Perspectivas / Perspectives

Destacan el notable agravamiento de la situación represiva y señalan que sólo en el mes de agosto se produjeron en la isla al menos 267 detenciones arbitrarias, casi la mitad contra las Damas de Blanco.

Madrid, Sept.2.– El Observatorio Cubano de Derechos Humanos (OCDH), con sede en Madrid, solicita formalmente a la Unión Europea la suspensión del Acuerdo de Diálogo Político y Cooperación con el gobierno de Cuba, debido al agravamiento de la situación represiva en la isla.

"La reunión del próximo 9 de septiembre en La Habana, a la que asistirá la alta representante para Asuntos Exteriores y Política de Seguridad de la UE, Federica Mogherini, debería servir para poner punto final al Acuerdo, debido al incumplimiento flagrante de los compromisos adquiridos por el gobierno cubano en materia de derechos humanos, recogidos en dicho acuerdo", exigió el OCDH.

Las autoridades cubanas han violado, entre otros, el título II del acuerdo, que recoge temas relacionados con la democracia, los derechos humanos y la buena gobernanza; así como el título IV, referido al desarrollo social. El gobierno de Miguel Díaz-Canel ha intensificado la represión contra la prensa independiente y los activistas de la sociedad civil y oposición. Esto se contradice no solamente con los estándares internacionales de derechos humanos, sino con las normas establecidas en la nueva Constitución, aprobada sectariamente por el propio régimen.

‘I hope and pray that the Prime Minister can really put his declarations of intent into practice, since as religious minority in Pakistan we need the protection of our people and places of worship’.– Bishop Samson Shukardin OFM

Christians suffer from institutionalized discrimination, illustrated by the fact that occupations seen as low, dirty and derogatory are officially reserved for Christians. Many Christians are very poor, and some are victims of bonded labor. There are also many Christians belonging to the middle class, but their economic status doesn’t save them from being marginalized or persecuted. The country’s notorious blasphemy laws target religious minorities (including Muslim minorities), but affect the Christian minority in particular, not just the poor.

Christians in Pakistan are dwindling since 2005 under islamic rule to less than 2.5 million or less than 1.5% of the population; 1.4 million are Catholic. Many have emigrated to Europe; most of them to England.

Islamabad, Aug.2.– “The speech of Prime Minister Imran Khan is very encouraging and gives new hope to the religious minorities living in Pakistan. In the past also the leaderships said such nice words but were not able to fulfill them.” This is what Bishop Samson Shukardin OFM, at the head of the Catholic Diocese of Hyderabad said to Fides News Agency. “We were born and brought up in Pakistan,” added the Bishop, “but we still do not get equal rights, it is a sad reality. I hope and pray that the Prime Minister can really put his declarations of intent into practice, since as religious minority in Pakistan we need the protection of our people and places of worship.”

The Franciscan bishop declares, however, that he appreciates the initiatives and provisions that the government led by Imran Khan is already implementing for the benefit of religious minorities.