Oshkosh Ahmadiyya Muslim group seeks help to end religious persecution, give examples to U.S. Rep. Tom Petri

...[T]he president of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA chapter in Oshkosh, opened the doors of the Oshkosh mosque and talked with Congressman Tom Petri, R-Wis., about increasing levels of persecution of the sect in Pakistan and Indonesia.

Khurram Ahmad President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community
Oshkosh Chapter talks with Congressman Tom Petri.
Photo: Oshkosh Northwestern / by Joe Sienkiewicz

Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch | US Desk
Source/Credit: The Northwestern
By Jennifer K. Woldt | April 18, 2011


Khurram Ahmad 's cousins were praying at a Pakistani mosque when gunmen opened fire.

They survived the May 2010 attack in Lahore because the bullets flew over his cousins' heads. Several close friends did not survive the attack.

The attack was another sign of members of the Islamic sect to which the family belongs being persecuted for their religious beliefs.

Ahmad, the president of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA chapter in Oshkosh, opened the doors of the Oshkosh mosque and talked with Congressman Tom Petri, R-Wis., about increasing levels of persecution of the sect in Pakistan and Indonesia, including violence, not having the ability to vote and difficulties in leaving the countries and in seeking asylum due to feeling threatened.


"I'm hoping (Petri) understands the community we represent, the values we uphold and the persecution we're facing," said Ahmad, whose group will speak to a staff member for Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Wis., today at the mosque. "We hope from a U.S. perspective it is understood that these things must be brought under control and that if left unchecked, it will promote violence."

Ahmadi Muslims are a rapidly growing sect of Islam that was established in 1889. Followers are found in 195 countries. The sect promotes peace instead of violence and stresses serving humanity through charity work, Ahmad said. About 20 families are involved in the Oshkosh chapter.

In Pakistan, Ahmad said, persecution has been on the rise against Ahmadi Muslims. Not only has violence increased, but members of the sect are unable to vote because they cannot fill out voter registration forms due to their sect not being recognized as a religion, Ahmad said.

Similar things are taking place in Indonesia where blasphemy laws have been enacted that force members of the sect to either stop practicing their faith or leave Indonesia, which is difficult to do.

"If it could only be in Pakistan, you could say it's an isolated case," Ahmad said. "But this trend is growing."

Petri said he has worked on the issue with Congressman Frank Wolf, R-Va., already and there is an effort in the U.S. State Department to have someone focus on international religious issues. He said Wisconsin has a history of accepting people regardless of what religion they practice or background they come from.




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