CHRISTIANOPHOBIA IS REAL: LEAD MINISTRIES CALLS ON UN GENEVA TO RECOGNISE ANTI-CHRISTIAN HATRED AND PERSECUTION

AN OPEN LETTER TO UN GENEVA

CHRISTIANOPHOBIA IS REAL: AN URGENT APPEAL FOR EQUAL RECOGNITION OF ANTI-CHRISTIAN HATRED IN UN GENEVA'S PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS

To: The Director-General, United Nations Office at Geneva

Attention: UN Geneva Social Media Editorial and Communications Team

SUBJECT: An Appeal to Include Christianophobia in UN Geneva’s Campaigns Against Religious Hatred and Intolerance

Dear UN Geneva Communications Team,

I am writing to express my concern regarding a recent publication on the official UN Geneva Facebook page, which stated:

“Racism, xenophobia, antisemitism & Islamophobia are poisoning our societies. We must fight them — wherever and whenever they appear.”

Reference: UN Geneva Facebook publication on Sunday 1^st November 2026 at 2:30 PM

https://web.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1551610310335600&id=100064599373095&rdid=kWLpGGzyb3B1XrOF#

I wholeheartedly support the United Nations’ commitment to combating racism, xenophobia, antisemitism, Islamophobia, and all forms of discrimination and hatred.

However, I respectfully wish to raise an important question:

Why was Christianophobia not mentioned?

Is hatred, discrimination, and persecution directed against Christians not equally deserving of recognition and condemnation?

Christianophobia is a serious concern. Christians in different parts of the world experience discrimination, intimidation, hostility, attacks on churches, restrictions on religious freedom, violence, and persecution because of their Christian faith.

Their suffering deserves international recognition, attention, and solidarity.

1. CHRISTIANOPHOBIA IS RECOGNISED WITHIN THE UNITED NATIONS SYSTEM

The recognition of Christianophobia is not merely a request from Christian communities. It has also been addressed in United Nations documents.

UN Human Rights Council Resolution A/HRC/RES/58/5, adopted on 2 April 2025, addresses religious intolerance and discrimination, including Christianophobia.

Furthermore, UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/80/202, adopted in December 2025, recognises Christianophobia alongside Islamophobia and antisemitism.

These developments make it particularly important that Christianophobia is also reflected in public awareness campaigns and communications addressing religious hatred.

If Christianophobia is recognised within the United Nations system, it should not be overlooked in public messages promoting equality, religious freedom, and mutual respect.

2. A PERSONAL APPEAL FROM A REFUGEE AND HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER

This issue is particularly meaningful to me because I am also a refugee in Sri Lanka and have personally experienced the challenges and concerns associated with refugee life and international protection.

Following the tragic Easter Sunday terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka in 2019, concerns about the safety and protection of religious minorities received international attention.

During meetings with concerned UNHCR officials in Colombo, we became aware of discussions about international resettlement opportunities for different religious communities.

As I understood from those discussions, particular resettlement opportunities or admission arrangements were available for Ahmadiyya Muslim refugees, while comparable dedicated arrangements for Christian refugees were not available.

There were also concerns among Christian refugees that many Christian asylum applications were unsuccessful and that their protection needs did not receive comparable attention.

I share this experience not to question or diminish the protection and support given to Ahmadiyya Muslims or any other persecuted community. Every person fleeing persecution deserves dignity, protection, and a fair opportunity to rebuild their life.

However, the suffering of Christian refugees must also be recognised and given appropriate international attention.

The protection of one persecuted religious community should never mean overlooking the suffering of another.

As a refugee and human rights defender, I strongly believe that international advocacy must recognise the persecution of Christians with the same seriousness, compassion, and commitment afforded to all other communities facing religious hatred and discrimination.

Our appeal is not for preferential treatment. It is an appeal for equality, fairness, dignity, and equal recognition.

3. OUR FIVE URGENT APPEALS TO UN GENEVA

In light of these concerns, I respectfully call upon UN Geneva and its communications team to:

1. Explicitly recognise Christianophobia

Include Christianophobia alongside antisemitism and Islamophobia in relevant public awareness campaigns addressing religious hatred and intolerance.

2. Ensure equal recognition of all religious communities

Give anti-Christian hatred, discrimination, and persecution appropriate visibility in international human rights messaging.

3. Raise awareness of Christian persecution

Give greater attention to Christians experiencing violence, threats, discrimination, attacks on churches, and restrictions on their freedom of religion or belief.

4. Promote inclusive and consistent messaging

Ensure that campaigns against religious hatred recognise all religious communities and leave no persecuted group behind.

5. Reflect the United Nations’ commitment in public communications

Review future social media publications and awareness campaigns to ensure that Christianophobia is appropriately acknowledged wherever religious hatred and intolerance are being addressed.

4. HUMAN RIGHTS MUST NOT HAVE DOUBLE STANDARDS

The United Nations represents the principles of equality, justice, dignity, and fundamental human rights.

These principles should be reflected not only in international resolutions and declarations but also in everyday public communications.

Recognising hatred against one religious community while overlooking hatred against another can create an impression that some communities receive greater visibility than others.

Our intention is not to compare suffering or compete over whose persecution deserves greater attention.

We stand against hatred directed at Muslims, Jews, Christians, and people of every other religious or belief community.

If we say NO to Islamophobia, we must also say NO to antisemitism and NO to Christianophobia.

Religious freedom is a universal human right. It must be protected equally for everyone, everywhere.

5. OUR MESSAGE TO UN GENEVA

I respectfully urge the UN Geneva Social Media Editorial and Communications Team to reconsider the wording of its public awareness campaigns and explicitly include Christianophobia in future messages addressing religious intolerance.

The voices of persecuted Christians must not remain unheard. Their suffering must not be forgotten, and their experiences must not be excluded from international human rights discussions.

The world needs a consistent message against all forms of religious hatred.

CHRISTIANOPHOBIA IS REAL. CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION IS REAL. THE WORLD MUST NOT IGNORE IT.

We call upon UN Geneva to demonstrate its commitment to equality and inclusiveness by giving appropriate recognition to anti-Christian hatred alongside other forms of religious intolerance.

I would welcome an official response to this appeal and hope that this concern will receive serious consideration.

NO DOUBLE STANDARDS. NO SELECTIVE SOLIDARITY. NO RELIGIOUS HATRED.

EQUAL DIGNITY. EQUAL RECOGNITION. EQUAL HUMAN RIGHTS FOR ALL.

Yours sincerely,

Sardar Mushtaq Gill

Human Rights Defender | Lawyer

Founder & International Advocacy Director

LEAD Ministries

Advocating for religious freedom, human dignity, justice, and the protection of persecuted Christians worldwide.

Reference: UN Geneva Facebook publication on Sunday 1^st November 2026 at 2:30 PM

https://web.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1551610310335600&id=100064599373095&rdid=kWLpGGzyb3B1XrOF#

Nearly 400 Million Christians Face Persecution: Bishop James Curry's Powerful Appeal for Religious Freedom and Global Solidarity

Nearly 400 million Christians reportedly face persecution because of their faith. Bishop James Curry's powerful appeal deserves international recognition and solidarity. Religious freedom is a universal human right, not a privilege. The world must move beyond words and prayers towards meaningful action, justice and accountability. No one should be threatened, silenced or persecuted for believing, worshipping or practising their faith. Stand with the persecuted. Defend religious freedom. Uphold human dignity.

By Sardar Mushtaq Gill

Founder and International Advocacy Director of LEAD Ministries | Human Rights Defender and Lawyer

The warning by Bishop James Curry that nearly 400 million Christians worldwide live in fear of persecution because of their faith deserves serious international attention and recognition. His appeal, made in connection with International Freedom of Religion or Belief Day, is a powerful reminder of the suffering experienced by Christian communities across the world and the urgent need to defend the fundamental right to freedom of religion or belief.

Sardar Mushtaq Gill expresses his deep appreciation for Bishop Curry's commitment to highlighting the plight of persecuted Christians. His message deserves recognition for bringing renewed attention to a human rights crisis that must never be ignored or treated with indifference.

Bishop Curry's call for greater support for religious freedom and prayers for persecuted Christians reflects an important moral responsibility shared by religious leaders, governments, human rights organisations and the international community. Millions of Christians continue to face threats, discrimination, intimidation and violence because of their religious convictions. Their suffering demands compassion, solidarity and meaningful international attention.

The reported figure of nearly 400 million Christians living under the threat of persecution is deeply concerning. Behind this figure are individuals, families and entire communities whose freedom, security and dignity are threatened because of their faith. In different parts of the world, Christians face restrictions on worship, attacks on religious communities, displacement, discrimination and other serious human rights violations.

Religious persecution is not merely a concern for Christian communities; it is a fundamental human rights issue. Whenever an individual is threatened, discriminated against or denied basic freedoms because of religious beliefs, the universal principles of equality, justice and human dignity are undermined.

Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights guarantees every individual the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This fundamental right belongs to every human being, regardless of religious identity, nationality or background. No government, institution or individual should deny another person the freedom to practise their faith peacefully.

Bishop Curry's appeal is particularly important because international awareness is essential to confronting religious persecution. The voices of church leaders and religious institutions can help bring attention to suffering that frequently receives insufficient recognition. His call for prayers also reminds Christians worldwide not to forget those who remain steadfast in their faith despite threats, hardship and persecution.

However, expressions of solidarity must be accompanied by meaningful action. The international community must strengthen efforts to document human rights violations, protect vulnerable religious minorities, support victims and pursue accountability for those responsible for abuses. Governments and international institutions must ensure that freedom of religion or belief is protected not only in legal declarations but also in practice.

Through LEAD Ministries, the importance of international advocacy, human rights documentation and the protection of persecuted Christians and other vulnerable religious minorities remains central to its mission. Stronger cooperation among human rights defenders, lawyers, churches, civil society organisations and international institutions is essential to ensuring that victims are heard and their fundamental rights are respected.

Bishop James Curry's message deserves sincere appreciation for drawing attention to this urgent global concern. His appeal reinforces the importance of standing together in defence of religious freedom and remembering Christians who continue to suffer because of their faith.

The international community must not remain silent when religious freedom is violated. Persecution anywhere is a serious challenge to the universal values of human dignity, justice and equality. Protecting religious freedom requires more than expressions of concern; it demands courage, commitment, accountability and sustained international action.

A Strong Message to the International Community

Religious freedom is not a privilege granted by governments or societies; it is a fundamental human right. Every person must be free to believe, worship and practise their faith without fear of persecution. The suffering of persecuted Christians must not be forgotten, their voices must not be silenced, and their rights must not be sacrificed to religious intolerance.

The international community must move beyond words and declarations towards concrete measures that protect vulnerable communities and hold perpetrators of religious persecution accountable.

Silence in the face of religious persecution must never become acceptance. Defending the right of every person to practice their faith is a shared responsibility of humanity.

AN OPEN LETTER TO PAKISTAN'S CHRISTIAN POLITICAL, RELIGIOUS AND CIVIL SOCIETY LEADERSHIP

A Call for Mutual Respect, Unity, Constructive Dialogue and Balanced Christian Family Law Reforms

Sardar Mushtaq Gill, human rights defender, lawyer, Founder and International Advocacy Director of LEAD Ministries, urges Pakistan’s Christian political, religious, and civil society leadership to respect diverse religious beliefs and opinions, promote constructive dialogue, and work together to develop balanced Christian family laws that harmonize Biblical principles, constitutional protections, and modern civil rights. He warns that the absence of proper Christian family legislation could affect every Christian family and future generations.

By Sardar Mushtaq Gill

Human Rights Defender and Lawyer

Founder and International Advocacy Director, LEAD Ministries

Pakistan | October 31, 2026

An Appeal for Mutual Respect, Religious Tolerance and Collective Responsibility in Addressing Christian Family Laws in Pakistan

Dear Christian Political Leaders, Church Authorities, Religious Scholars, Legal Experts, Human Rights Defenders and Civil Society Representatives,

I am writing this open letter with deep concern, a sincere sense of responsibility, and a commitment to the dignity, religious freedom, and civil rights of Pakistan's Christian community.

As a human rights defender, lawyer, and Founder and International Advocacy Director of LEAD Ministries, I wish to appeal to all Christian political, religious, and civil society leadership to demonstrate mutual respect, tolerance, understanding, and cooperation while addressing the ongoing debate surrounding Christian personal and family laws in Pakistan.

The current discussion surrounding the proposed Christian Family Laws Bill 2026, particularly in Sindh, has highlighted differences of opinion among church authorities, political representatives, Christian organizations, and human rights advocates. These differences deserve serious consideration. However, they must not become a reason for hostility, personal criticism, institutional divisions, or further fragmentation within our Christian community.

I firmly believe that the time has come for our leadership to move beyond disagreements and work together towards a common objective: establishing fair, inclusive, constitutionally sound, and sustainable Christian family laws that protect the rights and dignity of every Christian citizen.

1. Respect One Another’s Religious Beliefs, Faith and Opinions

I respectfully urge all Christian leaders to recognize that Pakistan’s Christian community represents diverse denominations, theological traditions, religious convictions, and institutional structures.

The Catholic Church, Church of Pakistan, Protestant churches, Pentecostal and Evangelical communities, Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist, and other Christian denominations may hold different theological interpretations and institutional positions.

These differences must be respected.

No individual, political representative, church, or organization should assume that it has an exclusive right to speak for the entire Christian community without an appropriate mandate and meaningful consultation.

Participation in a discussion should not automatically be interpreted as institutional endorsement or approval of a proposed law.

Likewise, disagreement with a particular legislative proposal should not result in personal attacks or accusations against those who hold different views.

We must understand that respecting another person’s religious convictions does not mean surrendering our own beliefs. It means recognizing the dignity, freedom, and legitimate right of others to express their positions.

Let us disagree respectfully, communicate responsibly, and work together constructively.

2. Harmonize Biblical Principles with Modern Civil Rights

One of the most important challenges in the present debate is finding an appropriate balance between Biblical principles and modern civil-law requirements.

I urge our church authorities, theologians, Christian lawyers, political representatives, and human rights organizations to consider both perspectives carefully.

The Bible provides the spiritual, moral, and theological foundation of Christian faith. At the same time, civil legislation must address the practical realities of contemporary society and protect the legal rights of individuals and families.

Issues such as marriage registration, minimum marriage age, domestic violence, divorce, judicial separation, maintenance, child custody, inheritance, and access to justice require serious legal consideration.

Neither Biblical principles nor legitimate civil rights should be dismissed or ignored.

We should not create unnecessary confrontation between religious values and modern legal protections. Instead, we should encourage informed discussions that identify areas of compatibility, recognize genuine differences, and develop legally appropriate solutions.

Our objective should be a balanced framework that respects Christian religious convictions while protecting the constitutional and civil rights of every individual.

3. Christian Family Laws Affect Every Christian Family

I particularly wish to emphasize that the issue of Christian family legislation does not belong exclusively to church authorities, politicians, lawyers, or human rights organizations.

It concerns every Christian individual and family in Pakistan.

The absence of comprehensive, clear, and properly enacted Christian family laws could have far-reaching consequences for the entire community, regardless of denomination, gender, age, economic position, or geographical location.

Legal uncertainty and inadequate protections can affect marriage registration, matrimonial disputes, maintenance, inheritance, children's welfare, and access to justice.

Christian women, children, married couples, and future generations may experience the consequences of legislative shortcomings.

We must therefore recognize that this is not merely a political or institutional disagreement. It is a matter affecting the everyday lives, dignity, security, and future of ordinary Christian families.

If we fail to work together today, the consequences may be experienced by generations of Christians tomorrow.

For this reason, I urge every stakeholder to treat the matter with urgency, seriousness, and collective responsibility.

4. Protect Women, Children and Christian Families Through Fair and Comprehensive Legislation

I strongly urge all relevant stakeholders to work towards developing comprehensive, fair, and effective Christian family legislation that safeguards the rights and dignity of Christian families while upholding Biblical principles, religious convictions, constitutional guarantees, and contemporary civil rights.

In particular, the following matters deserve serious consideration and appropriate legislative attention:

• Minimum Legal Marriage Age: Establishing 18 years as the minimum legal marriage age for both Christian men and women, ensuring equal protection and preventing child marriage.
• Christian Identity of Marriage Partners: Clearly defining the religious eligibility of parties seeking to solemnize and register their marriage under Christian family laws. The proposed legislation should consider requiring both prospective spouses to be Christians by faith, with their religious identity genuinely established and acknowledged. This provision should be developed through meaningful consultation with church authorities, theologians, Christian legal experts, and constitutional specialists to ensure that Christian marriage legislation reflects the religious identity and established principles of the Christian community.
• Marriage Registration: Establishing transparent, accessible, and effective marriage registration procedures that provide Christian couples with proper legal recognition, documentation, and protection.
• Free and Informed Consent: Ensuring that every marriage is entered into voluntarily, without coercion, intimidation, deception, or any form of exploitation.
• Divorce and Judicial Separation: Establishing clearly defined, fair, and legally accessible grounds and procedures for divorce and judicial separation, taking into account Christian theological principles as well as the legitimate civil rights and protection needs of both spouses.
• Protection Against Domestic Violence: Providing effective legal safeguards and appropriate remedies for individuals experiencing domestic violence, cruelty, abuse, or other forms of marital mistreatment.
• Rights and Welfare of Children: Ensuring comprehensive protection of children's rights, particularly regarding custody, maintenance, education, upbringing, and overall welfare.
• Religious Conversion: Ensuring that a change of religious belief or conversion, by itself, does not automatically constitute an independent ground for divorce. Any associated circumstances, such as abandonment, coercion, or other legally recognized matrimonial misconduct, should be examined separately and fairly by competent courts.
• Equality and Access to Justice: Guaranteeing equal legal protection and access to justice for Christian men and women without discrimination, while respecting their religious convictions and fundamental rights.

I strongly believe that these matters require comprehensive examination by qualified Christian lawyers, constitutional experts, theologians, church authorities, human rights defenders, and representatives of Christian civil society.

Christian family legislation must not merely modernize existing laws; it must also preserve the religious identity of Christian marriage, protect the sanctity of family life, safeguard individual rights, and provide effective legal remedies in accordance with the Constitution and the legitimate needs of contemporary society.

The ultimate objective should be to establish a balanced legal framework that respects Christian faith and traditions while ensuring justice, dignity, equality, and security for every Christian family in Pakistan.

5. Respect Church Autonomy and Article 20 of Pakistan’s Constitution

I also urge the government and lawmakers to give serious consideration to Article 20 of Pakistan’s Constitution.

Article 20 guarantees citizens the freedom to profess, practice, and propagate their religion, subject to constitutional limitations. It also recognizes the right of religious denominations and sects to establish, maintain, and manage their religious institutions.

Church autonomy is an important consideration in any discussion concerning Christian religious and family affairs.

The government should ensure that legislation does not unnecessarily interfere with the legitimate independence of church institutions or disregard the theological convictions of different Christian denominations.

At the same time, the constitutional rights and civil protections of individual Christian citizens must remain equally important.

We need a framework that respects both institutional religious freedom and individual human dignity.

6. Learn from Asian and Western Countries

I also encourage our political and religious leadership to study international experiences concerning the relationship between religious institutions and civil family laws.

Countries such as India and the Philippines provide examples of legal frameworks recognizing Christian marriage traditions and the role of authorized religious representatives.

The United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia also offer different approaches to recognizing religious marriage practices within broader civil legal systems.

These experiences can provide useful lessons concerning marriage registration, legal age, religious freedom, family protection, and civil judicial remedies.

However, Pakistan should not simply copy foreign legislation. Our legal framework must reflect our own Constitution, religious diversity, social circumstances, and the legitimate needs of our Christian population.

International experiences should serve as references for informed discussion rather than unquestioned legal models.

7. Establish a Common Platform for Consultation and Cooperation

I strongly urge Christian political, religious, and civil society leadership to establish an inclusive platform for meaningful consultation.

Such a platform should bring together:

• Catholic and Protestant church authorities.
• Pentecostal, Evangelical, Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist, and other Christian denominations.
• Christian political representatives and parliamentarians.
• Christian lawyers and constitutional experts.
• Human rights defenders and civil society organizations.
• Women’s rights advocates and child protection representatives.
• Representatives of ordinary Christian families.

This platform should provide an opportunity for every stakeholder to present concerns, discuss disagreements, submit legal recommendations, and identify areas of common understanding.

Consultation must be genuine, transparent, and meaningful. It should not be treated as a formality or interpreted as automatic approval of a proposed bill.

I also encourage church authorities and political representatives to document their positions clearly so that misunderstandings concerning institutional consent and endorsement can be avoided.

8. Do Not Allow Personal or Institutional Differences to Divide Our Community

I respectfully appeal to all Christian leaders to exercise responsibility in their public statements, political engagements, and interactions with one another.

Our community needs leadership that builds bridges rather than creates divisions.

We should not allow personal interests, institutional rivalries, political differences, or disagreements over theological interpretations to undermine the common interests of Christian citizens.

The protection of Christian families, religious freedom, constitutional rights, and equal citizenship must remain our shared priorities.

We may have different approaches, but we should be united in our commitment to justice, dignity, and the welfare of our people.

My Appeal to the Government and Political Leadership

I also urge Pakistan’s federal and provincial governments, parliamentarians, and relevant legislative committees to ensure that proposed Christian family-law reforms are developed through comprehensive consultation with the affected communities.

The government should provide adequate opportunities for church leadership, Christian legal experts, women’s representatives, and civil society organizations to examine proposed provisions and submit recommendations.

Legislative reform should not be rushed, nor should it be indefinitely delayed.

There must be a genuine commitment to developing appropriate legislation that protects Christian families, respects religious freedom, and provides effective civil remedies.

The responsibility of the state is to ensure equality before the law, protect fundamental rights, and provide justice to all citizens, including religious minorities.

Conclusion: Our Collective Responsibility Is to Protect Future Generations

Dear Christian political, religious, and civil society leaders,

I sincerely believe that the future of Christian family laws in Pakistan requires wisdom, tolerance, cooperation, and responsible leadership.

We must recognize that no individual or institution can resolve these complex matters alone. The participation of political leadership, church authorities, legal professionals, human rights defenders, and ordinary Christian families is essential.

Let us respect one another’s religious faith and theological convictions. Let us acknowledge legitimate differences of opinion. Let us consider Biblical principles alongside modern civil rights and constitutional protections.

Most importantly, let us remember that the consequences of inadequate Christian family legislation will not be limited to the present generation of leaders. They may affect every Christian family and future generations.

I therefore appeal to all stakeholders to put aside unnecessary divisions and work towards a common, inclusive, and sustainable solution.

Our objective should not be to defeat one another's positions, but to develop legislation that protects every Christian family, respects every legitimate religious tradition, safeguards individual rights, and upholds the dignity of Pakistan's Christian community.

Let us choose dialogue over confrontation, cooperation over division, and justice over personal interests.

The time for mutual respect, meaningful consultation, and collective action is now. The future of Christian families in Pakistan deserves nothing less.

With sincere respect and commitment,

Sardar Mushtaq Gill

Human Rights Defender and Lawyer

Founder and International Advocacy Director

LEAD Ministries