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The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom held this hearing on March 17, 2009. Chair Felice Gaer's opening comments described the subject of the hearing: "the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom will examine the threat that religious extremism poses to security, human rights, and religious freedom in Pakistan. The domestic political crisis in Pakistan this past weekend, and the restriction of human rights and freedoms during it, underline the difficulties U.S. policymakers face in dealing with that strategic country. The Commission has been concerned about a rising threat of religious extremism that promotes violence in Pakistan and South Asia, one of the world’s most troubled regions.
This is the third in the U.S. Commission’s series of hearings exploring the nexus of religious extremism and security, and the impact of religious extremism on freedom of thought, conscience and religion and other human rights. The first was on Sudan, September 24, 2008; the second on Bangladesh, December 4.
Our five distinguished witnesses today and my fellow Commissioners will explore the dimensions and manifestations of religious extremism in Pakistan today and what the United States government can do to help Pakistan counter the ongoing threat of religious extremism and other severe violations of human rights."
