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鱿鱼视频app brother Shahbaz, as Minister of Minorities in Pakistan, was assassinated in 2011 in retaliation for trying to change the country鱿鱼视频app dysfunctional blasphemy law, often used to settle scores or extort property from Christians.
鈥淗e gave his life for this. He wanted to change Pakistan,鈥� Bhatti said.
International pressure is the most powerful lever left for democratic reform in Pakistan, Bhatti said.
鈥淚f the international community is serious then they (Pakistan鱿鱼视频app government) have to respond,鈥� he said.
Attacks on Christians isn鈥檛 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.
鈥淚 care. I haven鈥檛 slept all week,鈥� Raza said.
An international wave of protest is necessary to pressure the Pakistani government, Raza said.
鈥淚t鱿鱼视频app also very important to show our Christian brothers and sisters they are not alone,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鱿鱼视频app a common sorrow.鈥�
Protesters rallied around a Pakistani flag with red paint splashed across the white portion of the flag. The flag鱿鱼视频app two colours, green and white, symbolize the unity of Pakistan鱿鱼视频app Muslim and minority populations.
鈥淚t鱿鱼视频app white in colour but slowly turning red,鈥� said Muslims Facing Tomorrow director Sohail Raza.
What鱿鱼视频app missing in Pakistan is any genuine commitment to human rights, said Sabrina Noel.
鈥淛ust respect humans, that鱿鱼视频app it. Life is very, very important,鈥� she said.
Change is possible in Pakistan, said Rahul Joseph, who took time off school to be at the protest.
鈥淚 expect a lot to change. I expect everything to change,鈥� he said. 鈥淯nity will change things.鈥�
鈥淎s soon as we start recognizing each other as humans, then change will start,鈥� said Rahul鱿鱼视频app 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.
鈥淒ay by day this has been getting worse and worse,鈥� said Masih. 鈥淲e are knocking on the doors, but nobody is listening.鈥�
It鱿鱼视频app too early to expect results from Canada鱿鱼视频app new ambassador for religious freedom, Andrew Bennett, said Massih.
鈥淚n time it will be of benefit,鈥� he said.
鈥淚t鱿鱼视频app not just one isolated incident,鈥� 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.