Remembering the Ahmadi Victims of Religious Persecution & How to Take Action

Unfortunately, the definition of a 'Muslim' is codified into Pakistan's Second Amendment and makes clear that anyone who rejects the finality of the Prophet Muhammad is not a Muslim by law. Since Ahmadis believe the messiah took the form of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, Ahmadis are not considered Muslims by Pakistan law...

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"Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance."

—Article 18, The Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Tomorrow is the 1st anniversary of the tragedy in Lahore, Pakistan. Today, you can help address the plight of Ahmadis in Pakistan.


On May 28th of last year in Lahore, Pakistan, two mosques of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community were attacked by militants (believed to be members of Tehrik-i-Taliban), which left behind a gruesome toll: more than 90 people were killed. While unequivocally heinous as a standalone event, it is unfortunately one of the worst manifestations of a pervasive and longstanding culture in Pakistan, one characterized by distrust, stigmatization, persecution, and a government that has legitimized violence against religious minorities, particularly members of the Ahmadiyya community.

There are not many discussions of their plight here, nor is there any real major political action among the netroots to spread awareness and address the discrimination they face. I'd like an opportunity to change that. I will provide a modest overview of the situation of Ahmadis in Pakistan, as well as recommendations for what the United States Government can do about it.

The description provided by the website of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community (United States of America) provides a succinct overview of the community's history and beliefs:

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is a dynamic, fast growing international revival movement within Islam. Founded in 1889, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community spans over 190 countries with membership exceeding tens of millions. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA, established in 1921, is the first American-Muslim organization. Its journal, The Muslim Sunrise, is among the earliest and longest running American-Muslim periodicals.

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is the only Islamic organization to believe that the long-awaited messiah has come in the person of Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas (1835-1908) of Qadian. Ahmadas claimed to be the metaphorical second coming of Jesusas of Nazareth and the divine guide, whose advent was foretold by the Prophet of Islam, Muhammadsa. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community believes that God sent Ahmadas, like Jesusas, to end religious wars, condemn bloodshed and reinstitute morality, justice and peace. Ahmad’sas advent has brought about an unprecedented era of Islamic revival. He divested Islam of fanatical beliefs and practices by vigorously championing Islam’s true and essential teachings. He also recognized the noble teachings of the great religious founders and saints, including Zoroasteras, Abrahamas, Mosesas, Jesusas, Krishnaas, Buddhaas, Confuciusas, Lao Tzu and Guru Nanak, and explained how such teachings converged into the one true Islam.

[...]

Today, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community continues to be an advocate for universal human rights and protections for religious and other minorities. It champions the empowerment and education of women. Its members are among the most law-abiding, educated, and engaged Muslims in the world.

Interesting, right? Unfortunately, the definition of a 'Muslim' is codified into Pakistan's Second Amendment and makes clear that anyone who rejects the finality of the Prophet Muhammad is not a Muslim by law. Since Ahmadis believe the messiah took the form of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, Ahmadis are not considered Muslims by Pakistan law and by many of their fellow Pakistanis:

(3) A person who does not believe in the absolute and unqualified finality of The Prophethood of MUHAMMAD (Peace be upon him), the last of the Prophets or claims to be a Prophet, in any sense of the word or of any description whatsoever, after MUHAMMAD (Peace be upon him), or recognizes such a claimant as a Prophet or religious reformer, is not a Muslim for the purposes of the Constitution or law."

The situation becomes more ominous when you consider Pakistan's Penal Code, which not only codifies anti-blasphemy provisions into law, but specifically targets Ahmadis in the text (and labels them offensively as Qadianis):

298-Person of Quadiani group, etc., calling himself a Muslim or preaching or propagating his faith:

Any person of the Quadiani group or the Lahori group (who call themselves 'Ahmadis' or by any other name), who directly or indirectly, poses himself as a Muslim, or calls, or refers to, his faith as Islam, or preaches or propagates his faith, or invites others to accept his faith, by words, either spoken or written, or by visible representations, or in any manner whatsoever outrages the religious feelings of Muslims shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years and shall also be liable to fine.

Indeed, Ahmadi Mosques are frequently never referred to as "mosques" at all, but rather, as delegitimized "places of worship." Even Amnesty International's condemnation of the attacks never referred to the places attacked as "mosques" once. Organizations that promote the civil rights of Muslims in the United States such as Muslim Public Affairs Council also referred to the mosques as "Ahmadi centers."

They're mosques.

Adding insult to serious injury in the wake of the Lahore Mosque attacks, many Pakistani officials refused to publicly mourn the deaths of those killed:

Pakistani ministers, politicians and other prominent figures were conspicuous by their absence at the funeral prayers for 95 members of the minority Ahmadiyyas sect killed in terror attacks on two mosques in Lahore.

Most sections of the electronic media too did not cover the burial ceremony at Rabwah in Chenab Nagar yesterday and today.

Punjab chief minister Shahbaz Sharif, governor Salmaan Taseer and some politicians visited the injured at different hospitals in the city.

Though there were statements of condemnation of the Friday attacks on two Ahmadiyya mosques from all prominent politicians and political and religious parties, they preferred to keep a low profile during the funeral.

Observers said this was largely due to fear of a backlash as Ahmedis have the legal status of "non-Muslims" in Pakistan.

"Only to call a dead Ahmedi a martyr is enough to send you behind bars for three years under the laws of the land," a politician told PTI when he was asked why he did not attend the funeral of the slain Ahmedis though his party had issued a statement condemning the attacks.

All of this contributes to a culture characterized by persecution and stigmatization of members of the Ahmadiyya community. And there's an unfortunate history of both of these things that the United States has followed.

For over five decades, Ahmadis have endured senseless persecution. Their mosques have been burned, their graves desecrated, and their very existence criminalized. According to a 2002 United States State Department report, since 1999 316 Ahmadis have been formally charged in criminal cases (including blasphemy) owing to their religion. Between 1999 and 2001, at least twenty-four Ahmadis were charged with blasphemy; if convicted, they could be sentenced to life imprisonment or death. The offenses charged included wearing an Islamic slogan on a shirt, planning to build an Ahmadi mosque in Lahore, and distributing Ahmadi literature in a public square.

Ahmadis consider themselves Muslims, and yet their persecution is wholly legal, even encouraged, by the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and its leadership. As a result, thousands of Ahmadis have fled the country to seek asylum abroad. Recognizing the pervasiveness of the problem and the pressing need for action, the United States House of Representatives introduced a bipartisan resolution in February 2002 urging Pakistan to repeal both the anti-blasphemy provisions in its Penal Code and the second amendment in its constitution, which declares Ahmadis to be non-Muslims.

Today, more action is needed. And make no mistake, there is something you can do about. In his thorough overview of persecution of the Ahmadiyya in Pakistan, Amjad Mahmood Khan in the Harvard Human Rights Journal summarizes his recommendations (though I encourage you to read the whole thing):

Intervening on behalf of Ahmadis in Pakistan by calling for the repeal of the anti-blasphemy provisions under the authority of international law is, in fact, entirely consistent with the realist paradigm. Most Muslims are far less militant than one would gather from the harsh rhetoric of their “spokesmen.”

[...]

...the case of the Ahmadis in Pakistan represents a visible and practical outlet by which the United States and other Western democracies may empower moderation in Muslim regimes. To call for the repeal of the anti-blasphemy provisions in Pakistan is a prime opportunity for the international community to gain enormous political advantage over militant Islam, while at that same time elevating the status of the fundamental universal right of religious freedom.

On the anniversary of this tragedy, the United States has an opportunity to remind the world of its commitment to ending the persecution of religious minorities, and calling for an end blasphemy laws the world over, as they not only stand as an affront to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and infringe upon freedom of conscience and freedom of speech, but in extreme cases, legitimize the types of climates that lead to the violent and heinous attacks on the Ahmadiyya community.

Please call your Representative and Senators today and tell them to push for the following:

• Urge Pakistan to ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which they have signed but not ratified.
• Urge Pakistan to include Ahmadis in the country’s joint electoral roll along with every other citizen of Pakistan, as every Pakistani deserves to vote without his or her rights being infringed.
• Urge Pakistan to undertake a comprehensive review of all pending cases against Ahmadis under the anti-blasphemy laws.

Credit for these recommendations goes to Amjad Mahmood Khan, who testified before a Congressional committee on this issue.

I respectfully ask for readers not to derail the diary's comment section into debates about religions themselves. Let's try to keep the subject on human rights violations and religious persecution. Thanks!


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