Pak fundamentalists assaulted, raped and murdered minority freedom: US report

Islamic extremists in Pakistan have assaulted, raped and even murdered members of religious minorities there, an American state department report says.

The report said ''in many cases, the police fail to take necessary precautions, investigate or prosecute those responsible. This has contributed a feeling of insecurity in many minority religious communities."

Discriminatory religious legislation, the report said, had led to acts of violence directed at Ahmadis, Christians, Hindus and others.

The report was prepared by the state department at the request of the US Congress which last year demanded ''a detailed summary of US policies designed to reduce and eliminate today's mounting persecution of Christians throughout the world.''

The report notes that the blasphemy provision in the Pakistani penal code contributes to inter-religious tension, intimidation, fear and violence.

It said Muslim mobs destroyed homes and churches belonging to Christians in the Khandwal area in February and police failed to take adequate steps. Thousands were rendered homeless.

''Although the constitution prohibits discrimination in government employment, religious minorities are reportedly under-represented at all levels in the service, specially in senior ranks,'' the report says.

The US, the report adds, had repeatedly urged Pakistan to repeal the blasphemy law. ''Although Pakistan responded by administrative procedures to soften the effect of the law,'' it says, ''the problem remains a matter of concern and the US government continues to press the issue.''

In India, the report continues, the Constitution provides for religious freedom and it is respected in practice. There was no national law to bar proselytizing by Indian Christians, though the government had refused since the mid-1960s to admit new resident foreign missionaries.

''Missionaries who now arrive do so on tourist visas and stay for short periods only,'' it says.

The report said the US embassy in New Delhi had discussed a wide range of issues with the Indian government, including respect for human rights.

It urged Russian President Boris Yeltsin to veto legislation restricting religious freedom there.

The document, which covered 78 countries, criticised China for suppressing religious worship. It added the US had made freedom of religion a major focus of its human rights policy towards China.

With regard to Tibet, it pointed out the Clinton administration had strongly encouraged a dialogue between the Chinese government and the religious leader of Tibet, Dalai Lama.

UNI