“This demonstration is to condemn the violence of the Taliban, al Qaeda and all these extremists,” said one 21-year-old US protester of Pakistani descent, who introduced himself as Komal. “They are not considered Muslims, because they are doing what the Holy Quran is against,” he said.
The march -- in which many women and children participated -- started outside the UN headquarters and ended at the Pakistani consulate.
Demonstrators carried signs bearing slogans such as "Stop the violence. We are people of peace".
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Embassy in Washington DC issued a statement to express solidarity with the Shia community. The embassy reiterated that protecting and promoting the fundamental rights of all citizens of Pakistan regardless of their religion or ethnicity is a sacred mission of the government.
The government is determined to prevent such incidents and would not allow the perpetrators of these crimes or other acts of violence against Shias, including target killings, to go unpunished. Law enforcement agencies are working hard to identify, apprehend, and bring all such villains to justice, the statement added.
“Human rights are a central pillar of any democratic society. Pakistan is no exception. We have been given clear guidance on this not only from Islam but also by our founding father, Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah,” the statement said.
Furthermore, the embassy will faithfully transmit the petition of the "10,000 Souls March" to the concerned authorities in Pakistan for appropriate and expeditious action.
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