‘We Condemn Terrorists Who Target Religious Minorities’: US Secretary Of State Shows Solidarity With Hindus In Pakistan

United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday (5 January) expressed solidarity with the religiously minorities including Hindus in Pakistan, who are being targeted by terrorists and violent extremists.

“Indeed, we must affirm, and fight for, that truth now more than ever. More than eight in ten people in the world today live where they cannot practice their faith freely,” Pompeo said, according to a statement by US State Department.

“We condemn terrorists and violent extremists who target religious minorities, whether they are Yezidis in Iraq, Hindus in Pakistan, Christians in northeast Nigeria, or Muslims in Burma,” the US Secretary of State said at the launch of the International Religious Freedom Alliance on Wednesday (5 January).

The International Religious Freedom Alliance pursues existing actions in protecting the freedom of religion or belief within the UN and regional organisations. The organisation aims to help protect the freedom of religion and belief across the world as well as assist those who are persecuted for their religion or beliefs.

Pompeo said that US also condemned blasphemy and apostasy laws “that criminalize matters of the soul”.