Persecution of Ahmadis in Pakistan
By Muhammad Amjad khan Advocate
Background:
The systematic institutional, state sponsored persecution and denial of religious freedom of Ahmadis started in 1974 when anti Ahmadiyya movement resulted declaring Ahmadis as not Muslim through the constitutional 2nd amendment Act 1974.
Religious belief is a matter of conscience and conscience cannot be compelled. Any attempt to do so is bound to inflict incalculable misery on those who are subjected to such compulsion. Denial of religious freedom to Ahmadis in Pakistan is not merely cleavage between religious groups, it is a state sponsored and institutionalized denial. It can properly be described as an attempt to change theology and prescribe a religion for Ahmadis against their conscience. Freedom of religion begins with freedom to profess faith in religion of one’s choice. The right to practice and propagate that faith follows the right to profess. But even before the right to profess there is a right of self-identification. All these rights have been denied to Ahmadis in Pakistan. The copy of some anti Ahmadiyya laws is attached.
The Mullahs are going to introduce some new articles in the constitution of Pakistan, which will allow every Muslim in the country to punish any person or community who is acting against their type of Islam. Moreover, they also intend to include death penalty in the Pakistan panel code for those who change the religion from their brand of Islam to some other religion.
These proposed laws will also be used against Ahmadis like other prevailing laws, such as ordinance NO: XX, section 298-B, 298-C and 295- C of Pakistan penal code. The sections are so widely worded that anything under the sun can be brought with in the mischief of these sections.
While the apostasy law is still in the process of legislature, it is being already executed in extra judicial manner, like recent incidents. If Ahmadis will take any legal action against these fundamentalists in response, the opponents might register a false case against them under aforesaid sections, particularly under section 295-C of Pakistan panel code, which may result either death penalty or life imprisonment.
Every manifestation of religious belief for an Ahmadi is considered as an offence, whether it is done privately or in public. In Pakistan, the clergy and state have merged their authorities against Ahmadis through anti Ahmadiyya laws.
The brutal inhuman fanatics and opponents of the Ahmadis have government with them, laws with them, majority with them and all resources with them. The state laws and government officials have provided a license to mullahs to harass, harm and persecute us under the umbrella of anti-Ahmadiyya laws.
Impact of Anti Ahmadiyya laws:
Due to the above-mentioned circumstances, it is not possible for Ahmadis to live in Pakistan as the hatred, persecution, threats and discrimination is found everywhere any every aspect of their life. They are continuously living under threat and mental torture. In majority of cases the law enforcing authorities do not provide any protection. The Ahmadis are always subject to assault, attack, and provocation by non-Ahmadi Muslims.
Every government remains under the political pressure of fanatics, and they will always remain subject to assault, attack, and provocation by non-Ahmadi Muslims.
The laws of land do not permit them to declare, propagate and practice their faith independently. There is no freedom of religion and conscience for them. They are also deprived of the fundamental right of vote, taking part in elections, obtain employment, and apply for passport, National Identity Card, seeking admission in school, college or university, until and unless they accept themselves as non-Muslim minority against their beliefs and faith. On the other hand, if they try to be considered as Muslim, they are compelled to sign a declaration on oath that we consider the honorable founder of the Ahmadiyya community as an imposter, cheater, and use abusive language against him. This forced obligation is totally against Ahmadiyya faith and hurts their feelings deeply. If they refuse to sign this declaration and declare themselves as Muslim, they shall be deprived of fundamental human rights and there are also penalties for the same including imprisonment and fine.
They are facing hardships due to severe religious discrimination. The Mullahs (fanatic Muslims) enjoy the liberty to use harsh and abusive language against their spiritual leaders. Their life and property always remain in danger and the law enforcement agencies never bother to register a criminal case against the fanatics for their cruel and illegal activities. I believe that the situation has become worse and the incidents of violent actions against Ahmadis have increased.
Some examples of religious persecution also include:
Physical attacks, burning and looting of property, kidnapping, murdering, social boycott. Ahmadis are not allowed to purchase any necessity for living from markets, get medical treatment, to run any trade or business etc. Ways of killing Ahmadis includes shooting, stabbing, stoning by mob, tearing body parts apart, throwing people from the roofs, and throwing them into their burning house. The fanatics induce other Muslims to kill Ahmadis and get blessings from God and have a place in heaven.
The role of authorities and courts:
The authorities of Pakistan do not provide any kind of protection to Ahmadis. They will never do so because the persecution of Ahmadis is constitutionally and legally protected in Pakistan. The laws aim at curbing our freedom of religion and conscious. The ordinance XX and other Anti Ahmadiyya laws have overriding effect of on any other law of Pakistan. The Ahmadi specific laws are so vague and have such wide amplitude that almost every act of an Ahmadi can be brought within their purview, to prosecute and punish any Ahmadi.
Dozens of Ahmadis have been murdered in recent years only due to their faith and almost none of the murderers have been arrested. Thus, the judicial road for them has come to an end. The lower courts have mostly stopped accepting bail applications of Ahmadis, facing trials. Magistrates and police find it convenient to add the crime of blasphemy under 295 C of Pakistan panel code. The government of Pakistan is not heeding towards the international reaction on the persecution and discrimination of Ahmadis on the religious grounds.
Although international human rights organizations have taken notice of this unfortunate situation. Amnesty international, international commission of jurists, Pakistan human rights commission, human right advocate INC. USA etc. have published reports on the subject. The UN sub commission on prevention of discrimination and protection of minorities, in 1985, expressed its great concern over ordinance XX and urged the commission to call on the government of Pakistan to repeal the ordinance and to restore Ahmadi’s fundamental human rights. However, regrettably nothing substantial or effective has been done to compel the authorities in Pakistan to repeal this ordinance.
Examples of brutal incidents:
Following is just a few from hundreds of incidents, which the Ahmadiyya community faces every day now and then. The recent killing of many Ahmadis in Karachi and Sargodha are current examples.
In Khatalian, Pakistan on 30 October 2000 some fanatic mullahs came into one of their mosques and brutally murdered five Ahmadis and left 10 badly injured. In another incident in Takht Hazara, Pakistan on 10 November 2000 where innocent Ahmadis were killed by a mob of people, mosque was demolished and set it on fire. Among those killed Ahmadis there were two children. The fanatics killed innocent Ahmadis brutally with guns, knives and axe their faces become unidentifiable. On 28th May 2010 during attack on two places of Ahmadiyya worship, 86 Ahmadis were massacred.
Even during the court hearings, sometimes Mullahs take the matter in their hands. For example, in Peshawar Pakistan two Ahmadis were stoned to death when they were being taken out from the court along with the law enforcement agencies
The current Situation
Ahmadiyya Muslim community in Pakistan is facing the worst ever religious persecution in the current era of human history.
This persecution is constitutionally guarded and state sponsored. The anti-Ahmadiyya laws are so widely worded that any legal act of an Ahmadi can be brought under the mischief of these laws.
Hundreds of Ahmadis have been martyred in recent years. Almost every place of worship is being attacked. The dooms, minarets and Mehrabs are demolished. Ahmadi graves are being destroyed and remains of dead bodies are being exhumed and humiliated.
Thousands of Ahmadis including children and women in almost every city of Pakistan have been arrested just because of offering their worship prayers in places of worship or in their homes.
Dozens of Ahmadis are in prisons either after awarding death penalty or waiting for the judgment under false allegations of blasphemy which includes reciting holy Quran or offering Drood on their beloved prophet Muhammad ( peace be upon him)
They are being forced to change their names and not to celebrate their religious festivals.
Even during last few months one Ahmadi was stoned to death in mosque during mob attack, another had died in the jail custody and famous Ahmadi surgeon was brutally murmured in his hospital. This situation is worsening day by day and the government authorities are not taking notice of this.
Conclusion:
The Ahmadi specific laws are so vague and have such wide amplitude that almost every act of an Ahmadi can be brought within its purview to harass, prosecute and discriminate against any Ahmadis. Their life, prestige and property always remain in danger.
The clergy and state have merged their authority. The legislation and judicial pronouncement provide clear and convincing evidence that Ahmadis are being forced to change Theology. Anti-Ahmadiyya laws are so widely worded that anything under the sun can be brought within the mischief of the Law. Every manifestation of religious belief for an Ahmadi is an offence, whether it is done privately or in public. Anti Ahmadiyya laws have transformed the daily life of an Ahmadi in Pakistan as a crime.
