Source & Credit:Jersey City Islam Examiner
By Kashif Chaudhry | Englewood, NJ
28th May 2010 - the worst violation of human rights against the Ahmadi Muslims in Pakistan. A barbaric attack on two Ahmadiyya mosques that took almost a hundred innocent lives made headlines. This heinous crime was allegedly carried out by the Punjabi Taliban on the premise of religion. It is not surprising for the Ahmadis that not a single politician has come forward to express their condolences with the Ahmadiyya Community. The vast majority of the Pakistani public also chose to remain silent once again.
Many of my Pakistani ‘friends’ also shied away from sending a line of condolence. Most of them are just bent upon convincing me that the Friday carnage did not mean Ahmadis were specifically persecuted and that it was just another random attack coordinated by the Taliban who are equally fighting other factions of society. What they forget is the underlying predisposition and incitement to such attacks against the Ahmadiyya community – the hatred and ignominy for the Ahmadis present in the roots of our society, perpetuated and given air by the Mullah-State axis.
Pakistan’s legislation harbors specific anti-Ahmadi laws that ensure complete denial of all and any basic rights of citizenship to Ahmadis in the country. The notorious Ordiance XX issued by General Zia ul Haq was a green signal for anti-Ahmadiyya elements to open flood gates of tyranny with the help of the state. These laws punish those Ahmadis who refer to, or name, or call their place of worship as ‘Masjid’ [mosque] with ‘imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years and is also liable to fine.’ Any Ahmadi ‘who by words, either spoken or written, or by visible representation, refers to the mode or form of call to prayers followed by his faith as ‘Azan’ or recites Azan as used by the Muslims, is punishable with a minimum imprisonment of three years, and is also liable to fine.’
Similar is the punishment entertained for other crimes viz. calling oneself a Muslim, preaching one’s faith and using Islamic epithets like ‘InshAllah’ [God willing], MashAllah [as God wills], and ’Bismillah’ [in the name of God], etc. Ahmadis perform the Hajj from all over the world but are barred from going to Mecca from Pakistan. It is also a crime for Ahmadis to quote the Holy Book of God, the Quran or recite it openly. Most unfortunate is the criminalization of stating the first tenet of Islamic belief – the Kalima – which states that there is no God but Allah and that Muhammad is His messenger.
Problems do not stop with legislation. Pakistan treats Ahmadis like fourth class citizens. They are disapproved of and looked down on with contempt. You all know this. Hate and violence is preached against them openly under the nose of the law-enforcing bodies. Hate-monging radical clerics are supported openly by politicians and people of influence. They conduct hate conferences full of filthy propaganda against the Ahamdiyya community even in the Ahmadi-majority city of Rabwah where Ahmadis [like all across Pakistan] are banned from convening for a gathering or using the loudspeaker. Ahmadis have been kept away from the democratic process. They cannot vote and thus have no elected representatives even in the city council of the only Ahmadi-majority city in the country.
Since 1984, more than 60 Ahmadi mosques have been closed to worship, more than 340 faithful have lost their lives and numerous have been denied services on the premise of their faith. Over 3000 have been jailed for the ‘crimes’ mentioned above. [Persecution of Ahmadis]
Such laws that essentially criminalize one's social life are a special gift reserved exclusively for the Ahmadis. The atmosphere of hatred that stems from these discriminatory laws is not seen against other factions of society. This is why Friday's attack is not like any other - it is founded on hate that finds support in society and in State Law.
Most people are aware of these anti-Ahmadi laws legislated and executed against the peace-loving Ahmadiyya community – Laws that snatch all freedom of expression, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly and freedom of worship from them. Yet they chose to remain silent. There are only two reasons I can understand for this silence: Either that they believe that such treatment of Ahmadis is justified or that they do not care to fight injustice. Either way, Silence seems to be the default response.
I do not think I can do much about the class of people that think that anti-Ahmadiyya persecution is justified. They have been brainwashed enough. Hate, bitterness and malice has penetrated their systems. No amount of Quranic verses and Islamic teachings of peace and love from me can undo that. I speak to the class of Pakistanis and Muslims and non-Muslims worldwide who care for humanity. I plead to those of you who believe that the treatment set out in the legislation against Ahamdis is an insult to society and humanity. Islam has clearly obliged Muslims to act or at least speak out against oppression and evil.
The Quran says "Persecution is worse than killing". Ahamdis face both and no one seems to care. The Holy Prophet [pbuh] said: "Whoever sees oppression/evil, let him change it by his hand and if he cannot then by his tongue and if he cannot then with his heart and that is the weakest of Faith." [Sahih Muslim]
This fight against oppression makes no distinction on premise of faith or religious difference, color or creed. Muslims have been commanded to enjoin good and be an example of mercy for mankind. When did Islam become a faith of hate-preaching and violence against innocent members of society? Can oppression be justified on the basis of religious differences?
The Quran says "And if one of the idolaters seek protection from you, grant him protection till he hears the word of Allah, then make him attain his place of safety; this is because they are a people who do not know.". Even idolaters, it is taught, should be given shelter and protection so they could hear the word of Allah. Pakistan bans a section of its society from proclaiming His word. Pakistan provides them no protection against barbaric elements who wish to eliminate them.
I do not ask too much from you. I do not ask you to accept me as a Muslim because I know I will be wrong if I take God’s position of being the ultimate Judge of one’s faith and give it to you. My faith is personal between me and God. I do not ask you to believe in my interpretation of certain religious terminology or events in history because I understand that difference can be healthy. I do not ask you to stop thinking of me as a heretic in society. You are free to hold whatever belief you want. What I ask you to do is fight injustice. It is sad that the International Community is taking note of wrongdoings and injustices committed against the Ahmadiyya community in Pakistan and the Muslims within have completely turned apathic to this cruelty. It is supposed to be you who should be modeling the Prophet of Islam in being mercy for the whole mankind. Alas, you turn a blind eye.
I ask you to fight injustice against the Ahamdis because they suffer by far the greatest. In principle, this fight against hate should aim to emancipate all oppressed sections of society.
I have lost hope with the ultra-conservative class of Pakistan. They have disappointed me time and again by refusing to listen to cries of peace and continuing to vile hatred against Ahmadis. My question is to the so-called ‘Moderate’ class of Pakistan. When will you stand up against the decades of injustices against Ahmadis? Do you have hearts to feel our pain? Your silence is giving the terrorists free hand against us. For ages, this has been going on unreported and unchecked in all parts of the country. In response, Ahmadi Muslims have never staged any protests/civil disobedience or any demonstration just to avoid unrest in Pakistan. We do protest, but before Allah alone! Will the moderate Muslims not speak for justice? Don’t you think the anti-Ahmadi laws in Ordinance XX are a blot on Pakistan’s image across the world? Don’t you think that these laws must be repealed?
I am liable to a three year sentence for proclaiming the ‘Oneness of God’ in Pakistan. The last time I checked, it was a group of people in Mecca who were persecuted for that proclamation. Even if you consider me a heretic, with what heart do you pronounce such a punishment for such an act and sleep sound at night? The extremist clerics stop people from the way of Allah and feel proud in doing a ‘service to Islam’? You must speak against these laws and you must advocate for their rescindment.
Laws aside, social attitudes have to be changed. Preach peace and love. You should not allow anyone to use the pretext of religion to preach hate and incite violence against Ahmadis. The streets and corners of Pakistan should bear no banners inciting people to killing. You must change your own attitude. You must realize that it is your fellow Pakistanis who are suffering and you must not allow that. You must realize that hate cannot be true irrespective of context. The Ahmedis were in the forefront in the making and stabilization of Pakistan. You must stand up and fight prejudice and discrimination against them because we all love Pakistan. I am not asking much. I am not asking you to accept them in faith but to accept them in society.
Professor Mansoor Hussain writes in his article published in the Daily Times today, "The Ahmedis have never done anything to harm Pakistan, and yet those that opposed the creation of Pakistan are at the forefront of accusing them of being anti-Pakistan"
I have some hope in you. I also believe however that if you the silent 'moderates' of Pakistan do not stand up for justice, for basic rights of Ahmadis in Pakistan, you will equally share the blame. Your choice to remain silent witnesses to decades of persecution and atrocity, killings and lootings will be a deliberate one. God has given you a chance to rise and rescue the oppressed and clean the tarnished image of Islam as a ‘persecuting faith’. Soon, it might be too late to speak. Remember that your silence will speak against you that day – the day when God pronounces His justice Himself! My heart cries but I am afraid that my plea will all fall on deaf ears once again and you wouldn’t listen. In that case, God Himself will to my rescue and you shall see- this I PROMISE YOU!!
Read original post here:Letter to Pakistan
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