Pakistan: It tolls for thee: Can we unite against the Blasphemy Law

As the head of the Ahmadiyya community in London calls upon all followers to show restraint and steadfastness in the face of trials and tribulations, the people of Pakistan have a decision to make. 

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | Cross-post
Source & Credit: Chowk
By Zainab Mahmood | June 20, 2010

Ninty-eight [update: 86] Ahmadis were killed in brutal terrorist attacks on two mosques in Model Town and Garhi Shau in Lahore on May 28, 2010. The enormity of the casualties, ubiquitous media presence and excessive coverage of the events in local and international news has kept this issue in the limelight.

One can hope, that the tenacity of the followers of the Ahmadiyya community, the general public’s outrage within and outside Pakistan, the hundreds of articles, petitions and reports circulating around the world in support of the victims, in opposition of the blasphemy law, will prevent this “story” from being killed. This time this issue is not going to go away even if the headlines and breaking news tickers do.


Highlighting the kind of persecution meted out to Ahmadis as facilitated by the Blasphemy law (introduced in 1974 under General Zia’s regime) is necessary to give people an idea of what kind of absurd, inhuman and immoral activities occur without accountability in Pakistan.

Extremists victimize Ahmadis, Christians, and Hindus, threatening and harassing them in localities where they live and work, convicting them for baseless crimes without concrete evidence, desecrating their mosques, temples and churches, assaulting their women, destroying their personal properties, all in the name of protecting finality of Prophet Muhammed (khatam-e-nabuat).

Death threats continue to be sent to office bearers and volunteers of the Ahmadi community. Threats are also made on a constant basis to businesses owned or managed, institutions, clinics, law firms run by Ahmadis and the general public is warned not to engage in any social or business activities with the Ahmadis. So stopping the consumption of certain jams and juices will help appease the religious sentiment of the masses, will it?

Imagine if all the people who attempt to renew their passports begin to refuse to sign the box, denouncing Mirza Ghulam Ahmad as an impostor. The ruckus it would create bringing the government to a difficult cross-road where they would be hard-pressed to implement any criminal charges against the Muslims who stand in defiance, as no law compels them to show proof of their religious leanings.

If every enlightened Muslim who wants to rid their country of barbaric laws and terrorism against innocent people takes a stance at whatever opportunity they can, how many will the state authorities arrest or silence? The fear of the reaction of the state as well as the extremists holds people back from doing what they know is right, which is what keeps this country stagnated.

If we take the example of Iran, following the revolution in 1979, women were dealt a massive blow, as their rights as equal and productive members of society were squashed. Disallowing them to run for election to government in any form, attendance of educational institutions dependent on approval of male relative, ban on employment in lucrative professional fields, compulsory wearing of hijab and attire deemed suitable by the state, eviction of women from positions of power in judiciary and government offices, inability to drive, visit restaurants, board flights, attend public gatherings, cultural or sport events without a male relative, punishment if deemed necessary (article 92 – 98 of the penal code of Iranian Shariah law go so far as to discuss the extent and timing of flogging and stoning depending on stages of pregnancy of adulterous women) were just some of the side-effects of the imposed laws.

But what the world at large has witnessed over the years is a great spirit of defiance, confidence and self-assertion in Iranian women and youth (which are now 70% of the population) who have pushed relentlessly and tirelessly despite slow and gradual positive outcomes and have succeeded in electing women to the government, gain lucrative and influential positions in the state and private work force as well as a high enrollment of women in schools and higher education institutions within the country and abroad.

In another part of the world, one of the worst kinds of state-endorsed discrimination was seen in South Africa when in 1950 the government legislation passed several acts identifying and discriminating against people in South Africa based on their race/creed. This had enormous social and economic ramifications leading to the unequal and unjust treatment of hundreds of thousands of people over decades.

Blacks (at the time 70% of the population) were taught specific curriculum aimed at arming them with knowledge and skills enough to acquire jobs “suited” for their class. They studied in separate institutions, were allowed use of specific public amenities, means of transport, civic facilities, parks, public halls, stadiums, toilets etc.

By the time apartheid had ended between 1990 and 1993, blacks had conformed to the state laws but continued quiet and open rebellion of these immoral injustices and ordinary individuals and community leaders became heroes.

These communities have shown that state laws and penal codes can attempt to suffocate, suppress and humiliate individuals but nothing can break the human spirit or stop it from resisting and rising up for what they believe in.

Unfortunately in Pakistan, the state has been unable to recognize the needs of its citizens. Neither of the martial law regimes nor democratically elected heads of state have understood the dynamics of a successful compromise with the “religious” parties.

In 2002 the surprising outcome of elections in Pakistan sent shivers of disbelief through Pakistan and the world over when religious part Muttahida-majlis-amal (MMA) came to power. Despite rifts under the umbrella causing certain factions to split away, the governing strength of the religious parties was established and continues to exert influence in certain provinces in Pakistan even today. With United States bringing in obscene amounts of aid to fight the “war on terror” and increased presence of military and intelligence personnel, Pakistan is caught in a “damned if we do, damned if we don’t” debacle.

Unfortunately examples from history where foreign military intervention has been utilized to fight the demon within, are not very promising. Are we prepared to see Karachi turn into Kandahar or for Lahore to suffer the same demise as its cultural counterpart Baghdad? Doomsday theories abound, people have been heard warning people of Pakistan about the wrath of the higher power that floods the valleys of Hunza in the north and summons cyclones in the south of Pakistan. As the country reels from damaging effects of terrorism and a flailing economy and prepares to deal with natural calamities, the resilient citizens who have lived through generations of turmoil, are not ready to throw in the towel.

Are the extremists so blind-sighted that they cannot see that persecuting the Ahmadiyya community has the same effect as widely hated American policies and actions relating to the war on terror do on the psyche of fundamentalists? With increased American presence on Pakistani soil, drone attacks and arrests of Pakistanis suspected for their involvement in terrorism, more people are sympathizing with the opposite point of view. In the same way singling out ahmadis in attacks such as those on May 28, 2010 only helps them to gain more national and international sympathy. It also reaffirms their faith and makes them more determined to stand up for their rights.

The majority of the nation must assume that following the attacks, the doors of the mosques in Model Town and Garhi Shau were bolted shut and Ahmadis sat afraid and wary in their homes, but think again. Not only did people return to the very same mosques this Friday, that were wiped clean and guarded by brave and unflinching volunteers, but prayers were attended by fathers who had buried their sons last week, sons who had read the last rites of their fathers, young and old majority of whom had witnessed the carnage of last Friday, each of these men stood shoulder to shoulder embodying the unbreakable spirit of the community.

Persecuted minorities prove time and time again to have amazing willpower. As the head of the Ahmadiyya community in London calls upon all followers to show restraint and steadfastness in the face of trials and tribulations, the people of Pakistan have a decision to make. Opportunities don’t knock twice and we will be condemning ourselves to more years of terrorism, civil strife and economic paralysis if we don’t seize the hands of justice and seek redemption. The very name of this country has sealed its fate, therein lies the clear indication for “Islamic” values to be upheld in a secular “republic”, without which peace will never be achieved and the bells will never stop ringing.

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