A silent vigil was held in Macclesfield on this weekend, on the International Day of Non-Violence.

Saturday's silent vigil was against religious persecution, and was held from 10:30am.

Those partaking with banners outside the town hall on Market Place were showing support for Hindus and minority religions in Pakistan, who they believe are persecuted for their beliefs.

A sign of one man read "Stop institutional discrimination and police torture, kidnappings and forced conversions of Hindu girls."

Macclesfield vigil was part of a nationwide effort to lobby MPs on the issue.

This includes attracting the attention of the UK Minister for Asia Rt Hon Amanda Milling MP.

Pakistan Hindu Council estimated that about 5000 Hindus migrate from Pakistan to India every year in order to escape religious persecution.

In July 2019, activist Duo Kalhoro stated that "Current statistics estimate that every month, 20 Hindu girls are abducted and converted to Islam".

With are said to be as young as 11, and are persecuted to be converted and married off.

As well as Hindu, Pakistani Christian and Sikh girls are also said to be force-converted.

Back in Macc, we spoke to event organiser Abhishika Srivastav.

We asked her why they chose to arrange the vigil against the persecutions of Hindus in Pakistan on Gandhi's birthday.

"Mahatma Gandhi believe in truth and non-violence so this date is very good for our silent vigil to support minorities and the Hindu community who lived in Pakistan," she said.

"When India became independent [from British rule] in 1947 that time two countries came from one. India and Pakistan.

"At that time non-Muslim population in Pakistan is 23%, but in 2011 the population is 3.7%.

"So for the world to know the truth about this we organise this vigil in a very non-violent way on the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

"It's a silent vigil, and it's happening in over 40 places all over the UK so definitely we get will international coverage for this event."

Last month, the Pakistani government faced accusations of undercounting Hindus, Christians in latest census.

However, the Asian country denies any accusations.

For more information, please click here to follow British Hindu social action group INSIGHT UK.

See Also: Macclesfield Cenotaph remembers our war dead on 100th anniversary.

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