ICC to host April 14 press conference on persecution in Pakistan

WHAT:    A news conference hosted by International Christian Concern (ICC) to discuss violence and discrimination against religious minorities in Pakistan. On March 15, two suicide bombers attacked Sunday morning church services in Lahore, killing 14 Christians and wounding nearly 80. The bombing was the latest in a long string of violent incidents against religious minorities in Pakistan, dating back nearly two decades.  The news conference will also address the abuse of Pakistan's so-called "blasphemy laws," which human rights groups say are consistently misapplied to suppress religious minority groups. Four Christians, including mother of five Asia Bibi, have been convicted of blasphemy despite little evidence and have been sentenced to death by hanging. WHO:    Participants in the news conference will include: Baroness Elizabeth Berridge, Member of Parliament in the United Kingdom, most recent chair of the All Parliamentary Group for International Religion and Belief Naeem Shakir, High Court Lawyer of Pakistan, appellate-level attorney for Asia Bibi T. Kumar, Director of International Advocacy for Amnesty International USA Jeff King, President, International Christian Concern Participants will also be available for individual interviews immediately following the event. WHEN:    April 14, 2015 9:30 a.m. ET WHERE:  National Press Club Zenger Room 529 14th Street NW Washington, D.C.  20045 DETAILS:  International Christian Concern is a human-rights organization based in Washington that exists to help persecuted Christians around the world. For more information, please visit http://www.persecution.org/. # # # Note to Editors: To RSVP for the news conference or to request an interview, please contact Jennifer Salcido of International Christian Concern at 301.585.5915 or Advocacy.Mgr@persecution.org

You are free to disseminate this news story. We request that you reference International Christian Concern (ICC) and include our web address, www.persecution.org. ICC is a Washington D.C.-based human rights organization that exists to help persecuted Christians worldwide. ICC provides Awareness, Advocacy, and Assistance to the worldwide persecuted Church. For additional information or for an interview, contact ICC at 800-422-5441.