Open Letter to the United Nations Human Rights Council
Topic: Pakistan’s Religion-Based Constitution: Fueling Global Terrorism
Re: A Global Appeal to Abolish Religious Supremacy in Law
This open letter was officially submitted to the United Nations Human Rights Council’s Special Procedures on May 19, 2025, and is currently under review (Submission Ref: b043dr3p).
Noble World Foundation
Chicago, USA
https://nobleworld.org
May 18, 2025
To the Distinguished Members of the United Nations Human Rights Council,
Noble World Foundation (NWF) calls upon the UNHRC to address Pakistan’s constitutional enshrinement of religious supremacy—a violation of fundamental human rights and a catalyst of global terrorism. While numerous sources analyze Pakistan’s religious laws, NWF is the first organization to expose constitutional religious supremacy as a root cause of global terrorism.
Constitutional Discrimination in Pakistan
Pakistan’s Constitution excludes non-Muslims from leadership, institutionalizing religious discrimination:
Article 41(2): “A person shall not be qualified for election as President unless he is a Muslim…”
Article 91(3): “…proceed to elect without debate one of its Muslim members to be the Prime Minister.”
These provisions contradict Pakistan’s commitments under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR):
Article 1: All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.
Article 18: Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion.
Article 21: Everyone has the right to take part in their country’s government and have equal access to public service.
Deadly Consequences of Religious Supremacy
On April 22, 2025, militants near Pahalgam, Kashmir segregated civilians by religion, executing Hindu and Christian men in front of their families. This atrocity underscores the deadly consequences of religious supremacy embedded in law.
A constitution that elevates one religion above others signals that some lives hold more value, fostering discrimination, extremism, and violence.
The Spiritual and Historical Perspective
Religion is not innate—it is imposed by society and reinforced by tradition. We are born without religion and leave the world the same way. Regardless of religion or nationality, everyone’s blood color remains the same — red. It is in recognizing this shared humanity that the true path to lasting peace begins.
Islam originated with Prophet Muhammad (570–632 A.D.), following his divine revelation in 610 A.D.—before then, no Muslims existed. Elevating one religion above others contradicts history and spiritual universality.
Spiritual leaders have long upheld the oneness of humanity:
Shiv R. Jhawar, founder of NWF, writes in Building a Noble World:
“No one is born into this world with a religion engraved on their skin. To God, all paths are valid. Who was God before the birth of the founder of your religion?”
Swami Muktananda (1908–1982) rejected religious exclusivity:
“God never made an agreement with any of these religions… He would not have signed a contract with any religious founder saying, ‘You are my exclusive salesman.’”
Ramakrishna Paramahamsa (1836–1886) demonstrated religious unity through practice:
“I have practiced all religions… and found that it is the same God toward whom all are directing their steps, though along different paths.”
When laws favor one religion, they distort both justice and religion—turning religion into a tool of exclusion rather than a bridge to unity.
Global Responsibility
Can democracies like the United States and India remain silent as Pakistan enforces religious apartheid? Silence is complicity.
Pakistan’s Constitution violates:
UDHR: Articles 1, 18, and 21
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR): Articles 18 and 26
UN Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and Discrimination Based on Religion (1981)
UN Human Rights Committee (General Comment No. 22)
Pakistan’s Global Threat
Pakistan is among 19 nations enforcing constitutional restrictions on non-Muslim leadership, including Malaysia, Maldives, Tunisia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Afghanistan. However, Pakistan poses the greatest risk, given its nuclear arsenal, regional influence, and track record of exporting extremism.
This is not just an internal issue—it’s a global security crisis.
Urgent Actions Needed
The UN Human Rights Council must:
DECLARE Articles 41(2) and 91(3) of Pakistan’s Constitution violate international law.
DEMAND Pakistan repeal these provisions and commit to constitutional reform.
APPOINT a Special Rapporteur to investigate religious discrimination in governance.
CONVENE an emergency session on systemic religious exclusion in national laws.
IMPLEMENT sanctions against nations sustaining legal religious supremacy.
A Defining Global Choice
Religious identity laws degrade human dignity, distort spiritual truth, and breed violence. A government that marginalizes its own people cannot credibly advocate for human rights.
The world faces a choice:
End legalized religious supremacy—or continue counting its victims. Extremism cannot be defeated while its legal foundations remain intact. The time for action is now.
In the spirit of unity and justice,
Shiv R. Jhawar, MAS, EA, CA
Founder, Noble World Foundation
UN Letter:
Press Release: prlog.org/13075914
Book: Building a Noble World — amazon.com/dp/097491970
CC:
UN Secretary-General
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
Permanent Representatives of UN Member States