Virtuous cycle: ‘Religious leaders must promote human rights’

LAHORE:

The Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC) on Wednesday urged prayer leaders across the country to raise awareness regarding human rights during Friday sermons. PUC Central Chairman Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi directed prayer leaders to focus on women’s rights, the status of daughters, communal harmony and the difference between jihad and terrorism. Ashrafi was hosting delegations from schools of thought across the religious spectrum.

Ashrafi said religious and political leaders had a duty towards checking the growth of extremism. He said the need for dialogue among religions was increasing with every passing day. Ashrafi said scholars should educate the public regarding rights of the poor, servants and the dispossessed segments of society during religious lectures and taraveeh prayers.

“It is ironical as to how women get killed in the name of honour and dignity today while infanticide is openly practiced,” Ashrafi said.

Ashrafi urged religious scholars to play an active role in eradicating social ills. He said the time was ripe to denounce discrimination based on sectarian affiliation and to educate people about the challenges that the society was grappling with. He said Friday sermons in mosques affiliated with PUC would be dedicated to basic human rights.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 3^rd, 2014.