MCF – the issue of religious minorities in Pakistan
By Denise Nanni and Milena Rampoldi, ProMosaik.
Now let us move to Pakistan where we talked to Emmanuel Gulzar, president and
founder of MCF, the Minority Coverage
Foundation with seat in Lahore. The fundamental objective of this foundation is
to promote human rights in Pakistan and to support religious minorities in the
country.
Now let us move to Pakistan where we talked to Emmanuel Gulzar, president and
founder of MCF, the Minority Coverage
Foundation with seat in Lahore. The fundamental objective of this foundation is
to promote human rights in Pakistan and to support religious minorities in the
country.
The general aim is the protection of religious minorities from hatred,
discriminations of all kinds, violent attacks, and maltreatment in the name of
religion by the extremists and other religious fundamentalists. An important
aspect of the work of MCF is also the interreligious dialogue with Islam and the
Muslim community in Pakistan. With its social projects the MCF supports
children and women of marginalized minority communities.
discriminations of all kinds, violent attacks, and maltreatment in the name of
religion by the extremists and other religious fundamentalists. An important
aspect of the work of MCF is also the interreligious dialogue with Islam and the
Muslim community in Pakistan. With its social projects the MCF supports
children and women of marginalized minority communities.
Why was MCF founded?
MCF was founded to struggle agaisnt the
persecution and discrimination of religious minorities in Pakistan. It was
founded also to raise its voice for human rights of the minorities in Pakistan.
Minority Coverage Foundation was established in 2006 as a
non-profitable and non-governmental organization and was registered in 2007
under the Society Registration Act. XXI of 1860 vide registration no
RP/4062-L/S/07 with (E & IP) department Lahore, Pakistan.
non-profitable and non-governmental organization and was registered in 2007
under the Society Registration Act. XXI of 1860 vide registration no
RP/4062-L/S/07 with (E & IP) department Lahore, Pakistan.
MCF works towards bringing out policies of planning and
development of marginal communities with a view to create an environment in
which deprived communities may be able to transform their lives in self
reliance and self sustainability with respect.
development of marginal communities with a view to create an environment in
which deprived communities may be able to transform their lives in self
reliance and self sustainability with respect.
With the advent of the new millennium people are facing with
formidable challenges as the government spreading on the social sector as
dwindled manifold. During the last few years we have seen a galloping gap
between haves and haves not. MCF is, indeed a manifestation for special love
and composition for deprived communities and society as a whole.
formidable challenges as the government spreading on the social sector as
dwindled manifold. During the last few years we have seen a galloping gap
between haves and haves not. MCF is, indeed a manifestation for special love
and composition for deprived communities and society as a whole.
What are the main social issues that you
address?
address?
We care about minority communities who live a marginalised
life and have social problems like poverty, lack of access to education,
health. We also work to empower women in these marginalised groups of
minorities in Pakistan.
life and have social problems like poverty, lack of access to education,
health. We also work to empower women in these marginalised groups of
minorities in Pakistan.
How do you identify and select the communities
where you intervene?
where you intervene?
In the Islamic Republic of Pakistan there are three kinds of
villages: 1. Muslim Villages, 2. Christian Villages 3. Mixed Villages. The
major problems and issues arise in the mixed villages problems and issues are
in the mixed villages where minorities live a life of humiliation and
degradation under the Muslim landlords. Therefore our target intervention areas
are the mixed villages. In Pakistan there are approximately 2,5 million
Christians.
villages: 1. Muslim Villages, 2. Christian Villages 3. Mixed Villages. The
major problems and issues arise in the mixed villages problems and issues are
in the mixed villages where minorities live a life of humiliation and
degradation under the Muslim landlords. Therefore our target intervention areas
are the mixed villages. In Pakistan there are approximately 2,5 million
Christians.
What are your areas of intervention and what
about your approach?
about your approach?
We organize awareness campaigns to talk about
the problems of Christians in Pakistan. We try to bring communities together,
and are also active in interreligious dialogue. We try to help the communities
by offering education and skills training to them if they are marginalized. In
particular poor workers need awareness to understand their rights as human
beings.
the problems of Christians in Pakistan. We try to bring communities together,
and are also active in interreligious dialogue. We try to help the communities
by offering education and skills training to them if they are marginalized. In
particular poor workers need awareness to understand their rights as human
beings.
Do you cooperate with local authorities and
institutions? If yes, how?
institutions? If yes, how?
We cooperate with local authorities to find people who help us to
implement our awareness campaigns, and to conduct our training programs to help
people to overcome poverty and marginalization by education and empowerment.
implement our awareness campaigns, and to conduct our training programs to help
people to overcome poverty and marginalization by education and empowerment.
