Pakistan: Human rights organisations raise concerns over Ahmadiyya community's persecution

International human rights organisations have raised alarm over recent persecution of Ahmiyya community in Pakistan, reported news agency ANI on Thursday. International Forum for Right and Security (IFFRAS) said that organisations are documenting systematic persecution which is being endured by Ahmiyya Muslim community by religious extremists and state institutions. 

As per news agency ANI, in latest incident, a Khatm-e-Nabuwat Conference that was held on September 12 under aegis of Jamiat-e-Ulema Pakistan, demanded that Imran Khan-led government remove Qinias (Ahmiyyas) from key posts. conference was reportedly presided over by JUP (Punjab) Deputy President Maulana Hafiz Muhamm Saleem and Ulema. 

According to IFFRAS, Ulema reportedly said that Qinias refuse to end Prophethood and are traitors of Islam, said IFFRAS. Previously, some of rical Muslim clerics have opposed burial of an Ahmiyya woman in local graveyard in Safdarab, Sheikhupura district in Punjab on June 6. This h furr triggered violent clashes between both sides. Notably, dedicated Ahamdiyya graveyards in Pakistan are also kept locked majority of time amid gears of graves being destroyed by extremists.

Ahmiyya mosque was demolished in July

ditionally, in July, an Ahmiyya mosque was demolished by Tahreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) extremists reportedly in connivance with local law enforcement in Faridab district. ANI quoted Pakistani media reports to state that several Islamic clerics like Amir of Tahreek-e-Dawat-e-Haq Pakistan, Peer Allama Muhamm Ashgar Noorani, reprimand Ahmiyyas for distorting ‘ Islam faith’ and have urged western countries to cease ir consideration as part of Muslim community.

persecution of Ahmiyya Muslim community in Pakistan has been underlined by global community. Furr, Siobhain McDonagh, Chair of All-Party Parliamentary Group for Ahmiyya Muslim Community, UK said in a letter dated December 2020 to Pakistan High Commissioner in UK, flagged concerns over reports of efforts to target, harass and persecute Ahmi Muslims. atrocities also include murder of an Ahmi doctor in Punjab and murder of two Ahmis in Peshawar in October and November 2020.

Apart from British MP, in February, US Senators Richard Blumenthal and John Cornyn have also expressed worry over ‘continued and escalating persecution of Ahmiyya Muslim community in Pakistan’ including exploitation of cyber and blasphemy laws designed to target ‘an alrey persecuted religious minority.’ 

American lawmakers also underlined that six Ahmiyya Muslims including one US citizen were killed in Pakistan in last six months. As per IFFRAS report, y said that anor Ahmi h died in prison facing charges for blasphemy. y noted that inste of denouncing atrocities, Pakistani lawmakers, in stark contrast, praised killers in parliament and on social media. This, according to US senators, furr ignites anti-Ahmi bias in country. y also called on government to take immediate action to deal with situation involving community. 

IMAGE: AP

(With ANI inputs)