Persecution of Ahmadis
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Ahmadis (followers of the Ahmadiyya religious movement) have been subject to various forms of persecution and discrimination since the movement's inception in 1889. The Ahmadiyya faith emerged from the Sunni tradition of Islam and its adherents believe in all the five pillars and articles of faith required of Muslims.[1] However, in many Islamic countries the Ahmadis have been defined as heretics and non-Muslim and subjected to persecution and often systematic oppression.[2]
Bangladesh
In Bangladesh, Ahmadis have been targeted by various protests and acts of violence, and fundamentalist Islamic groups have demanded that Ahmadis be officially declared kafirs (infidels).[3] Some adherents of Ahmadiyya have been subject to “house arrest” and several have been killed. In late 2003 several large, violent marches, led by Moulana Moahmud Hossain Mumtazi, were directed to occupy an Ahmadi mosque. In 2004, all Ahmadiyya publications were banned.[4]
Egypt
There has been a recent rise of persecution of Ahmadis in Egypt. In March 2010, nine Ahmadis were detained for allegedly insulting Islam.[5]
India
In India, Ahmadis are considered to be Muslims. This belief is supported by a court verdict (Shihabuddin Koya vs. Ahammed Koya, A.I.R. 1971 Ker 206).[6] There is no legislation that declares Ahmadis non-Muslims or limits their activities,[6] but they are not allowed to sit on the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, a body of religious leaders India's government recognises as representative of Indian Muslims.[7]
Indonesia
In 2008, many Muslims in Indonesia protested against the Ahmadiyya movement. With violence and large demonstrations, these religious conservatives put pressure on the government to monitor, and harass the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Indonesia.[8] Public opinion in Indonesia is split in three ways on how Ahmadiyya should be treated: (a) some hold it should be banned outright on the basis that it is a heretical and deviant sect that is not listed as an officially recognised religion in Indonesia; (b) others hold that it should not be banned because of the freedom of religion article in the Constitution, but also should not be allowed to proselytise under the banner of "Islam" on the basis that this is misleading; (c) still others hold that it should be free to do and say as it pleases based on the Constitutional right to freedom of religion.[9] In June 2008, a law was passed to curtail “proselytizing” by Ahmadiyya members.[10] An Ahmadiyya mosque was burned.[11] Human rights groups objected to the restrictions on religious freedom.[12]
Pakistan
With 4 million Ahmadis[13] in Pakistan, persecution of Ahmadis has been particularly severe and systematic in Pakistan, which is the only state to have officially declared the Ahmadis to be non-Muslims.[6] Here they are prohibited by law from self-identifying as Muslims, and their freedom of religion has been curtailed by a series of ordinances, acts and constitutional amendments.[14]
As a result, persecution and hate-related incidents are constantly reported from different parts of the country, and Ahmadis have been the target of many attacks led by various religious groups.[15] Madrasahs of all sects of Islam in Pakistan prescribe reading materials for their students specifically targeted at refuting Ahmadiyya beliefs.[16]
As a result of the cultural implications of the laws and constitutional amendments regarding Ahmadis in Pakistan, persecution and hate-related incidents are constantly reported from different parts of the country. Ahmadis have been the target of many attacks led by various religious groups.[17] All religious seminaries and madrasahs in Pakistan, belonging to different sects of Islam, have prescribed essential reading materials specifically targeted at refuting Ahmadiyya beliefs.[18]
In a recent survey in Pakistan, pupils in private schools of Pakistan expressed their opinions on religious tolerance in the country. The figures assembled in the study reflect that even in the educated classes of Pakistan, Ahmadis are considered to be the least deserving minority in terms of equal opportunities and civil rights. In the same study, the teachers in these elite schools showed an even lower amount of tolerance towards Ahmadis than their pupils.[19]
1953
In 1953 at the instigation of religious parties, anti-Ahmadiyya riots erupted in Pakistan, killing scores of Ahmadi Muslims and destroying their properties. There were severe agitations against the Ahmadis in which street protests were held, political rallies were carried out, and inflammatory articles were published. These agitations led to 2,000 Ahmadi deaths. Consequently, martial law was established and the Pakistan's Federal Cabinet was dismissed by Governor-General Ghulam Muhammad.[20]
1974 riots and constitutional amendment
In 1974 a violent campaign, mainly led by the Jamaat-e-Islami, was started against the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Pakistan on the pretext of a clash which took place between Ahmadis and non-Ahmadis at the railway station of Rabwah. This campaign resulted in several Ahmadi casualties and destruction of Ahmadiyya property, including the descretation of mosques and graves.
As a result of pressure from this agitation, legislation and constitutional changes were enacted to criminalise the religious practises of Ahmadis by preventing them from claiming to be Muslim or from "behaving" as Muslims. Pakistan's parliament adopted a law declaring Ahmadis to be non-Muslims; the country's constitution was amended to define a Muslim “as a person who believes in the finality of the Prophet Muhammad”.[21]
Ordinance XX
On 26 April 1984, General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, the President of Pakistan, issued the anti-Ahmadiyya Ordinance XX, which effectively prohibited Ahmadis from preaching or professing their beliefs.[22][23] The ordinance, which was supposed to prevent "anti-Islamic activities," forbids Ahmadis to call themselves Muslim or to "pose as Muslims." This means that they are not allowed to profess the Islamic creed publicly or call their places of worship mosques. Ahmadis in Pakistan are also barred by law from worshipping in non-Ahmadi mosques or public prayer rooms, performing the Muslim call to prayer, using the traditional Islamic greeting in public, publicly quoting from the Qur'an, preaching in public, seeking converts, or producing, publishing, and disseminating their religious materials. These acts are punishable by imprisonment of up to three years.[24] Ordinance XX and the 1974 amendment to the constitution effectively gave the state the exclusive right to determine the meaning of the term "Muslim" within Pakistan.
Many Ahmadis were arrested within days of the promulgation of this ordinance, and it gave way for widespread sanctioned as well as non-sanctioned persecution.
Shab Qadar incident
The Shab Qadar incident was a public stoning of two members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in the town of Shab Qadar, in the North-West Frontier Province, Pakistan in April 1995.[25] Dr. Rashid Ahmad and his son-in law, Riaz Ahmad Khan, were attacked as they were about to attend a court hearing in Shab Qadar. As they entered the court premises, a violent mob incited by local clerics attacked the men with sticks and stones. Riaz Khan was stoned to death and his dead body stripped and dragged through the town on a rope. Dr. Rashid Ahmad was taken to a hospital in Peshawar with serious injuries. A third Ahmadi, advocate Bashir Ahmad, escaped unhurt.[26] This murder took place in front of the police. Riaz Khan even asked a police officer for help, but instead of helping, the officer pushed him away.[27] According to Amnesty International, the police "stood and watched", and "later pleaded that it could not have intervened in a situation like that". No one was detained or criminally charged for the killing.
The victims — senior members of Ahmadiyya Community from Peshawar — had come from the provincial capital in order to file a bail application on behalf of another Ahmadi Muslim, Daulat Khan. Daulat Khan had been harassed following his conversion to the sect; local Muslim clergy had reportedly called for his death. Daulat Khan had been arrested and imprisoned on 5 April 1995 under sections 107 (abetment) and 151 (disturbing the peace by joining in unlawful assembly) of the Penal Code. After the lynching of Rashid Ahmad and Riaz Ahmad Khan, Daulat Khan remained in custody and was further charged with posing as a Muslim and preaching Ahmadiyyat (section 298 C of the Penal Code) and insulting the religious sentiments of Muslims (section 295 A).[25]
Urdu novelist Mustansar Hussain Tarar made a reference to this event in his novel Raakh ("Ashes").[citation needed]
Events of 30 October 2000
On 30 October 2000, gunmen opened fire at an Ahmadiyya prayer meeting in the Pakistani province of Punjab, killing at least five worshippers and wounding another seven.[28]
Events of 7 October 2005
On 7 October 2005, masked gunmen with Kalashnikov rifles stormed a mosque belonging to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in a village called Mong in District Mandi Bahauddin, shooting dead eight people and wounding 14.[29]
2009
During the year 2009, eleven Ahmadis were killed, while numerous others became victims of attempted killings, according to a report titled "Persecution of Ahmadis in Pakistan during the year 2009" published by Nazarat Umoor-e-Aama Sadr Anjuman Ahmadia Pakistan. The report claimed that the actions of “Ahmadi opponents” had been encouraged largely by the prejudiced attitude of the authorities, and alleged that the federal government had been in denial of the human rights and religious freedom of the Ahmadis, especially the governments of Punjab and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.[30]
1 April 2010
Around 10 pm on 1 April 2010, three Ahmadis were returning home in their vehicle from their jewellery and cloth shops situated in Rail Bazaar in Faisalabad. As their car approached the Canal Road near Faisal Hospital, four or five unidentified militants in a white car ambushed them. The three Ahmadis were seriously injured when the men opened fire at them. The attackers managed to flee from the scene. The three men died before they reached the hospital.[31]
Events of 28 May 2010
On May 28, 2010, two mosques in Lahore belonging to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community were attacked by the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan Punjab Wing. The attacks were carried out nearly simultaneously at Mosque Darul Al Zikr, Garhi Shahu and Mosque Bait Al Noor Lahore Model Town, 15 km apart. More than 95 people were killed and 108 were injured in the incident. One attacker was killed; another was captured by worshipers.[32]
Events of 31 May 2010
On May 31, 2010, an Ahmadi was stabbed to death and his son seriously injured when an activist climbed the wall of their house with a dagger and attacked them. The attacker escaped. Residents say that the assailant threatened to not leave any Ahmadi alive.[33]
In the media
Muslim Television Ahmadiyya International (MTA) has produced four documentaries regarding the persecution of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community over the last century.
- The Early Years
- 1953
- 1974
- 1984–Present
References
- ^ "The Ahmadi Muslim Community. Who are the Ahmadi Muslims and what do they believe? Waqar Ahmad Ahmedi gives a brief introduction to the Ahmadi branch of Islam." Times Online. May 27, 2008.
- ^ "Localising Diaspora: the Ahmadi Muslims and the problem of multi-sited ethnography". Association of Social Anthropologists, 2004 conference panel.
- ^ Rahman, Waliur. “Violent Dhaka rally against sect”. BBC News. 23 December 2005.
- ^ "Bangladesh: The Ahmadiyya Community - their rights must be protected". Amnesty International. 22 April 2004.
- ^ Egypt Ahmadis detained
- ^ a b c Hoque, Ridwanul (March 21, 2004). "On right to freedom of religion and the plight of Ahmadiyas". The Daily Star.
- ^ Naqvi, Jawed (September 1, 2008). "Religious violence hastens India's leap into deeper obscurantism". Dawn. Retrieved December 23, 2009.
- ^ Indonesia to ban Ahmadi activities, 06/09/2008
- ^ "Ahmadiyya Ban and Human Rights",Fazil Jamal on Jakarta Post
- ^ Indonesia to ban Ahmadi activities, AsiaNews.IT
- ^ Anti-Ahmadiyya Mullah Burning Ahmadiyya Mosques – Indonesia, Al Jazeera News Report
- ^ Indonesia's religious tolerance under threat-group, Jun 10, 2008.
- ^ http://www.economist.com/world/asia/displaystory.cfm?story_id=15266768
- ^ Khan, Naveeda. "Trespasses of the State: Ministering to Theological Dilemmas through the Copyright/Trademark". Sarai Reader 2005: Bare Acts. p. 184.
- ^ "Persecution of the Ahmadiyya Community in Pakistan: An Analysis Under International Law and International Relations". Harvard Human Rights Journal, Vol 16, September 2003.
“Eight die in Pakistan sect attack”, BBC News
“Sect offices closed in Pakistan”, BBC News - ^ Rahman, Tariq. "Denizens of Alien Worlds: A Survey of the Education System of Pakistan". Contemporary South Asia, 2004. p. 15.
- ^ Persecution of the Ahmadiyya Community in Pakistan: An Analysis Under International Law and International Relations Harvard Human Rights Journal, Vol 16, September 2003
“Eight die in Pakistan sect attack”, BBC News
“Sect offices closed in Pakistan”, BBC News - ^ Denizens of Alien Worlds. T Rahman – Contemporary South Asia, 2004. A Survey of the Education System of Pakistan, by Tariq Rahman, page 15.
- ^ Peace and Democracy in South Asia, Volume 1, Number 1, January 2005. Passports to Privilege: The English-Medium Schools In Pakistan, Tariq Rahman.
- ^ "Pakistan: Jamaat-i-Islami". Library of Congress Country Studies. April 1994.
- ^ An Act to amend the Constitution (2nd Amendment) ACT, 1974. An Act to amend the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Gazette of Pakistan, Extraordinary, Part I, 21 September 1974
- ^ Text of Martial Law Ordinance XX of 1984
- ^ Khan, Naveeda. "Trespasses of the State: Ministering to Theological Dilemmas through the Copyright/Trademark". Sarai Reader 2005: Bare Acts. p. 182.
- ^ "Ahmadiyya Islam." GlobalSecurity.org. 26 April 2005. Retrieved 14 December 2009.
- ^ a b Amnesty International April 8, 1995, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, page 82 of its Annual Report (1995)
- ^ "Implementation of the declaration on the elimination of all forms of intolerance and of discrimination based on religion of belief". Report submitted by Mr. Abdelfattah Amor, United Nations Special Rapporteur, in accordance with UN Commission on Human Rights Resolution 1995/23.
- ^ Plight of Ahmadi Muslims in Pakistan, page 43
- ^ "Gunmen kill five at prayer meeting". news.bbc.co.uk. 30 October 2000.
- ^ "Eight dead in Pakistan's Ahmadi community's worship place attack". dawn.com. 7 October 2005.
- ^ "11 Ahmadis killed during 2009: report". dailytimes.com.pk. 12 March 2009.
- ^ "11 Ahmadis slam target-killings in Faisalabad". dailytimes.com.pk. 5 April 2010.
- ^ "Lahore attacks leave over 80 dead". geo.tv. 28 May 2010.
- ^ "Ahmadi man stabbed to death in Narowal". dawn.com. 31 May 2010.