The Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI) in collaboration with the Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF), Germany, has arranged a regional conference on `Rights of Religious Minorities in South Asia: Learning from Mutual Experiences" here on July 3.
The two-day conference will be addressed by representatives of IPRI, HSF, Fatima Jinnah Women University and minorities, and religious scholars. Various sessions of the conference will highlight the concept of Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism and Jainism in South Asia.
According to the organisers, over hundreds of years the region has provided a fertile ground for different religious creeds and sects. People have been living side-by-side in relative peace and harmony for many generations. India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are home to substantial religious minorities.
Constitutions and laws provide for freedom of religion and religious practice, equality before the law and social justice. It is important to identify the difficulties in the protection of religious minorities as in the last decade international conflicts, economic depression, bilateral tensions and fear of terrorism have polarised societies.
Despite its rich history of pluralism and diversity, South Asia has seen a rise in religious intolerance, extremism and radicalisation.
Experts will discuss the ways to counter these trends for maintaining plurality, freedom of religion and tolerance especially in respect to religious minorities and establishing an all-inclusive national identity to avoid conflict between religious and national belonging.