Shahbaz bhatti profile by sanford
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He remembered him as "a great person loved by so many" and a "man of vision" who acted to combat discrimination against religious minorities. Bhatti's death was not in vain, and his legacy will continue to inspire and encourage us to keep pressing on until his vision is realized," she said.
Sam Brownback, the U.S. government's former religious freedom ambassador, characterized Bhatti as "a saint of the modern religious freedom movement around the world."
"He spoke out with clarity.
My brother Shahbaz Bhatti made the ultimate sacrifice of his life."
"I am here to share that giving up and letting his enemy win is not an option. Trudeau praised Bhatti, saying he "stood courageously for what he believed in." He praised his "unwavering sacrifice against injustice."
Gayle Manchin, chair of the U.S.
Commission on International Freedom, said the commission had a "very close" relationship with Bhatti, supporting his religious freedom advocacy and then working with him in his cabinet role. Bhatti also spearheaded the organisation of a National Interfaith Consultation in July 2010, which brought together senior religious leaders of all faiths from across Pakistan and resulted in a joint declaration against terrorism.
Assassination
Bhatti had been the recipient of death threats since 2009, when he spoke in support of Pakistani Christians attacked in the 2009 Gojra riots in Punjab Province.
"He challenged the forces of violence and darkness who threatened him daily, and refused to be silent… Some of us must take small sacrifices in the fight for justice and equality. It's a must-read for Catholics who care about religious freedom. Although he "always radiated such happiness," he carried grief over the unjustly imprisoned and the innocent people killed at a place of worship by suicide bombers.
Bhatti himself foretold his death and recorded a video, which was to be released in case of his death, where he said “I believe in Jesus Christ who has given his own life for us, and I am ready to die for a cause. His forerunners had been proposed only a state minister position.
Early life
He was well conscious a representative of the religious minorities in Pakistan in 1985 then he joined Pakistani People’s Party (PPP) in 2002 as a political leader.
Canadian MP Ruby Sahota gave a greeting and message on behalf of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. He is a renowned politician, belonged to Pakistan People’s Party. It is the duty of all of us to carry on his mission and vision," said Peter Bhatti, who now chairs the Canada-based advocacy group International Christian Voice.
He was among the many speakers at the March 2 online memorial for Bhatti hosted by the Religious Freedom Institute.
Shahbaz Bhatti, a Catholic, served as Pakistan's Federal Minister of Minorities Affairs from 2008 to 2011.
In January the advocacy group Open Doors' World Watch List ranked Pakistan among the top five countries where Christians face the worst persecution in the world.
Shahbaz Bhatti
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When Shahbaz Bhatti, the lone Christian in Pakistan's cabinet and a determined campaigner for the rights of Christians and members of other faiths was killed, his Taliban-affiliated assassins probably hoped it would be the end of his influence.
At the time of the attack he was alone, without any security. The commission facilitated his visit to D.C. in 2009, introducing him to policy makers and giving him an award for his "courageous work defending the rights of all Pakistanis, especially religious minorities." The commission knew the danger he faced. I'm living for my community ...
Please do not take it for granted," he said. Allen does not skip over the criticism Bhatti faced, even among some Christians, for his "pugnacious" activism and his use of partisan politics in the advancement of religious rights. The group Tehrik-i-Taliban told the BBC that they carried out the attack, because Bhatti was a “known blasphemer.” A Roman Catholic who had criticized Pakistan’s blasphemy law, his death follows that of Punjab governor Salman Taseer, who was also assassinated amid the controversy over the blasphemy law.
On the day following Bhatti’s assassination, hundreds of Christian demonstrators reportedly took to the streets across Punjab, with protesters burning tires and demanding justice.
According to Minorities Concern of Pakistan, “Investigators are divided over the assassination case with some in the Islamabad police pointing the fingers at the Taliban and al-Qaeda.