Pakistan (42nd Session)

Pakistan

(42nd Session)

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ADF International is a faith-based legal advocacy organization that protects fundamental freedoms and promotes the inherent dignity of all people.

This report highlights the ongoing violations of freedom of religion and expression in Pakistan resulting, inter alia, from laws criminalizing blasphemy and defamation as well as from the increasing social hostility and mob violence directed against persons belonging to religious minorities. It also draws attention to a worrying trend in abductions with the purpose of forced conversion of women and children, often in connection with a forced marriage.

Pastor Premnath: India

Pastor Premnath spent 150 days in jail after a hostile group invaded his prayer meeting and falsely accused him of engaging in forced conversions. He is now on trial.

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Indonesia (41st Session)

Indonesia

(41st Session)

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ADF International is a faith-based legal advocacy organization that protects
fundamental freedoms and promotes the inherent dignity of all people.

This report highlights the obstacles and dangers that religious minorities face in Indonesia due to both governmental restrictions and interreligious tensions. It also outlines the ways in which freedom of religion or belief and freedom of expression are restricted and what the government is required to do to provide relief for those affected.

India (41st Session)

India

(41st Session)

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ADF International is a faith-based legal advocacy organization that protects fundamental freedoms and promotes the inherent dignity of all people.

This report outlines the continued lack of respect for, and protection of the right to
freedom of religion or belief in India. In particular, it addresses the grave impact of anti-conversion laws, which an increasing number of states across the country have been enacting, on the freedom to adopt and practise a religion of their choice, particularly of those belonging to minority faith groups. Furthermore, this submission stresses the urgent need for the Indian government to increase its efforts to tackle and eradicate the ongoing, widespread practice of sex-selective abortion.

Shagufta and Shafqat: Pakistan

Shagufta und Shafqat

The Pakistani Christian couple Shagufta and Shafqat languished on death row for seven years on false blasphemy charges. Their death sentence was overturned in June 2021. They are now safe in Europe.

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Syria (40th Session)

Syria

(40th Session)

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ADF International is a faith-based legal advocacy organization that protects fundamental freedoms and promotes the inherent dignity of all people before national and international institutions.

This report highlights the situation of the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion in the Syrian Arab Republic (SAR), and SAR’s shortcoming in promoting and defending this right.

Singapore (38th Session)

Singapore 

(38th Session)

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ADF International is a faith-based legal advocacy organization that protects fundamental freedoms and promotes the inherent dignity of all people before national and international institutions. As well as having ECOSOC consultative status with the United Nations (registered name “Alliance Defending Freedom”), ADF International has accreditation with the European Commission and Parliament, and the Organization of American States. ADF International is also a participant in the FRA Fundamental Rights Platform.  

This report highlights the legal restrictions on the rights to freedom of religion, expression and conscience in Singapore. It raises concerns about arbitrary and overly restrictive regulations on faith-based associations and religious activities, as well as the Singaporean government’s failure to respect the right to conscientious objection.

Nepal (37th Session)

Nepal

(37th Session)

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ADF International is a faith-based legal advocacy organization that protects fundamental freedoms and promotes the inherent dignity of all people before national and international institutions. As well as having ECOSOC consultative status with the United Nations (registered name “Alliance Defending Freedom”), ADF International has accreditation with the Organization of American States, the European Commission and Parliament, and is a participant in the FRA Fundamental Rights Platform.

This submission reviews the current state of freedom of religion or belief in Nepal,
where religious minorities are restricted from, inter alia, freely manifesting their faith and possessing religious texts and materials. Accordingly, it makes recommendations
regarding the need to align relevant laws with international human rights standards.

Secondly, this report highlights the negative impact of Nepal’s culture of “son preference” and the resulting sex ratio imbalance and makes recommendations on further protecting women’s equal enjoyment of their right to life and freedom from exploitation.