Publication

This report examines religious tolerance and violence in Pakistan, particularly among Shias and Sunnis, and the role that religious authorities could play in reducing sectarian prejudice in the country. The authors find that clerical authorities in Pakistan have key roles to play in promoting tolerance. However, they also suggest that identifying the specific leaders best suited to play this role is challenging, particularly due to the relatively decentralized nature of religious authority in Sunni Islam. Furthermore, they suggest that clerics who are not already widely known in the country are unlikely to have an impact on public opinion.