The European Union claims to be a global defender of human rights and religious freedom. But in Pakistan, religious persecution and blasphemy prosecutions are frequent.
This explainer investigates whether EU pressure, trade incentives, and human rights conditionality are actually effective. Pakistan depends heavily on preferential access to the EU market, which requires compliance with international conventions on human rights, freedom of religion, and the rule of law.
Yet Pakistan’s blasphemy laws remain among the strictest in the world, often used against religious minorities.
Through interviews with human rights advocates, Pakistani journalists, and EU lawmakers, the video examines how religion, politics, and nationalism intersect and whether Brussels enforces its own standards consistently.
Is EU leverage driving real reform in Pakistan or prioritising trade over human rights?
