violence or mob justice.
According to the 2026 edition of the Open Doors World Watch List, Pakistan ranks eighth among the world’s most difficult countries in which to live as a Christian, with believers facing discrimination, attacks linked to blasphemy accusations, forced conversions, and violence against churches and Christian communities.
Gill said the European Parliament’s action comes amid continuing persecution of Christians in Pakistan, Nigeria, Sudan, China, and parts of India.
“The suffering of persecuted Christians should never be ignored,” Gill told Worthy News. “When believers face injustice because of their faith, the global Church has a responsibility to stand with them through prayer, compassion, and action.”
International religious freedom organizations continue to document attacks on Christian communities in Nigeria, restrictions affecting churches in China, conflict-related suffering in Sudan, and concerns over blasphemy allegations, forced conversions, and discrimination in Pakistan. Rights advocates have also reported attacks on Christians and concerns over anti-conversion legislation in parts of India.
SUDAN AND NIGERIA
Gill stressed that defending persecuted Christians “is not a call against any religion or community, but a stand against hatred, extremism, discrimination, and injustice.”
“The protection of religious freedom benefits everyone,” he added. “When one community suffers because of intolerance, the whole society is affected.”
He called on churches, governments, and human rights organizations to continue supporting vulnerable believers through prayer, legal advocacy, humanitarian assistance, and efforts to strengthen freedom of religion or belief.
Beyond Pakistan, lawmakers also adopted measures condemning alleged war crimes in Sudan and escalating violence against Christians in Nigeria.
In the Sudan resolution, MEPs strongly condemned atrocities committed during the country’s civil war, including alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity linked to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). They urged the European Union to expand humanitarian assistance, impose sanctions on those responsible for attacks against civilians, support independent investigations, and consider adding the RSF to the EU’s list of terrorist organizations. The resolution was adopted by 476 votes to 28, with 96 abstentions.
BROADER HUMAN RIGHTS FOCUS
In a separate resolution, lawmakers condemned the recent massacre in Kawel village in Nigeria’s Plateau State and expressed solidarity with Christians facing escalating violence.
They urged Nigerian authorities to strengthen civilian protection, intensify efforts against Boko Haram and other armed groups while respecting human rights, improve early warning systems, and address the underlying causes of conflict.
The Nigeria resolution was adopted by 510 votes to one, with 86 abstentions.
The European Parliament reaffirmed that freedom of religion or belief is a fundamental human right and stressed that governments have a responsibility to protect vulnerable communities regardless of their faith.
Pakistani Christian leaders suggested the European Parliament’s action marked renewed international recognition of the dangers facing faith communities and served as a reminder that, despite diplomatic pressure, much work remains to safeguard religious freedom.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
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