February 19, 2023: Due to the persistent discriminatory campaign against Ahmadis, a member of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community was recently murdered. On February 19, at approximately 5:00 p.m., a duo fatally shot Mr. Muhammad Rashid, a 75-year-old dual nationality holder and homeopathic practitioner residing in Goteriala, district Gujrat. The gunshot hit his forehead and he died on the spot. Mr. Rashid was a respected member of society, known for his altruistic nature, and had no known enemies. He leaves behind his wife and children who live in Norway. He had generously set up a free homeopathic clinic in his home to assist the local community.
Authorities have taken into custody a suspected accomplice to the crime. It is also reported that one of the attackers, Hafiz Inam, was discovered dead in the fields, some distance away from where the crime was committed. Some reports suggest that he possibly committed suicide after killing Mr. Rashid.[i] However, the investigation is underway and it is unclear whether he committed suicide or was killed. There are clear evidence that Hafiz Inam held animosity toward Ahmadis.
The Ahmadiyya Muslim community has faced discrimination and persecution in Pakistan for decades, including through the use of anti-Ahmadi laws that restrict their religious practices and freedom of expression. This has resulted in a climate of intolerance and violence towards the community, with frequent instances of mob violence, targeted killings, hate campaigns on social media platforms, open rallies and unrestricted hate speech, and other forms of persecution. The murder of Mr. Rashid is a tragic example of the violence and discrimination that members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community face in Pakistan. It is important that the government takes swift action to bring the perpetrators to justice and to address the root causes of this violence and discrimination.
Despite facing persecution, Ahmadis in Pakistan remain committed to serving their fellow countrymen. Mr. Rashid’s murder is a loss for both the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and the local community. He is one more example of a foreign national who returned to his home country to serve the needs of underserved communities of Pakistan. Another Ahmadi, Dr. Masood Ahmad, a 72-year-old Ahmadi was previously apprehended for simply reading the Holy Quran. He was a British national. The Telegraph reported this incident and wrote ‘A British doctor is languishing in a Pakistani prison accused of “posing as a Muslim” after being videoed reading aloud from the Koran.’[ii]
The spokesperson of the Ahmadiyya Community in Pakistan said;
“We express our sincere condolences to the family of Muhammad Rashid and pray that Allah grants them strength during this difficult time. To ensure the safety of innocent Ahmadis, it is imperative that the current hateful campaign against them be halted immediately and that those responsible are held accountable and brought to justice.”
We urge the international community to express their disagreement with this grave injustice and ensure that the safety of all individuals is guaranteed by the Pakistani government.
[i] https://www.thefridaytimes.com/2023/02/20/religious-persecution-ahmadi-doctor-shot-dead-in-gujrat/
[ii] https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/10518839/British-doctor-in-Pakistan-arrested-for-reading-from-a-Koran.html
]]>The courses in the Air University Islamabad campus for the year 2021-22 in Islamic Studies & Ethics includes a section against Ahmadis, titled: “Seal of the Prophets: Constitutional Status of Qadiyaniat”. This course covers various topics regarding Ahmadiyya leadership, fatwas (religious edicts) against Ahmadis and other anti-Ahmadiyya matters. Air University is a semi-government university established in 2001-2. Currently, the chairman of the university’s board of governors is Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Babar Sidhu, the current chief of the Pakistan Air Force, while members include Dr. Zarqa Mehmood, a senator, Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, former chairman of the Higher Education Commission, etc.
Non-Muslim students and teachers are generally believed to be ‘unequal others’ but all of them are not believed to be equally unequal. Therefore, it is also helpful to have an idea of the subtle differences in discrimination with regard to different communities. Of all “non-Muslims”, the Ahmadiyya community suffers the most from discrimination and oppression, an example of which can be observed in the above-mentioned case.
]]>The opponents applied to DC Gujranwala against the minarets. At this, the police sent for the Ahmadiyya delegation to the CPO office where the delegation met with the district security officer and SSP operations on December 3, 2022 and informed them of the Ahmadiyya position. The police said that it is being asked by non-Ahmadis to change the time of Friday prayers of Ahmadis in Gajju Chak, and it is being said that Ahmadi children read the Holy Quran in a loud voice while they are not allowed to read the Holy Quran. Also, the Holy Quran should be taken out of the Ahmadis’ houses, confiscated and an FIR should be registered for possession of the Quran, they add. On this, the Ahmadiyya delegation said that if the authorities entertain such illegal requests, the opponents would harass Ahmadis further by making more demands. The police replied that the District Intelligence Committee had decided that minarets of the Ahmadiyya mosque be removed.
On December 7, 2022, the delegation met with ADCG Gujranwala. He advised Ahmadis to be patient and bear up the treatment, as that was the state policy.
Later, on the night of 7th and 8th December at around 2 am, a police force came with heavy machinery and vehicles, blocked the road in front of the mosque and switched off the nearby lights. The police destroyed the minarets and took away the debris with them. During this demolition, the security cameras and the wall of the mosque were also damaged.
]]>Amnesty LUMS
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On 6th December 2022, Amnesty International LUMS Chapter intended to host a talk on tolerance in Pakistan with members of various marginalized minorities. Unfortunately, we were abruptly told to drop the Ahmadi representative we had called to speak last night 4:54 PM December 6, 2022
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The guests were approved days ago, but OSA randomly chose to recheck our guest profiles. Following which they told us our Ahmadi speaker could not come to the talk.
4:54 PM December 6, 2022
Amnesty LUMS
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December 6, 2022
While we are continuing with the talk the irony of a particular speaker being dropped on a talk about Tolerance in Pakistan speaks volumes. TV make our dissatisfaction known, we will leave an empty seat representing the dropped speaker. Please join us at 6pm today.
Voice of America report on the incident
VOA reported this incident at some length on December 9, 2022 on VOAd3ddu6yqqaffjd.cloud-front.net/a/lams-forces. Extracts — translation from Urdu:
“Amnesty International LUMS Chapter arranged a seminar on religious tolerance, on December 6. Representatives of Hindu, Sikh, Christian, Shia and Ahmadi communities were invited to it. Dr Mirza Sultan Ahmad was invited to represent Ahmadi community, but the invitation was regrettably withdrawn, a few hours before the event.
Dr. Mirza Sultan Ahmad is a ‘child specialist’ by profession, however, he has written books on history and evaluation of Pakistan’s constitution and its subsequent amendments.
VOA made numerous attempts to contact Ms. Maheen Shafiq the president of Amnesty LUMS, on this issue but she was reluctant to express her views.
Dr. Ahmad told us that initially the date of this event was changed, thereafter his name was dropped from the list of speakers. When he asked the reason of this exclusion, the LUMS administration could not give a satisfactory response.
According to him, there are universities where one can freely express one’s views so that students can see the whole picture, but now it seems that such issues could not be amply discussed in universities like LUMS.
Commenting on the situation of minorities in Pakistan, he was of the view that hateful propaganda is undertaken against minorities in the whole country. It continues even now, he said.
While talking to VOA, Peter Jacob, the chief executive of Social Justice Pakistan, a Christian, said that the prevailing environment in the country results in such incidents. The topic of the seminar was ‘Tolerance’, well-known guest speakers were invited to it. No extremist views were to be expressed. Despite this the LUMS administration was pressurized to drop the Ahmadi representative. This is unpleasant, as it does not send a positive message, he said.
He further said that the issue was not that of LUMS or any other university but Pakistan as a country and nation needs fair reputation. There is no need to get upset if anyone talks about equality, tolerance and justice.
Ramesh Singh Arosa (Sikh MPA) said that international HR organizations, including Human Rights Watch continue to express their reservations on religious intolerance in Pakistan. Anti-Pakistan resolutions are passed on world forums; if such things happen in the country, a negative picture is bound to emerge.
Mind you, this is not the first time in LUMS. Even before, events have been cancelled or invited guests have been disinvited without giving any reason.
Dr. Mirza Sultan Ahmad stated that this does not happen only in universities, it is rare that major media outlets condemn propagation of religious hate.
It may be noted that the government of Pakistan continues to deny discriminations against minorities including Ahmadis. The government maintains that all minorities enjoy rights in Pakistan as per the Constitution.”
BBC Report
BBC published an article on this issue on December 8, 2022 on bbc.com/urdu/articles/cd12z048z53o. We produce below a few extracts of the same, translated in English from original Urdu.
“Tolerance, about which he intended to talk, is in a state that even institutions like LUMS, under pressure do not allow us to examine, so said Dr Mirza Sultan Ahmad, a member of the Ahmadi community…
BBC tried to seek reasons of this incident from the concerned people, however the LUMS university administration did not respond. They, however, did accept that unfortunately they were told to drop the Ahmadi representative invited last night.
Dr. Mirza Sultan Ahmad, with reference to the message issued by the administration, said that students who had invited him were very sorry but their hands were tied. “This is not the first occasion; this kind of treatment to Ahmadiyya Community is routine in Pakistan,” he said. I am author of five books and have written hundreds of articles on persecution of Ahmadis; who else could speak better than I on this subject, asked Dr. Ahmad.
Mr. Taimur Rehman, the moderator of this seminar said that he was told by the LUMS president that the (University) administration had told him to drop Dr Sultan Mirza. “We received the call, and we are under pressure not to invite him,” they said, however, they did not disclose who called them and pressurized them. The purpose for which this event was organized was set aside. Scholar Javed Ahmad Ghamdi, a panelist, also condemned the incident. It is a fact that Ahmadi community is not safe in Pakistan. If as Pakistani, we do not accept them as a minority, then what is their status? He asked. He stated further, “To deny them education, threaten their lives, boycott them in deals, not accept them in government offices or high ranks (elsewhere), all this has gone on and goes on now — in fact, all this is on the increase with the passage of time. Now it is not acceptable to us that they speak about it on any forum. This sort of treatment of LUMS is indeed regrettable, as LUMS is considered to be an institution where one enjoys freedom of expression. If such platforms are denied to Ahmadis, where will they go? There is need to understand that before their denominational identity (mazhab) they are humans and Pakistanis. It is the responsibility of the state to protect their fundamental rights – this is not visible anywhere, he elaborated.”
]]>Rizwan Ahmad, a former Ahmadi, filed an application in the police station that some people were spreading agitation in the village and saying that they would throw out the dead of Ahmadis from the common graveyard. When the police summoned the parties, the village Maulvi announced a procession against Ahmadis. The police were informed, who came to the village before the Friday prayers and met the said mulla. The mulla mentioned in his Friday sermon that someone had filed an application against them, so everyone who believes in the End of Prophethood should reach the police station the next evening. At this, Rizwan Ahmad said that he had applied to the police. “The mulla is spreading evil in the village and we just listen silently. If anyone has the courage, take out a dead Ahmadi”, he challenged. The influential people of the village present there also supported Rizwan.
Later, in the police station the opposite party apologized to Rizwan and gave in writing that there will be no such mistake in future. The SHO warned these people and let them go.
]]>On December 7, 2022, during the meeting with ADCG (Additional Deputy Commissioner General), this matter was discussed and he was told that the Trigri graveyard had been de-sealed for Muslims; it should be de-sealed for Ahmadis too or else the land that was proposed to be allotted to Ahmadis should be allotted. In this regard, he had earlier marked Ahmadiyya request to the AC. On this, he said that he will decide after receipt of report expected from the AC.
]]>Senior Ahmadi leadership in the district approached the police and explained them the facts of the incident, its background and the political support to the opposition. A senior influential was then approached and requested intervention to promote peace and harmony. This has borne fruit and the situation is now calm.
]]>Minaret of Ahmadi place of worship removed in Gujranwala
GUJRAT: The authorities ordered the removal of the minaret of an Ahmadi place of worship in Gujranwala’s Baghbanpura area last week.
According to the representative of the Ahmadi community, police cordoned off the street and switched off the lights before going ahead with the removal of the minaret on December 7,
Some religious outfits had been pressing the administration for the last one year to get the minaret removed from the front side of the building since the law bars the Ahmadis from making their places of worship resemble a mosque.
The building’s management had placed steel sheets around the minaret to hide it from public view after the administration advised them to do so in order to avoid a law and order situation.
Official sources said the administration sprang into action after some religious groups asked it to get the minaret removed. The administration called a meeting of the district intelligence committee as soon as an organization lodged a complaint with the police.
The administration also held a meeting with the representatives of the Ahmadi community to sort out the matter. The authorities told them that there was no alternative but to remove the minaret as passions were running high in the city and things might get out of control.
The administration decided to carry out the operation after obtaining the Ahmadis’ consent, according to sources.
Our remarks
Pakistan: Swearing You Are Not an Ahmadi Mandatory for Marrying in Punjab
08/10/2022
by Massimo Introvigne
If you want to marry as a Muslim in Punjab, the most populous province of Pakistan—there are separate marriage rules for Christians and members of other religious minorities—you should swear that you believe in Khatm-e-Nabuwwat (Finality of Prophethood) before tying the knot.
So wrote, shortly after his election, Punjab Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi to all marriage registrars on July 30, based on an ordinance of the previous Punjabi administration. Registrars who will allow persons who had not sworn the Finality of Prophethood affidavit to marry will go to jail, Elahi explained.
By swearing that they believe in the Finality of Prophethood, brides and grooms will swear that it is part of their faith that Muhammad is the last in a series of prophets that started with Adam and that there can be no prophets after Muhammad. Those calling themselves prophets after the Prophet of Islam can only be imposters and heretics.
Although they are not mentioned in the regulations, the oath is devised to target one specific religious minority, the Ahmadis. Their movement was founded within Islam by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (1835–1908). Conservative Muslims accuse Ahmad of having considered himself a “prophet,” and one who came after Muhammad. The Ahmadi formula for Ahmad, “at the same time a prophet and a follower of the Holy Prophet [Muhammad],” is not enough to establish their orthodoxy in the eyes of Muslim clerics. For them, the Ahmadis deny the Finality of Prophethood.
The marriage oath is carved in a way that Ahmadis who would swear it would deny their faith in the mission of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad. By swearing the oath, they should in fact swear that they are not Ahmadis.
The real purpose of the Punjab administration is to prevent Ahmadis from marrying non-Ahmadi Muslims and further harass the persecuted minority. If Ahmadis will swear the oath, believing that in fact, their theology does not really contradict the doctrine of Finality of Prophethood, they will be prosecuted for blasphemy, a crime that is punished in Pakistan with the death penalty. Punjab politicians clearly indicated that this will be the case.
That to be allowed to marry brides and grooms should pass tests of religious orthodoxy is further evidence of how far Pakistan still is from respecting international principles of freedom of religion or belief
Comment: Apparently, the new rules required all involved in the Nikah formalities to sign the KN affidavit, however now some implementers have gone a step further on their own to make the bride (and the bridegroom) to verbally recite in public the concocted affirmation. In the past, some clerics used to make the couple recite the six Kalimas (creeds) at the Nikah ceremony. Now it is the recital of the Khatme Nabuwwat affidavit. A new Sharia!
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