Pakistan has been ranked eighth on the Open Doors World Watch List 2026, a global index that tracks the persecution of Christians in 50 countries every year. The ranking highlights the continuing and severe challenges faced by Christian communities in the country, where discrimination, violence, and misuse of laws remain widespread.
According to the report, more than 388 million Christians around the world are currently experiencing high levels of persecution and discrimination because of their faith. This means nearly one in seven Christians globally faces pressure that affects almost every part of their daily life, including access to justice, employment, education, and personal safety.
The World Watch List 2026 was officially presented on January 27, 2026, during a high-level event held at the European Parliament in Brussels. The event was hosted by the Chairs of the Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) Intergroup, including Members of the European Parliament Miriam Lexmann (EPP) and Bert-Jan Ruissen (ECR), and was co-hosted by MEP Matej Tonin (EPP). The launch brought together policymakers, human rights advocates, and religious freedom experts to discuss the alarming global trends highlighted in the report.
In Pakistan, Christians continue to face targeted violence, forced conversions, social exclusion, and the abuse of blasphemy laws, often with little or no accountability for perpetrators. Women and children from minority communities are particularly vulnerable, facing forced marriages, kidnappings, and systemic discrimination. Despite constitutional guarantees of equality, religious minorities frequently struggle to access justice and protection.
Human rights organisations have repeatedly urged Pakistani authorities to take meaningful steps to protect religious minorities, reform discriminatory laws, and ensure accountability for acts of violence. The World Watch List serves as a reminder that freedom of religion or belief is not merely a principle, but a basic human right that remains under serious threat in many parts of the world.
The continued high ranking of Pakistan on the World Watch List underscores the urgent need for international attention, sustained advocacy, and concrete action to address religious persecution and to protect vulnerable communities from further harm.
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