The Toronto protest was a prelude to larger protests planned for New York today when Pakistani Prime Minister Nawas Sharif is scheduled to address the United Nations General Assembly, said organizers with the Canadian Christian Association. Several protesters said they intended to drive to New York.
The Sunday bombing by the Taliban-affiliated Jandullah group killed 85 and sent more than 100 to hospital, many with missing limbs. A Jandullah spokesman said the attack by two suicide bombers was in retaliation for American drone strikes in the Waziristan territories bordering Afghanistan.
The Pakistani government has broken off peace talks with the Taliban, saying it could not negotiate with people who are killing civilians.
The mass murder only highlights dire and unchecked violence and discrimination Pakistani Christians face daily, said International Christian Voice founder and chairman Peter Bhatti. Bhatti’s brother Shahbaz, as Minister of Minorities in Pakistan, was assassinated in 2011 in retaliation for trying to change the country’s dysfunctional blasphemy law, often used to settle scores or extort property from Christians.
“He gave his life for this. He wanted to change Pakistan,” Bhatti said.
International pressure is the most powerful lever left for democratic reform in Pakistan, Bhatti said.
“If the international community is serious then they (Pakistan’s government) have to respond,” he said.
Attacks on Christians isn’t just a tragedy for Christians, said Muslim activist Raheel Raza, who joined the Christian protest with members of her Progressive Muslims Institute of Canada organization.
“I care. I haven’t slept all week,” Raza said.
An international wave of protest is necessary to pressure the Pakistani government, Raza said.
“It’s also very important to show our Christian brothers and sisters they are not alone,” she said. “It’s a common sorrow.”
Protesters rallied around a Pakistani flag with red paint splashed across the white portion of the flag. The flag’s two colours, green and white, symbolize the unity of Pakistan’s Muslim and minority populations.
“It’s white in colour but slowly turning red,” said Muslims Facing Tomorrow director Sohail Raza.
What’s missing in Pakistan is any genuine commitment to human rights, said Sabrina Noel.
“Just respect humans, that’s it. Life is very, very important,” she said.
Change is possible in Pakistan, said Rahul Joseph, who took time off school to be at the protest.
“I expect a lot to change. I expect everything to change,” he said. “Unity will change things.”
“As soon as we start recognizing each other as humans, then change will start,” said Rahul’s sister Sara Joseph.
In 72 years since the founding of Pakistan the position of minorities in Pakistani society has only gotten worse, said Pervez Masih of the United Christian Federation, one of five organizations that sponsored the protest.
“Day by day this has been getting worse and worse,” said Masih. “We are knocking on the doors, but nobody is listening.”
It’s too early to expect results from Canada’s new ambassador for religious freedom, Andrew Bennett, said Massih.
“In time it will be of benefit,” he said.
“It’s not just one isolated incident,” said Israel Dean, pointing to the case of Asia Bibi who has been in jail more than four years, sentenced to death on the basis of blasphemy allegations.