Karachi, December 14, 2022: Prominent Religious scholar and rights activist Imam Allama Ahsan Siddiqui on Saturday received the Human Rights Defenders Award for his work and contribution to outstanding work for human rights and defending human rights defenders in the country.
The Human Rights Award was given to Mr. Ambassador at Large for Global Peace & Human Rights, Chairman Interfaith Commission for Peace & Harmony (ICPH) Imam Allama Muhammad Ahsan Siddiqui here at the “International Human Rights Day 2022” organized by the Pakistan Christian Council International (PCCI) during a ceremony at the Darbar Hall at the Governor’s House Lahore.
Punjab Governor Muhammad Baligh-ur-Rehman was the chief guest at ceremony of ‘Human Rights Defenders Awards’. The lawmakers, academicians, former diplomats, journalists, rights activists, and representatives of civil society participated in the event besides others. The Human Rights Defenders Award is an initiative by PCCI to acknowledge the contribution of Pakistani civil society in peace building, peacemaking, and deradicalization through their works in varied fields. The work includes educating people through their writings or research, bringing social justice and prosperity, and advocating for gender, ethnic or racial equality.
Mr. Ambassador Imam Allama Ahsan Siddiquiis human rights defenders and founder, Chairman of Interfaith Commission for Peace & Harmony (ICPH), a non-profit organization, which works to lift local communities by strengthening opportunities for vulnerable men, women and children. He specializes in defending peace, promoting religious tolerance, religious freedom, minority’s rights, women’s and girls’ rights and provides free counseling and full services to poverty-affected peoples. He showed incredible courage in defending the rights of women, children, religious minorities, peace building, peacemaking and religious freedom. He won many national and international awards for her activism and services in Human Rights.
Mr. Ambassador Imam Allama Ahsan Siddiqui is a strong supporter of protecting the rights of vulnerable communities and peace building through rule of law and justice. He has continued to speak out publicly against discriminatory laws that target religious minorities and encourage extremism, despite criticism and even death threats from militant groups, Imam Allama Ahsan Siddiqui has worked unremittingly to shed light on the victims of Pakistan’s religious minorities, protecting the rights of vulnerable communities, and the fight to protect, promote human rights and conscience and to encourage the government to take necessary steps to promoted religious tolerance. He is currently actively working on ground for rescue and relief efforts of flood-affected people in Pakistan, and his work in a Sindh province where most NGOs cannot reach is commendable.
Speaking to the audience, Punjab Governor Muhammad Baligh-ur-Rehman said that International Human Rights Day that our religion Islam gave rights to all the downtrodden sections of the society, including women in the age of ignorance. He said that the last Prophet (PBUH) said categorically that no white person has any superiority over a black person and no black person has any superiority over a white person, no Arab has any superiority over a foreigner and no foreigner has any superiority over an Arab, Virtue is only based on piety. He said that the establishment of a just society was very important to ensure human rights. He said that the countries that protected human rights in their societies made immense progress. The governor said, “It is our national, religious, moral and social responsibility to follow the vision of Quaid-e-Azam and strive to make Pakistan a role model where every human being, be it a man, a woman, a child or belonging to the minority or the majority can live according to one’s will while living within the constitutional limits.
Ambassador Imam Allama Muhammad Ahsan Siddiqui said that it is a pleasure and honour for me to be here. I thank to the (PCCI) deciding my nomination for the work I do although I believe I am just doing my job as a religious leader, which any religious leader would do, which is to strive for the rule of law. Deeply grateful and glad to stand shoulder to shoulder with human rights defenders. I am truly honoured to receive this award and would like to take the opportunity to remind everyone that there are many millions of victims like me across the world who fight every single day for their right to go to Justice. I hope that by working together we will one day realise our dream of protecting the rights of vulnerable communities and peace building through rule of law and justice in Pakistan.
Ambassador Imam Allama Muhammad Ahsan Siddiqui work has been receiving recognition and respect both nationally and internationally. He has been awarded by many National and International organizations for his great contributions for the betterment of society. He achieved differences awards. His experience and knowledge towards collateral relationships of many religions makes him a great leader with immense leadership qualities and traits. He received “Ambassador of Peace Award” 2015 in Doha, Qatar, “International Volunteer Award” 2016 “International Peace Award” 2017 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. “Peacemaker Award” 2018 at International Islamic University, Pakistan, “ Tolerance Award” 2019 by UAEGovernment, “Peace Award” by the Council of Islamic IdeologyFederal Minister for Religious Affairs and Inter-faith Harmony,Government of Pakistan “Ambassador of Peace Award” in 2020 United Nations and he was attended the 66th, 67th and 68th National Prayer breakfast (The event is hosted by members of the United States Congress & The Fellowship Foundation) on February 2018, 2019 and 2020 at Washington DC, United States.
