Meeting with the Archbishop of Canterbury
minority concern
MINORITY CONCERN (UK) PRESENTS PETITION TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY
Greeting from Minority Concern!
I am pleased to share information about our meeting with the Right Reverend Sarah Mullally, Archbishop of Canterbury, at Lambeth Palace, London, on 16 June 2026.
A delegation from Minority Concern (UK) was invited to Lambeth Palace to attend a special prayer service in the Palace Chapel for Pakistani Christians—a small religious minority in Pakistan who continue to face serious human rights challenges in their daily lives—as well as for churches in Cyprus and the Gulf.
As Director of Minority Concern (UK), I led the delegation. The other members were the Revd. Saleem Gurdas and Ms Esther Das. We were all Pakistani Christians.
Minority Concern (UK) is a UK-based advocacy organisation that works to promote and protect the rights of religious minorities, including Christians in Pakistan.
Following the prayer service, the delegation met with the Archbishop and presented a written petition highlighting the ongoing issue of the forced conversion and forced marriages of Christian and Hindu girls in Pakistan. For many months, Christians across Pakistan have been protesting against these grave human rights violations.
On 22 April 2026, six United Nations Special Rapporteurs and other experts in Geneva expressed concern over the continued pattern of abduction, forced religious conversion, and forced marriage targeting women and girls from religious minority communities in Pakistan.
During the meeting, the Archbishop expressed her support for our efforts and assured us of her prayers as we continue to raise awareness of this important human rights issue.
We found the Archbishop to be a humble, compassionate, and deeply concerned church leader who is committed to promoting peace and justice. We are grateful for her time, for arranging a special prayer service, and for demonstrating her concern for human rights and justice.
At the beginning of the meeting, the delegation congratulated her on her appointment as the first woman Archbishop of Anglican Communion.
News of the meeting was published in Pakistani and international media outlets.
We hope this meeting will help generate greater international attention and momentum to address the serious and ongoing issue of the forced conversion and forced marriage of Christian and Hindu girls in Pakistan, as well as the many other challenges Pakistani Christians face because of their faith.
Minority Concern (UK) remains committed to raising its voice for justice, equality, and the protection of the rights of religious minorities, including persecuted Christians in Pakistan.
We seek your prayers and support for our ongoing advocacy work for justice, peace, and human dignity.
Please find attached a copy of the petition, together with photographs of the delegation presenting it to the Archbishop.
Kind regards,
Aftab Alexander Mughal
Director, Minority Concern (UK)
