Ali Raza Khan

Category: PVE & CVE : Religion & Peace Building

  • Building Bridges from the Ground Up: Joining the Global Muslim-Jewish Youth Unity Project

    Building Bridges from the Ground Up: Joining the Global Muslim-Jewish Youth Unity Project

    I am thrilled to announce my involvement as a team member in a truly groundbreaking initiative: the GLOBAL MUSLIM-JEWISH YOUTH UNITY PROJECT. This project, which officially launched on October 7, 2025, is not just another non-profit; it is a declaration of courage and a testament to the power of people over politics.

    The Impossible Has Begun

    As someone who has dedicated years to peace-building and preventing violent extremism in Pakistan, I deeply understand the weight of sectarian division and the urgent need for genuine grassroots movements. That’s why the message from the founder, Mansoor Hussain Laghari, resonated with me so profoundly:

    “On October 7, 2025, we are launching something the world says cannot be done. No government. No grants. No powerful backers… No resources—only raw determination.”

    This project is a bold commitment to building unity from zero. It’s a people-powered movement where young Muslims and Jews stand together to prove that genuine connection can rise above entrenched hate. We are not waiting for permission or funding; we are using our voices and our hearts to build the future we believe in. This is not charity—this is courage.

    My Commitment to Muslim-Jewish Unity

    My own journey in interfaith dialogue began several years ago. Back in 2020, I was honored to join the Commonwealth Jewish Council’s online youth group, IRCYA (Inter-religious Commonwealth Youth Alliance), serving as a focal point from Pakistan. We organized multiple online seminars and campaigns, connecting young people across the Commonwealth on critical issues of equality and peace. Though that specific group eventually concluded due to funding issues, the experience solidified my belief in the power of youth-led, interfaith collaboration.

    It is that foundational experience that makes joining the Global Muslim-Jewish Youth Uunit Project so meaningful. As I said during the launch event introduction:

    “Hi everyone. My name is Ali Raza Khan, basically from Pakistan, working on peace building and preventing violent extremism and equality… I am happy to join this group promoting Muslim-Jewish Unity. Thank for including me 🙏”

    I am ready to bring my experience in on-the-ground peace education to this global team, working to transform dialogue into durable unity.

    The vision for this project is inclusive and powerful. It is open to all faiths and religions because the mission, rising against hate, concerns all of humanity.

    Writers, artists, students, dreamers, and builders, if you’ve ever wanted to do something real and see your willpower translate into global change, this is your moment.

    The world will one day ask how peace began. Let the answer be: it began with us, when we had nothing but willpower and refused to quit.

    Read more:

  • De la discrimination au dialogue : le parcours d’un bâtisseur de paix au Pakistan

    De la discrimination au dialogue : le parcours d’un bâtisseur de paix au Pakistan

    Ali Raza Khan, bâtisseur de paix engagé originaire de Multan, au Pakistan, œuvre depuis 2015 pour lutter contre la violence sectaire et la discrimination qui touchent son pays depuis des décennies. Issu de la communauté musulmane chiite, Ali a transformé ses expériences personnelles en une force motrice pour le changement, formant des milliers de jeunes à la construction de la paix et à la prévention de l’extrémisme violent.

    Son parcours a commencé par une compréhension profonde de la discrimination subie par sa communauté. Comme de nombreux chiites, il a été confronté à des questions déplacées et haineuses sur ses pratiques religieuses. Ces interrogations, souvent fondées sur des stéréotypes faux et nuisibles, rappellent le préjugé enraciné dans certaines parties de la société.

    Ce préjugé, alimenté par des discours extrémistes et haineux, a souvent dégénéré en violences meurtrières. Selon plusieurs organisations de défense des droits humains :

    • Depuis 2001, plus de 2 600 musulmans chiites ont été tués dans des attaques violentes au Pakistan.
    • Un rapport du Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) indique qu’entre 2013 et 2018, 815 des 2 099 personnes assassinées pour leur religion étaient chiites.
    • La violence est à la fois ciblée et généralisée. En 2013, une série d’attentats à Quetta, capitale du Baloutchistan, a tué plus de 250 chiites en quelques mois. En 2022, un attentat-suicide dans une mosquée chiite à Peshawar a fait au moins 61 morts.
    • Les accusations de blasphème sont utilisées comme outil de discrimination. En 2020, plus de 40 cas de blasphème ont été enregistrés contre des chiites après le mois de Muharram, dont le plus jeune accusé était un enfant de trois ans. Un rapport indique également que 70 % de tous les cas de blasphème en 2020 visaient des musulmans chiites.
    • Les leaders chiites et les intellectuels sont systématiquement ciblés. Cette violence inclut ce que l’on appelle “l’intellecticide” : une campagne de meurtres visant les médecins, ingénieurs, professeurs et autres professionnels chiites pour les exclure des postes d’autorité.

    Malgré ces défis, Ali Raza Khan s’est engagé sans relâche à créer des ponts entre les communautés. Grâce à son travail avec des organisations telles que Chanan Development Association, Peace Direct et d’autres, il a formé des milliers de jeunes aux principes du dialogue et de la paix. Son engagement témoigne du pouvoir qu’un individu peut avoir pour bâtir une société plus tolérante et pacifique, même face à l’adversité.

    Si vous souhaitez soutenir des initiatives de paix, vous pouvez en savoir plus sur AliRazaKhan.com.

    Ou consulter le compte Instagram de Peace Direct :
    https://www.instagram.com/p/CTUiwJIrlAJ/

    Les publications Instagram d’Ali Raza Khan sont disponibles ici :
    https://twitter.com/alirazakhanplus/status/1216020563858202624

  • امتیاز سے مکالمے تک: پاکستان میں ایک امن ساز کا سفر

    امتیاز سے مکالمے تک: پاکستان میں ایک امن ساز کا سفر

    امتیاز سے مکالمے تک: پاکستان میں ایک امن ساز کا سفر

    علی رضا خان، جو کہ ملتان، پاکستان سے تعلق رکھنے والے ایک پرعزم امن ساز ہیں، ۲۰۱۵ سے فرقہ وارانہ تشدد اور امتیازی سلوک کے خلاف کام کر رہے ہیں، جو کئی دہائیوں سے ان کے ملک کو متاثر کر رہا ہے۔ شیعہ مسلم کمیونٹی کے رکن ہونے کے ناطے، علی نے اپنی ذاتی جدوجہد کو تبدیلی کی ایک طاقتور قوت میں بدل دیا ہے، اور ہزاروں نوجوانوں کو امن سازی اور انتہا پسندی کی روک تھام کی تربیت دی ہے۔

    علی کا سفر اس امتیاز کی گہری سمجھ سے شروع ہوا جو ان کی کمیونٹی کو درپیش ہے۔ وہ، دیگر شیعہ مسلمانوں کی طرح، اپنے مذہبی عقائد کے بارے میں نامناسب اور نفرت انگیز سوالات کا سامنا کر چکے ہیں۔ یہ سوالات اکثر جھوٹے اور نقصان دہ تصورات پر مبنی ہوتے ہیں، جو معاشرے کے بعض حصوں میں موجود گہرے تعصب کی یاد دہانی ہیں۔

    یہ تعصب، انتہا پسندانہ بیانیے اور نفرت انگیز تقریر سے بڑھ کر، اکثر مہلک تشدد میں بدل جاتا ہے۔ مختلف انسانی حقوق کی تنظیموں اور رپورٹس کے مطابق:

    • ۲۰۰۱ سے اب تک پاکستان میں ۲۶۰۰ سے زائد شیعہ مسلمان پرتشدد حملوں میں مارے جا چکے ہیں۔
    • سنٹر فار ریسرچ اینڈ سیکیورٹی اسٹڈیز (سی آر ایس ایس) کی رپورٹ کے مطابق ۲۰۱۳ سے ۲۰۱۸ کے درمیان مذہب کی بنیاد پر قتل ہونے والے ۲۰۹۹ افراد میں سے ۸۱۵ شیعہ تھے۔
    • یہ تشدد مخصوص افراد کو نشانہ بنانے کے ساتھ ساتھ وسیع پیمانے پر بھی ہوا ہے۔ ۲۰۱۳ میں کوئٹہ میں بم دھماکوں کی ایک لہر نے چند ماہ میں ۲۵۰ سے زائد شیعہ مسلمانوں کو شہید کیا۔ ۲۰۲۲ میں پشاور کی ایک شیعہ مسجد میں خودکش حملے میں کم از کم ۶۱ افراد جاں بحق ہوئے۔
    • توہینِ مذہب کے الزامات امتیاز کا ایک ہتھیار بن چکے ہیں۔ ۲۰۲۰ میں محرم کے بعد شیعہ مسلمانوں کے خلاف ۴۰ سے زائد مقدمات درج کیے گئے، جن میں سب سے کم عمر ملزم تین سالہ بچہ تھا۔ ایک رپورٹ کے مطابق ۲۰۲۰ میں درج ہونے والے تمام توہینِ مذہب کے مقدمات میں سے ۷۰ فیصد شیعہ مسلمانوں کے خلاف تھے۔
    • شیعہ رہنماؤں اور تعلیم یافتہ افراد کو منظم طریقے سے نشانہ بنایا گیا ہے۔ اس تشدد میں “علم کشی” بھی شامل ہے، یعنی شیعہ ڈاکٹروں، انجینئروں، پروفیسروں اور دیگر پیشہ ور افراد کو قتل کر کے انہیں اثر و رسوخ کے عہدوں سے ہٹانے کی منظم مہم۔

    ان چیلنجز کے باوجود، علی رضا خان نے کمیونٹیز کے درمیان پل بنانے کے لیے انتھک محنت کی ہے۔ چنان ڈیولپمنٹ ایسوسی ایشن، پیس ڈائریکٹ اور دیگر تنظیموں کے ساتھ کام کرتے ہوئے، انہوں نے ہزاروں نوجوانوں کو امن سازی اور مکالمے کے اصولوں کی تربیت دی ہے۔ ان کا کام اس بات کا ثبوت ہے کہ ایک فرد کی وابستگی ایک زیادہ برداشت اور پرامن معاشرے کی تشکیل میں کتنی طاقتور ہو سکتی ہے، چاہے حالات کتنے ہی مشکل کیوں نہ ہوں۔

    اگر آپ امن سازی کی کوششوں کی حمایت میں دلچسپی رکھتے ہیں تو مزید معلومات کے alirazakhan.com لیے علی رضا خان کی ویب سائٹ ملاحظہ کریں ۔

    مزید دیکھنے کے لیے Peace Direct کا انسٹاگرام صفحہ:
    https://www.instagram.com/p/CTUiwJIrlAJ/

    علی رضا خان کے انسٹاگرام پوسٹس یہاں ملاحظہ کریں:
    https://twitter.com/alirazakhanplus/status/1216020563858202624

  • From Discrimination to Dialogue: A Peace-Builder’s Journey in Pakistan

    From Discrimination to Dialogue: A Peace-Builder’s Journey in Pakistan

    Ali Raza Khan, a dedicated peace-builder from Multan, Pakistan, has been working since 2015 to combat the sectarian violence and discrimination that has plagued his country for decades. Drawing from his personal experiences as a member of the Shia Muslim community, Ali has channeled his struggles into a powerful force for change, training thousands of young people in peace-building and preventing violent extremism.

    Ali’s journey began with a deep understanding of the discrimination faced by his community. He, like many other Shia Muslims, has endured inappropriate and hateful questions about his religious practices. These questions, often based on false and harmful stereotypes, are a stark reminder of the deep-seated prejudice that exists in some parts of society.

    This prejudice, fueled by extremist rhetoric and hate speech, has often escalated into deadly violence. According to various human rights organizations and reports:

    • Since 2001, more than 2,600 Shia Muslims have been killed in violent attacks in Pakistan. A report from the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) notes that between 2013 and 2018, 815 of the 2,099 people murdered for their religion were Shia.
    • The violence has been both targeted and widespread. In 2013, a series of bombings in Quetta, the capital of Balochistan, killed over 250 Shia Muslims in just a few months. A single suicide bombing at a Shia mosque in Peshawar in 2022 killed at least 61 people.
    • Blasphemy accusations are a tool of discrimination. In 2020, over 40 blasphemy cases were registered against Shias following the month of Muharram, with the youngest accused being a three-year-old child. A report also notes that 70% of all blasphemy cases in 2020 were against Shia Muslims.
    • Shia leaders and educated individuals have been systematically targeted. The violence has included what is described as “intellecticide,” a systematic campaign of murder against Shia doctors, engineers, professors, and other professionals, to remove them from positions of authority.

    Despite these challenges, Ali Raza Khan has worked tirelessly to build bridges between communities. Through his work with organizations such as Chanan Development Association, Peace Direct, and others, he has trained thousands of young people on the principles of peace-building and dialogue. His work is a testament to the power of one person’s commitment to creating a more tolerant and peaceful society, even in the face of immense adversity.

    If you are interested in supporting peace-building initiatives, you can learn more at AliRazaKhan.com.

    or PeaceDirect instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/p/CTUiwJIrlAJ/

    My Instagram posts here:

    https://twitter.com/alirazakhanplus/status/1216020563858202624

  • Advancing Religious Equality: Ali Raza Khan’s Groundbreaking Research on Youth Behavior in South Punjab

    Advancing Religious Equality: Ali Raza Khan’s Groundbreaking Research on Youth Behavior in South Punjab

    As a dedicated minorities rights activist and researcher, Ali Raza Khan has been at the forefront of advocating for religious equality and peace in South Punjab, Pakistan. With a deep commitment to fostering understanding and inclusivity, Ali recently conducted a research project titled “The impact of the curriculum and interaction with diverse groups of people on youth behavior towards people from religious minority backgrounds in South Punjab, Pakistan.” This research was supported by JLIFLC.com and sought to address critical issues related to youth behavior and religious equality in the region.

    About the Research Project
    Ali Raza Khan’s research aimed to analyze youth behavior towards people of other religions, focusing on their interactions and learnings. The project involved a comprehensive review of previous research and a new survey, conducted both in person and online, to gather data from 366 young individuals from diverse backgrounds in South Punjab, primarily the Multan region. This approach allowed for a nuanced understanding of the current attitudes and behaviors of youth towards religious minorities.

    Key Findings
    The research revealed several significant insights:

    • Backlash Against Conversations on Religious Minority Rights: The survey results indicated that discussions about the rights of people from religious minorities continue to face resistance from the young community. This highlights the deep-seated prejudices that persist within society.
    • Polarization in Society: The findings also showed that society remains polarized, with many young people believing that the educational curriculum still requires substantial improvements to advocate for religious equality effectively.
    • Lack of Educational Data on PVE: The research underscored the need for more comprehensive educational data on peace and violent extremism (PVE) in South Punjab, which could be used to enhance the curriculum and promote religious equality.

    Ali Raza Khan’s Perspective
    Ali Raza Khan, who resides in the South Punjab region, has witnessed numerous sectarian violent incidents throughout his life. This lived experience has fueled his passion for working towards peace and PVE. Since 2015, Ali has collaborated with multiple national, international, and global organizations, where he identified a significant gap in educational data on PVE in his region. This realization motivated him to undertake this research and collect relevant data to address these issues.

    “I live in the South Punjab region of Pakistan which has seen a number of sectarian violent incidents throughout history. This lived experience inspired me to start working for peace and PVE. Since 2015, I have been working for multiple national, international and global organisations and I found that there is a lack of educational data on PVE in my region that could be used in curriculum that advocates for religious equality. This overall situation encouraged me to start my research and collect data relevant to these issues.”

    – Ali Raza Khan, Researcher


    Ali Raza Khan’s research project is a testament to his unwavering dedication to promoting religious equality and understanding in South Punjab. By shedding light on the attitudes and behaviors of youth towards religious minorities, Ali’s work contributes to a broader effort to create an inclusive and equitable society. His findings underscore the urgent need for educational reforms and more comprehensive data on PVE to address the challenges faced by religious minorities. Through this research, Ali aims to inspire change and encourage policymakers, educators, and communities to work together in fostering an environment where everyone, regardless of their religious background, can coexist peacefully and with mutual respect. Ali Raza Khan’s efforts serve as a beacon of hope for a more inclusive and harmonious future in Pakistan. By highlighting the importance of religious equality and the need for educational reforms, Ali Raza Khan’s research paves the way for meaningful progress in South Punjab. His dedication to peace and advocacy for marginalized communities continues to inspire and drive positive change.

    Read more about research on Joint Learning Initiative on Faith & Local Communities JLIFLC website Here

    https://jliflc.com/the-impact-of-the-curriculum-and-interaction-with-diverse-groups-of-people-on-youth-behaviour-towards-people-from-religious-minority-backgrounds-in-south-punjab-pakistan

  • Ali Raza Khan Selected for Prestigious PVE, Youth & Interfaith Research Capacity Building Project

    Ali Raza Khan Selected for Prestigious PVE, Youth & Interfaith Research Capacity Building Project

    I was thrilled to share some exciting news

    I was selected as a participant in the “Preventing Violent Extremism (PVE), Youth & Interfaith: Research Capacity Building Project.” This initiative, jointly organized by the Joint Learning Initiative on Faith & Local Communities (JLI) and Interfaith Dialogue on Violent Extremism (iDove), aimed at empowering young researchers from around the world to contribute to the critical field of PVE.

    About the Project

    The PVE, Youth & Interfaith: Research Capacity Building Project took place from September to December 2022. The primary goal of this initiative was to involve local community members, especially young people and faith actors, in decision-making processes regarding the prevention of violent extremism. Often, these key stakeholders were excluded, despite their invaluable insights and experiences on the ground.

    To address this gap, JLI, in partnership with iDove, supported 12 young individuals from diverse backgrounds to develop evidence-based research on youth, faith, and PVE. Over several months, we received comprehensive training in research methods, analysis, and communication. This not only enhanced our skills and experience but also boosted our credibility in knowledge production.

    My Journey and Experience

    Being selected for this project was an incredible journey. Throughout the program, I had the opportunity to conduct an independent research project in my country, focusing on the intersection of youth, faith, and PVE. The support and guidance from JLI and iDove were instrumental in navigating this complex and sensitive topic.

    One of the highlights of the project was the chance to publish our research. Additionally, we organized and participated in a global, public webinar to share our experiences and showcase our work. This platform allowed us to reach a wider audience, including policymakers, practitioners, and donors working on PVE, conflict, and peacebuilding.

    Key Learnings and Reflections

    The project emphasized the importance of inclusive and collaborative approaches in preventing violent extremism. By involving young people and faith actors, we ensured that PVE initiatives were more effective and sustainable. Our collective research highlighted the need for social cohesion, justice, and peace, while also addressing potential risks and harms to communities.

    Challenges Faced

    Working on such a sensitive topic as interfaith dialogue in the conservative society of Pakistan posed several challenges. There were cultural and societal barriers that made conducting research difficult. Additionally, finding participants who were willing to openly discuss these issues required building trust and ensuring confidentiality. Despite these hurdles, the project provided invaluable insights and underscored the importance of addressing these challenges to create a more inclusive and peaceful society.

    The final webinar in December 2022 was a fitting conclusion to this enriching experience. We presented our research findings, shared challenges and successes, and reflected on the lessons learned. You could watch the online event on YouTube here to learn more about the challenges we faced.

    Moving Forward

    As I continue my journey in this field, I am committed to applying the knowledge and skills gained from this project to contribute to meaningful change. I am grateful to JLI, iDove, and all the participants for this incredible opportunity. Together, we can build a more just and peaceful world.

    Stay tuned for more updates and insights from my research on AliRazaKhan.com.

    Read more on Joint Learning Initiative on Faith & Local Communities (JLI)

    website here

    https://jliflc.com/pve-youth-interfaith-project

    or Twitter X account here