From Birmingham to Hampshire – 1,000 back campaign for Article 18 in one weekend

NEARLY 1,000 people across a weekend involving two sell-out festivals signed a petition calling for global religious freedom and protection of fundamental rights.

Representatives of Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) attended large faith events between 24th and 26th July to highlight the plight of Christians and other minority religions who are persecuted for their faith.

A group including ACN’s press and community teams were at the Catholic WeBelieve festival at St Mary’s, Oscott, in north Birmingham, to promote the petition.

The initiative calls on governments and international organisations to enforce Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights – which guarantees the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.

Ribqa Nevash, part of ACN’s delegation, spoke to a packed audience of her experience in Pakistan as the only Christian in a class of 75 pupils, saying she was bullied for her Christian name – which is Rebecca in English – and was under constant pressure to abandon her faith, with bribes including offers of cash and cars.

Ribqa, now 26, fled Pakistan in 2023 after receiving death threats following an appearance on national television.

She spoke about the attacks on Christians in Jaranwala in August 2023, when mobs torched and ransacked more than 25 churches and at least 85 Christian homes in a single day.

She added: “ACN started a petition to enforce Article 18. We need all to sign that for religious freedom for all religions particularly Christians. My request to you today is [that] you have to sign that petition. 

“With your one signature, more lives will be saved. I don’t like what is happening there – they need to stop and we need your help and your support.”

Meanwhile, close to Alton, in Hampshire, the charity’s UK national director, Dr Caroline Hull, was speaking to a 40,000-strong crowd at the Jalsa Salana UK 2026, the Ahmadi Muslim annual convention, the largest Muslim gathering in the country. 

Ahmadi Muslims are one of the most persecuted religious communities, especially in Pakistan. 

Like ACN, the Ahmadiyya Muslim community has championed the rights of persecuted faith groups for many years.

Dr Hull said: “Freedom of religion or belief is not a Christian cause or a Muslim one – it is a human one. And it is defended best when communities of different faiths stand together.

“We are glad to bring the Article 18 campaign to WeBelieve and to Jalsa Salana and we invite everyone to add their voice to our petition.”