Mian Abdul Haq, a Pakistani Muslim cleric, is among 30 human rights violators sanctioned by the UK, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly announced on Friday (Dec 9) to mark International Anti-Corruption Day and Human Rights Day.&nbsp;

Haq of the Bharchundi Sharif shrine, Sindh has been accused of forced conversions and marriages of girls and women from minorities, including Hindus. He is a politician in Sindh with a fair amount of influence and has been criticised for the forced confessions, the PTI&nbsp; news agency reported.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/imran-khan-and-rajapaksa-2022-was-a-year-of-political-ousters-in-south-asia-541811">Also read |&nbsp;Imran Khan and Rajapaksa: 2022 was a year of political ousters in South Asia</a>

"It is our duty to promote free and open societies around the world. Today, our sanctions go further to expose those behind the heinous violations of our most fundamental rights to the account. We are committed to using every lever at our disposal to secure a future of freedom over fear," said Cleverly.&nbsp;

The sanction package includes individuals and entities involved in activities like torturing prisoners, mobilisation of troops to rape civilians and many more.&nbsp;

These sanctions include freezing assets and a travel ban on the violators. It also prevents UK citizens and businesses from having financial deals or resources owned by the person.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/fighting-for-nations-freedom-imran-khan-announces-a-11-day-campaign-for-long-march-warns-ruling-govt-541041">Also read |&nbsp;'Fighting for nation's true freedom': Imran Khan announces 11-day campaign for long march</a>

Andrey Tishenin from the Russian Federal Security Service in Crimea and Artur Shambazov, a senior detective, are also on the list for torturing Ukrainian Oleksandr Kostenko in 2015.&nbsp;

Uganda's Kale Kayihura, the Inspector General of Police, has been sanctioned for overlooking several human rights violations in the country between 2005 and 2018.&nbsp;

The list further includes top Iranian officials and the Myanmar junta for sexual abuse.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Mian Abdul Haq, a Pakistani Muslim cleric, is among 30 human rights violators sanctioned by the UK, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly announced on Friday (Dec 9) to mark International Anti-Corruption Day and Human Rights Day.

Mian Abdul Haq, a Pakistani Muslim cleric, is among 30 human rights violators sanctioned by the UK, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly announced on Friday (Dec 9) to mark International Anti-Corruption Day and Human Rights Day. Haq of the Bharchundi Sharif shrine, Sindh has been accused of forced conversions and marriages of girls and women from minorities, including Hindus. He is a politician in Sindh with a fair amount of influence and has been criticised for the forced confessions, the PTI news agency reported. Also read | Imran Khan and Rajapaksa: 2022 was a year of political ousters in South Asia "It is our duty to promote free and open societies around the world. Today, our sanctions go further to expose those behind the heinous violations of our most fundamental rights to the account. We are committed to using every lever at our disposal to secure a future of freedom over fear," said Cleverly. The sanction package includes individuals and entities involved in activities like torturing prisoners, mobilisation of troops to rape civilians and many more. These sanctions include freezing assets and a travel ban on the violators. It also prevents UK citizens and businesses from having financial deals or resources owned by the person. Also read | 'Fighting for nation's true freedom': Imran Khan announces 11-day campaign for long march Andrey Tishenin from the Russian Federal Security Service in Crimea and Artur Shambazov, a senior detective, are also on the list for torturing Ukrainian Oleksandr Kostenko in 2015. Uganda's Kale Kayihura, the Inspector General of Police, has been sanctioned for overlooking several human rights violations in the country between 2005 and 2018. The list further includes top Iranian officials and the Myanmar junta for sexual abuse. (With inputs from agencies)

Pak cleric accused of forced conversions among list of 30 entities sanctioned by the UK

In a televised fundraiser, a top Pakistani cleric blamed the Coronavirus pandemic on 'scantily dressed women'. Instead of rebuking the cleric, the Pak PM shifted blame and accused Bollywood of corrupting Pakistan's youth.

Gravitas: Coronavirus: Pakistan's misogyny in the face of death

A prominent Pakistani cleric has stoked controversy after his bizarre remarks relating to the coronavirus pandemic which he claimed was due to God's wrath in view of increasing obscenity and nudity.

Rights activists and members of civil society have condemned the remarks made by religious leader Maulana Tariq Jamil on national television during Prime Minister Imran Khan's telethon on April 23 to raise funds for the people affected by the COVID-19.

Maulana Jamil, who has a huge following in Pakistan, said, "Obscenity and nudity are the reasons behind God's wrath in the form of coronavirus."

Who is making my nation's daughters dance. Their dresses are getting shortened. Allah sends his wrath when obscenity is common in society,? he said.

The remarks have been called "callous and demeaning" to women who make up half of the Muslim majority country.

Barrister Maleeka Bokhari, parliamentary secretary of law and justice, tweeted: The spread of a pandemic must never and under no circumstances be correlated or linked to a woman's piety or morality.

It is dangerous to make this correlation as violent crimes against women/girls continue to take place with impunity.

Federal Minister of Human Rights Shireen Mazari said: We will not accept the targeting of women on the pretext of such ludicrous accusations. We in Pakistan have fought hard for claiming our rights as enshrined in the Constitution of Pakistan.

Criticising the cleric for his "ludicrous" remarks about women in Pakistan, she said: Simply absurd for anyone under any guise to even suggest the COVID-19 pandemic is a result of women wearing short sleeves or because of private schools/universities misleading the youth. This simply reflects either ignorance about pandemics or a misogynist mindset which is absolutely unacceptable.

Nida Aly, director of the Asma Jahangir Legal Aid cell, said while women under lockdown needed security from the community, the government trotted out Tariq Jamil on a broadly televised programme who not just objectified women but declared them and their individualist actions to bring the wrath of God and punishment in the form of COVID-19."

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said: We are appalled at Maulana Jamil's statement which inexplicably correlated women's modesty' to the COVID-19 pandemic. Such blatant objectification is unacceptable and, when aired on public television, only compounds the misogyny entrenched in society.

In Pakistan, nearly 12,000 people have been infected with the novel coronavirus while the death toll has reached 253.&nbsp;

A prominent Pakistani cleric has stoked controversy after his bizarre remarks relating to the coronavirus pandemic which he claimed was due to God's wrath in view of increasing obscenity and nudity.

A prominent Pakistani cleric has stoked controversy after his bizarre remarks relating to the coronavirus pandemic which he claimed was due to God's wrath in view of increasing obscenity and nudity. Rights activists and members of civil society have condemned the remarks made by religious leader Maulana Tariq Jamil on national television during Prime Minister Imran Khan's telethon on April 23 to raise funds for the people affected by the COVID-19. Maulana Jamil, who has a huge following in Pakistan, said, "Obscenity and nudity are the reasons behind God's wrath in the form of coronavirus." Who is making my nation's daughters dance. Their dresses are getting shortened. Allah sends his wrath when obscenity is common in society,? he said. The remarks have been called "callous and demeaning" to women who make up half of the Muslim majority country. Barrister Maleeka Bokhari, parliamentary secretary of law and justice, tweeted: The spread of a pandemic must never and under no circumstances be correlated or linked to a woman's piety or morality. It is dangerous to make this correlation as violent crimes against women/girls continue to take place with impunity. Federal Minister of Human Rights Shireen Mazari said: We will not accept the targeting of women on the pretext of such ludicrous accusations. We in Pakistan have fought hard for claiming our rights as enshrined in the Constitution of Pakistan. Criticising the cleric for his "ludicrous" remarks about women in Pakistan, she said: Simply absurd for anyone under any guise to even suggest the COVID-19 pandemic is a result of women wearing short sleeves or because of private schools/universities misleading the youth. This simply reflects either ignorance about pandemics or a misogynist mindset which is absolutely unacceptable. Nida Aly, director of the Asma Jahangir Legal Aid cell, said while women under lockdown needed security from the community, the government trotted out Tariq Jamil on a broadly televised programme who not just objectified women but declared them and their individualist actions to bring the wrath of God and punishment in the form of COVID-19." The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said: We are appalled at Maulana Jamil's statement which inexplicably correlated women's modesty' to the COVID-19 pandemic. Such blatant objectification is unacceptable and, when aired on public television, only compounds the misogyny entrenched in society. In Pakistan, nearly 12,000 people have been infected with the novel coronavirus while the death toll has reached 253.

Coronavirus pandemic God's wrath for obscenity, nudity: Pak cleric

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Pak cleric accused of forced conversions among list of 30 entities sanctioned by the UK

Gravitas: Coronavirus: Pakistan's misogyny in the face of death

Coronavirus pandemic God's wrath for obscenity, nudity: Pak cleric