Country Information and Guidance Pakistan: Christians and Christian converts Version 2.0 May 2016 Preface This document provides country of origin information (COI) and guidance to Home Office decision makers on handling particular types of protection and human rights claims. This includes whether claims are likely to justify the granting of asylum, humanitarian protection or discretionary leave and whether – in the event of a claim being refused – it is likely to be certifiable as ‘clearly unfounded’ under s94 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002. Decision makers must consider claims on an individual basis, taking into account the case specific facts and all relevant evidence, including: the guidance contained with this document; the available COI; any applicable caselaw; and the Home Office casework guidance in relation to relevant policies. Country Information The COI within this document has been compiled from a wide range of external information sources (usually) published in English. Consideration has been given to the relevance, reliability, accuracy, objectivity, currency, transparency and traceability of the information and wherever possible attempts have been made to corroborate the information used across independent sources, to ensure accuracy. All sources cited have been referenced in footnotes. It has been researched and presented with reference to the Common EU [European Union] Guidelines for Processing Country of Origin Information (COI), dated April 2008, and the European Asylum Support Office’s research guidelines, Country of Origin Information report methodology, dated July 2012. Feedback Our goal is to continuously improve the guidance and information we provide. Therefore, if you would like to comment on this document, please email the Country Policy and Information Team. Independent Advisory Group on Country Information The Independent Advisory Group on Country Information (IAGCI) was set up in March 2009 by the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration to make recommendations to him about the content of the Home Office‘s COI material. The IAGCI welcomes feedback on the Home Office‘s COI material. It is not the function of the IAGCI to endorse any Home Office material, procedures or policy. IAGCI may be contacted at: Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration, 5th Floor, Globe House, 89 Eccleston Square, London, SW1V 1PN. Email: [email protected] Information about the IAGCI‘s work and a list of the COI documents which have been reviewed by the IAGCI can be found on the Independent Chief Inspector‘s website at http://icinspector.independent.gov.uk/country-information-reviews/ Page 2 of 44 Contents Guidance ................................................................................................................... 5 1. Introduction ...................................................................................................... 5 1.1 Basis of Claim .......................................................................................... 5 1.2 Other Points to Note ................................................................................. 5 2. Consideration of Issues ................................................................................... 5 2.1 Credibility .................................................................................................. 5 2.2 Assessment of Risk: Christians ................................................................ 5 2.3 Assessment of risk: Christian converts ..................................................... 7 2.4 Protection: Christians ............................................................................... 8 2.5 Protection: Christian converts ................................................................... 8 2.6 Internal relocation: Christians ................................................................... 8 2.7 Internal relocation: Christian converts ...................................................... 9 2.8 Certification .............................................................................................. 9 3. Policy Summary ............................................................................................... 9 Country Information ............................................................................................... 11 4. Background ................................................................................................... 11 4.2 Official festivals ...................................................................................... 11 5. Demography .................................................................................................. 11 6. Legal rights .................................................................................................... 13 6.1 The Constitution ..................................................................................... 13 6.2 Blasphemy laws ..................................................................................... 14 7. Attacks against Christians ............................................................................. 16 7.2 Women ................................................................................................... 19 7.3 Lawyers, judges, human rights defenders and journalists ...................... 21 7.4 Schools................................................................................................... 23 8. Christian converts .......................................................................................... 23 9. State treatment and attitudes ......................................................................... 25 9.2 State response ....................................................................................... 29 9.3 Use of identity cards and mobile phone data .......................................... 31 10. Societal treatment and attitudes .................................................................... 32 11. Discrimination in employment and education ................................................ 34 11.1 Employment ........................................................................................... 34 11.2 Education ............................................................................................... 36 Annex A: British High Commission letter ............................................................ 38 Page 3 of 44 Annex B: Foreign and Commonwealth Office letter ............................................ 40 Version Control and Contacts ............................................................................... 44 Page 4 of 44 Guidance Updated 10 May 2016 1. Introduction 1.1 Basis of Claim 1.1.1 Fear of persecution or serious harm by the state or non-state actors because the person is a Christian, or has converted to Christianity from Islam. 1.2 Other Points to Note 1.2.1 Decision makers should be aware that there are a number of Christian denominations, each with varying beliefs and practices. For a brief overview, see BBC: Christianity. Back to Contents 2. Consideration of Issues 2.1 Credibility 2.1.1 For further guidance on assessing credibility, see the Asylum Instruction on Assessing Credibility and Refugee Status. 2.1.2 Decision makers must also check if there has been a previous application for a UK visa or another form of leave. Asylum applications matched to visas should be investigated prior to the asylum interview: see the Asylum Instruction on Visa Matches, Asylum Claims from UK Visa Applicants. 2.1.3 Decision makers should also consider the need to conduct language analysis testing: see the Asylum Instruction on Language Analysis. Back to Contents 2.2 Assessment of Risk: Christians 2.2.1 The country guidance (CG) case AK & SK (Christians: risk) Pakistan (CG) [2014] UKUT 569 (IAC) (15 December 2014) held that ‘Christians in Pakistan are a religious minority who, in general, suffer discrimination but this is not sufficient to amount to a real risk of persecution’ (paragraph 240). Treatment by the state 2.2.2 The CG case AK & SK (Christians: risk) Pakistan held that: ‘Unlike the position of Ahmadis, Christians in general are permitted to practise their faith, can attend church, participate in religious activities and have their own schools and hospitals’ (paragraph 241). ‘Evangelism by its very nature involves some obligation to proselytise. Someone who seeks to broadcast their faith to strangers so as to encourage them to convert, may find themselves facing a charge of blasphemy. In that way, evangelical Christians face a greater risk than those Christians who are not publicly active. It will be for the judicial fact-finder to assess on a case by case basis whether, notwithstanding attendance at an evangelical church, it is important to the individual to behave in evangelical ways that may lead to a real risk of persecution’ (paragraph 242). Page 5 of 44 2.2.3 Evidence suggests that both evangelical and non-evangelical Christians face increased discrimination and targeted attacks because of their faith. However, there are a large number of Christians in Pakistan and, whilst some individuals may be at greater risk, taken as a whole the evidence does not indicate that Christians are, in general, subject to a real risk of persecution or inhuman or degrading treatment. 2.2.4 The CG case AK & SK (Christians: risk) Pakistan held that ‘Along with Christians, Sunnis, Shi’as, Ahmadis and Hindus may all be potentially charged with blasphemy. Those citizens who