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441-01122 (Foreign affairs)
Original language of petition: English
Petition to the House of Commons
We, the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada, draw the attention of the House of Commons to the following:
Whereas:
Ahmadi Muslims in Pakistan have effectively been denied the right to vote and essentially have been disenfranchised from the full and equal participation of a citizen's democratic right to vote because of their faith and belief;
To register as voters, Ahmadis must either renounce their faith or agree to be placed in a separate electoral list and accept their status as non-Muslim in contravention of their religious freedom rights; and
Through Section 48A of the Pakistan Elections Act of 2017, Ahmadis must renounce their faith to be included in any voter list.
Therefore, we, the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the House of Commons and the Government of Canada to:
1. Urge the Pakistani government to immediately repeal Section 48A of the Elections Act and permit Ahmadi Muslims to vote alongside all other citizens of Pakistan as part of a joint electorate; and
2. Urge the Pakistani government to create fair and democratic election process for all Pakistanis without any discrimination or prejudice or mention of anyone's religion.
Response by the Minister of Foreign Affairs
Signed by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): Rob Oliphant
The Government of Canada is very concerned by the ongoing persecution of Pakistan’s religious minorities, including the Ahmadi Muslim community, Hindus, Sikhs, Christians and Shia Muslims. The promotion and protection of human rights, including freedom of religion or belief and freedom of expression, remains a priority in Canada’s engagement with Pakistan. Religious intolerance and discrimination, no matter its form, are completely unacceptable.
Canada and other members of the international community have been following closely the persecution of the Ahmadi Muslim community in Pakistan with concern, including disenfranchisement in Pakistan’s electoral processes and access to the right to vote. Canada supports the free, fair, and inclusive participation of members of the Ahmadi Muslim community in the electoral process, including by removing Section 48A in Pakistan’s Election Act 2017.
Canada consistently calls on Pakistan to respect, protect and promote freedom of religion or belief for all, and will continue to advocate for these values to be upheld. Canada has made its views on human rights and freedom of religion or belief known directly to Pakistani government officials at the federal and provincial level, as well as with the Pakistani High Commission in Ottawa, as recently as January 2023.
Canada continues to engage first hand with the Ahmadi Muslim community and works to support civil society actors, human rights defenders, and local advocates. The Canadian High Commission in Pakistan also closely monitors specific cases of human rights violations and has engaged with government and civil society stakeholders to support victims, including by facilitating their access to legal advice and assistance.
Canada also works with international partners to protect and promote freedom of religion or belief, including through the International Contact Group on Freedom of Religion or Belief (ICG-FoRB), which Canada established in 2015 to encourage and deepen multilateral coordination on this critical issue. Canada uses its position of leadership at the ICG FoRB to advocate on behalf of persecuted faith and belief communities internationally, including the Ahmadi Muslim Community in Pakistan.
The Government of Canada will remain steadfast in its engagement on this issue, as well as other human rights concerns.
- Presented to the House of Commons
-
Lindsay Mathyssen
(London—Fanshawe)
February 8, 2023 (Petition No. 441-01122) - Government response tabled
- March 23, 2023
Only validated signatures are counted towards the total number of signatures.