Cardinal Joseph Coutts meets minority rights activists in Karachi

Karachi: His Eminence Cardinal Joseph Coutts, the former Archbishop of Karachi, received minority rights advocate Joseph Janssen of Jubilee Campaign Netherlands at his residence in Karachi.

The meeting took place shortly after the Cardinal’s return from the Vatican, where he had participated in the Assembly of Cardinals convened to elect the new Pope.

Facilitated by Shahid Mobeen, President of the Italian Roundtable on Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB), and Parviaz Gill, Chairman of the Pakistani Christian Business Forum, the three-hour dialogue focused on strategic responses to the challenges faced by religious minorities in Pakistan.

Cardinal Coutts honored Janssen with traditional Sindhi symbols of hospitality — an Ajrak shawl and Sindhi cap — in recognition of his ongoing advocacy for vulnerable communities.

 “Your work is a blessing to those who are voiceless. May you continue to be their advocate,” said the Cardinal.

Janssen, in turn, described the meeting as “a great blessing and honor,” expressing his admiration for the Cardinal’s decades-long commitment to human dignity, social inclusion, and interfaith harmony. He praised the Cardinal as “a tireless servant of humanity” whose leadership has consistently uplifted the marginalized.

Among the issues discussed were the misuse of Pakistan’s blasphemy laws, bonded labor, and the growing crisis of forced conversions and child marriages involving Christian girls.

The conversation also highlighted the exploitative conditions faced by Christian sanitary workers and young women employed in low-income sectors, where they are often subjected to hazardous labor or harassment. Additionally, the Cardinal condemned the cycle of bonded labor in brick kilns, where Christian families remain trapped for generations, lacking legal protection or economic mobility.

 “It was deeply humbling to hear firsthand how His Eminence has consistently stood in the gap — offering protection, mediation, and moral leadership in moments of tension,” said Janssen. “He is a true shepherd, guiding with wisdom and humility.”

Cardinal Coutts was recently awarded the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz, one of Pakistan’s highest civilian honors, in recognition of his lifelong efforts to promote interfaith dialogue and national unity.

The meeting concluded with a mutual commitment to deepening international cooperation, encouraging constructive policy dialogue, and continuing joint efforts to advance human rights, religious freedom, and peaceful coexistence in Pakistan.