Religion Back in Pakistan Passports After Protests

[Rose Siding]

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistan reversed on Thursday a decision to drop a requirement for passport holders to state their religion after angry protests from Islamists who saw it as a U.S.-inspired move to secularize society.

The cabinet decision to reinstate the requirement drew criticism from a secular political party and a human rights campaigner who said the government had caved in to pressure from religious conservatives.

"The cabinet today decided to restore the religion column in passports," Information Minister Sheik Rashid Ahmed told Reuters after a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.

The row was the latest to pit more liberal elements in Pakistan, including President Pervez Musharraf who has called for a society of "enlightened moderation," against conservatives.

http://www.boston.com/news/world/asia/articles/2005/03/24/religion_back_in_pakistan_passports_after_protests/

[tanyev]

1. The way things are going we might start having to do that

on our US passports, too.

[Bill McBlueState]

2. yeah, they'll say

"The Constitution says freedom OF religion, not freedom NOT TO STATE your religion."

Because god knows, if a right isn't literally spelled out in the Constitution, it's up for grabs. Such is the party of small government.